【大紀元2012年08月31日訊】A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓練班! 我是楊琳!

B: 大家好，我是Mike! 我來接替Kat的任務，從今天起我會跟楊琳一起為大家主持這檔節目!

A: 歡迎Mike來到我們的節目! 我們一定盡力為大家推出更棒的美語訓練班!

B: There you go! 好了，快來告訴大家咱們今天都要學甚麼?

A: 今天，咱們要去看看搬家有多麻煩，聽聽怎麼申請美國公民，還要探討一下僱私人教練到底值不值!

B: Relocating? You know what, we don’t need to listen to the lessons, I can tell you everything you need to know.

A: 行，等會讓你說! 現在，咱們還是言歸正傳，趕快來進入第一個單元，Learn a word!

Learn A Word 1545 personal trainer

今天我們要學的詞是 personal trainer. Personal is spelled p-e-r-s-o-n-a-l, and trainer is spelled t-r-a-i-n-e-r, personal trainer. Personal trainer 私人教練。隨著人們健康意識的加強，Personal trainers have become one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. 私人教練日益成為美國成長最快的職業之一。 From 2001 to 2011, the number of personal trainers grew by 44 percent to 231,500. 2001年到2011年間，私人教練的人數增長了百分之44， 總人數增至23萬1千500人。For personal trainers, the average hourly pay is less than $15 and work hours are erratic. 私人教練平均收入每小時不到15美元，而且工作時間也很不規律。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 personal trainer, personal trainer, personal trainer…

B: Actually I have first hand experience with personal trainers. While they can be really expensive, my personal trainer help me to get in the best shape of my life.

A: 哦? 真有那麼靈? 那你的私人教練都讓你幹了什麼?

B: Like now I eat four meals a day, and I have my big meals earlier in the day, aka my breakfast and lunch, and I eat a lot of protein and vegetables.

A: 怎麼聽起來像減肥教練? 不過看你這身材，是還不錯薩!

B: 哈哈，thanks!

A: So you think it’s worthwhile to hire a personal trainer?

B: Definitely. But they ARE expensive, I could barely eke out enough money to pay my monthly dues.

A: 看來好東西，好服務都不便宜! 不過你剛才提到了一個很好的詞兒，eke out, 咱們一起來學學這個習慣用語的用法!

Words and Idioms 976

現在播送美國習慣用語第 976講。我是楊琳。

M：我是 Steve Baragona.

我室友是一名汽車銷售員。由於他每個月都要完成一定的銷售額，所以一到月底壓力就特別大。不過他每次都使勁加班，剛剛好到月底之前完成規定的銷售額。他的這種情況讓我想到了一個習慣用語，那就是：

M：Eke out. Eke is spelled e-k-e, eke; and out; o-u-t, out. Eke out.

Eke 是個動詞，意思是節約使用，勉強度日, 而eke out 其實就是竭力維持的意思。上面例子中，我室友每次都剛剛好完成銷售任務。He was able to EKE OUT a few more car sales. 他竭盡全力多賣幾輛車。下面例子裡這個人選擇裡自己熱衷的職業，但卻難免囊中羞澀。我們來聽聽看：

M: My sister-in-law has always been drawn to helping the poor. Her job as a social worker, however, doesn’t pay very well. She barely covers her expenses every month. Still, she’d rather EKE OUT a living doing what she likes than living comfortably from a job that’s unrewarding.

這段話是說：我嫂子特別熱衷於幫助窮人。但作為一名社會福利工作者，她的工資並不高。她每個月只能剛剛好應付基本的生活支出。但是，她寧願做自己喜歡的工作，勉強度日，也不願做一份沒有精神回報的工作，只為能舒服地生活。

我真是太佩服她這種精神了！不過確實是這樣，如果你熱愛自己的工作，那麼工作就變成了一種享受。就像我叔叔，很多人出大錢想要收購他的農場，但是他說，他無法想像不養牛，不餵雞的生活。To many people, he EKES OUT an existence. Yet he feels that he lives quite richly. 對很多人來說，他是在勉強度日。但是他自己卻覺得生活特別滿足。 好了，讓我們再來聽聽剛才那段話：

M: “My sister-in-law has always been drawn to helping the poor. Her job as a social worker, however, doesn’t pay very well. She barely covers her expenses every month. Still, she’d rather EKE OUT a living doing what she likes than living comfortably from a job that’s unrewarding.”

上面我們講到了eke out, 勉強維持。不知道我們的聽眾朋友裡有沒有籃球迷？下面這個例子跟籃球有關，讓我們來聽聽看賽場上發生了甚麼另人驚嘆的情況：

M: Fans of the Daredevils have been rewarded with some amazing basketball playing this season. You see, their team kept looking like they were heading for another defeat. Then, they would somehow outmaneuver their opponents to win the game. The way they’ve been EKING OUT one victory after another, they may make it to the finals after all!

這段話是說：Daredevils球隊的球迷這個賽季可真是過足了球癮。每次比賽看起來就要輸了的時候，他們好像都能採取靈活攻略，出其不意，贏得比賽。按他們這麼打下去，一場接一場地贏球，說不定他們還真能進決賽呢！

哈哈，我想他們的球迷肯定特別高興！我不是個體育迷，不過我是個哈利波特迷！最近我剛剛看完了哈利波特系列的最後一部！太精彩了！不過你知道嗎？這個系列的作者 J.K.羅琳曾經一度生活在貧困線上？J.K. Rowling was eking out a living while on welfare before she started her famous Harry Potter series. 她開始寫作哈利波特系列前，曾經依靠福利勉強度日。好的，我們再來聽聽剛才那段話：

M: Fans of the Daredevils have been rewarded with some amazing basketball playing this season. You see, their team kept looking like they were heading for another defeat. Then, they would somehow outmaneuver their opponents to win the game. The way they’ve been EKING OUT one victory after another, they may be making it to the finals after all!

今天我們學習的習慣用語是EKE OUT，意思是「竭力維持」。好的，這次[美國習慣用語]就到此結束，我是楊琳，我是 Steve Baragona。謝謝各位的收聽。

B: Speaking of eke out, some of the sports commentators thought China would only eke out a couple Olympic victories, but it turns out the Chinese teams are doing exceptionally well!

A: 那當然了! 我們泱泱大國，得幾十塊金牌當然是不在話下! 我昨天看了diving, 跳水，真是太爽了!

B: Wait…I thought you are getting American citizenship right? You should be rooting for the American team then!

A: 申請入籍？No! I am only applying for a green card, and no matter what, 我的心永遠屬於中國呀! But no kidding, even for a green card, there is SO MUCH paperwork to do! I feel my head is going to explode!

B: I can totally imagine that. In today’s Go English, we will follow Amir to learn about how to become an American citizen, let’s go and take a look!

Citizenship: Beginner

今天我們為您播出「美語三級跳」節目「移民入籍」單元的初級課程。

Amir 已經在美國生活了幾年，在考慮入籍成為美國公民。他找朋友Susan, 打聽入籍的手續。

Professor: That’s right, Winnie. Becoming an American citizen takes a lot of work.

嗯，我也聽說要入籍，成為citizen–公民，要作一番準備工作。希望Susan能給Amir一些好的建議。

Susan: Hi Amir, how are you? I haven’t seen you lately.

Amir: Hi Susan. I’ve been very busy lately applying to become a US citizen. It’s a lot of work!

Susan: Wow, it must be very complicated. Is everything going smoothly?

Amir: Yeah, but there is so much paperwork to do.

“paperwork”，就是「文書工作」，也就是填表格、寫文件、做檔案等事情。Amir說，在申請入籍的時候，要做很多paperwok， professor, 在表達這個意思的時候，應該說do paperwork 還是 fill out paperwork 呢？

Professor: You can use either verb, Winnie. They mean the same thing.

原來如此。對了，Susan 問 Amir “is everything going smoothly?”，就是問「一切進展順利麼？」 對不對？

Professor: Exactly. For example, you could say that “Class didn’t go smoothly because I did not do my homework the night before.”

Susan: Why have you decided to become a US citizen?

Amir: My wife is American, and we chose to settle here in America.

Susan: Are you going to give up your Iranian citizenship?

Amir: Yes. It’s too bad that Iran doesn’t recognize dual citizenship.

原來，Amir 的太太是美國人，所以他們決定”settle here in America”–在美國定居。

Professor: Amir also says that he has to give up his Iranian citizenship because Iran doesn’t recognize dual citizenship.

Dual, d-u-a-l, dual 是「雙重」的意思。所以dual citizenship 就是有雙重國籍。Amir 不得不放棄他的伊朗國籍，因為伊朗不承認雙重國籍。

Susan: What is your immigration status right now?

Amir: Right now I am a permanent resident with a green card.

Susan: I see. How long will it take to become a citizen?

Amir: I’m not sure. Right now I am still finding all the documents I need. I will probably file my application next month.

Susan問Amir現在的immigration status–移民身份，Amir說，他有green card–綠卡，是permanent resident–美國永久居民。

Professor: That’s right. How long will it take for Amir to become a citizen?

他也不知道。他說，目前他還在準備申請入籍所需的documents–文檔材料。不過，我聽說，移民申請有時很慢，要等很久才能從政府那裏得到答覆。

Professor: Yes, it can take a long time. And when is he going to file his application?

Amir說，他可能下個月就會file his application–提交他的申請材料。

Susan: You know, Amir, applying for citizenship is very complicated. You should talk to an immigration lawyer.

Amir: I don’t know. That would probably cost a lot of money.

Susan: Yes, but if there are problems processing your application, the lawyer can help you.

Amir: Yeah, you’re right. I don’t want to take any chances. I’ll talk to an immigration lawyer.

Susan 建議Amir僱一個immigration lawyer–移民律師，這樣，如果申請過程中出現問題，律師可以幫他解決。對了，Professor, Amir說 he “doesn’t want to take any chances”,這是甚麼意思?

Professor: Winnie, when you take a chance, you do something dangerous or risky.

我明白了，take a chance就是「冒險」的意思。 Amir雖然有點心疼律師費，但不想take any chances—拿自己的申請冒險。希望everything will go smoothly，Amir能儘快入籍。

Professor: Let’s listen next time to see what happens!

A: 原來，Amir的太太是美國人，所以他們決定settle here in America, 在美國定居，所以他不得不放棄伊朗國籍，因為Iran doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, 伊朗不承認雙重國籍，Susan建議他請一名immigration lawyer ,移民律師，保證everything will go smoothly, 一切順利。

B: Sounds like the process is really complicated!

A: 對呀! 填一堆表，真頭大!

B:Well, to look at the bright side, at least you don’t have to move things around. Let me tell you, moving from Ohio to DC is not the most pleasant experience…

A: Uh oh…yeah, relocating is definitely a bit challenging, 不過現在，你能跟著名節目主持人–我–一起主持節目，你也該滿意了吧!

B: O…k…..I’m just going to ignore you there… Actually in today’s Business Etiquette, Vivian and Tom are talking about the pros and cons of relocating, let’s see what they have to say!

禮節美語 Thinking of relocating

Tom 和 Vivian 是香港一家跨國公司的僱員。Vivian 被升職，要調到美國奧蘭多的辦事處。

Vivian: Hey Tom, got a second?

Tom: Sure, what’s up?

V: The Company has offered me a new position. It’s kind of a promotion.

T: Hey! Congratulations! That’s great!

Vivian 問 Tom, got a second? 有時間嗎？Tom 回答，What’s up? 甚麼事？都是最常用的口語。 Vivian 說自己升職了。promotion, p-r-o-m-o-t-i-o-n. Tom 對她表示祝賀。

V: Well, yes…but the new position would require me to relocate…to our office in Orlando, Florida.

T: Oh.

V: I know you relocated here from Chicago, so I wanted to get your two cents worth.

Vivian 說的 relocate, 就是要搬到另外一個地方去工作，從香港到佛羅里達州的奧蘭多。Vivian 說，I wanted to get your two cents worth. “two cents worth” 是指個人意見，Vivian 知道 Sam 是從芝加哥搬到香港來的，所以想聽聽 Sam 的想法。

T: Sure. Well, for starters, I went the opposite direction, moving from the States to Asia, so it’s quite a different ball game. But I think the main thing you have to do is weigh the pros and cons.

V: I don’t even know where to start. One “pro” is a higher salary.

T: That’s always a pro. But there’s a whole bunch of other factors to consider.

V: Such as?

Tom 說，首先，for starters, 他是從美國搬到亞洲，所以情況完全不同，a different ball game. 他建議Vivian 考慮一下利弊。利是 pro；弊是 con， 利弊 pro and con。漲工資當然是好事，那不好的地方有哪些呢？

T: Well…consider how you get to work here. You take the subway, right?

V: Of course.

T: In Orlando you would have to drive. Do you have any pets?

V: Yeah…I have an adorable German Shepard puppy.

T: It can be quite time consuming, expensive and difficult to ship pets abroad.

V: These are all good thing for me to consider. Anything else?

Tom 舉例說，搬去奧蘭多會帶來很多變化，比如說要從坐地鐵改成開車，把狗運出國要花很多錢。這些還是次要的。

T: I think one of the biggest things you might face is the change in the pace of life. In most of America, things don’t zip by like they do here in Asia.

V: Even in Orlando?

T: It may sound like a big place, but it’s actually pretty small. The city basically shuts down after 9 PM.

V: Wow! So many “cons.”

T: No, no…there’s some great “pros” as well. When I moved here, I met all kinds of new people and I’m now, as you know, in a relationship with a wonderful woman I met here.

V: That’s a big pro.

最大的變化是生活節奏，the pace of life. 因為美國的生活節奏不像亞洲那麼快，things don’t zip by like they do here in Asia. Zip by 呼嘯而過。不過，也有好處，Tom 現身說法，說自己到香港後結識了很多新朋友，女朋友就是在這裡認識的。

奧蘭多的生活和香港還有哪些差距呢？我們下次繼續聽。

A: Tom說，要不要搬到另一個城市去要考慮pros and cons, 利弊。在美國，要開車上班，而且最大的變化是the pace of life, 生活節奏，因為things don’t zip by like they do here in Asia, 生活節奏不像亞洲這樣呼嘯而過。

B: I can definitely feel the change of the pace of life here in DC. In Ohio things are more relaxed, and people prefer to live at a slower pace.

A: I think that’s a common thing for city living. Young people tend to live in cities, thus causing the faster pace. Speaking of which, how do you like DC?

B: 我很喜歡呀! I still need to explore the city, but with so many museums and cultural events, I think it’s safe to say I’m going to like DC a lot!! 說不定還能碰上個漂亮女孩….

A: 這才是主要目的吧？哈哈! 不說咱們了，我們還是接著帶聽眾朋友去聽聽Tom給了Vivian怎樣的建議吧!

禮節美語 Thinking of relocating

Tom 和 Vivian 是香港一家跨國公司的僱員。Vivian 被升職，要調到美國奧蘭多的辦事處。她知道 Tom 是從芝加哥調到香港來的，所以向 Tom 徵求意見。Tom 談到利弊時說：

T: On a financial note, you’ll probably be able to save a lot more of your salary and have more disposable income, as rents and living costs in that area are reasonable.

V: Yes. From a financial standpoint relocating makes sense, but I just want to make sure I’m not shooting myself in the foot. Happiness is important, right?

Tom 說，要說錢，奧蘭多房租、生活費用很合理，reasonable, 所以Vivian 會有更多可支配的收入，disposable income.

Vivian 表示，如果光看錢，去奧蘭多確實很合適，make sense, 但是她不願意搬起石頭砸自己的腳，I just want to make sure I’m not shooting myself in the foot. 因為開心還是很重要的。

T: Oh, absolutely. But Florida is a beautiful state with a nice climate. You’ll be able to enjoy the beaches and take vacations in Miami!

V: Sounds good. It’s just such a hard decision for me. I want to branch out and spread my wings, but there’s so many “unknowns.”

Vivian 說，她想擴大發展，展開雙臂，branch out and spread my wings, 但是又有太多的未知數，Unknowns.

T: Yeah, I also had mixed emotions when they first offered me this job. But I have a favorite quote by the poet John Berryman that helped me a lot.

V: Which is?

T: “We must travel in the direction of our fear.”

V: That’s a great quotation. So let’s say I’m leaning towards relocating. Got any practical tips?

Tom 用詩人 John Berryman 的一句話鼓勵 Vivian. “We must travel in the direction of our fear.” 我們必須要面對恐懼前行。Tom 還有哪些建議呢？

T: Yeah…do your homework. Get online and research where you’re going. Learn about the history, geography, climate…etc. Then when you get there, you’ll feel like you already know the place a bit.

V: How long did it take you to settle into your new environment?

T: I have to be honest. For the first 3 months I was pretty unhappy.

I didn’t like the food, couldn’t figure out the subway system and, for me, Hong Kong is a noisy place. But after the four month-mark, I began to feel much better.

Do your homework? 這是英語裡很常用的一種說法，意思是事先準備。Tom 建議 Vivian 去瞭解一下奧蘭多的情況。 Tom 還說，他剛來香港的時候，也很不習慣。你記得他是甚麼時候開始適應的嗎？沒錯，四個月。

V: Now how does it feel? You’ve been here for a full year, right?

T: My one-year anniversary is next week, and I have to say, I’ve never been happier.

V: Thanks for sharing your experiences with me, Tom. I really appreciate it. You helped me clarify my own feelings.

T: Glad to be of help. Don’t forget to invite me to your going away party!

V: I won’t!

Vivian 謝謝 Tom 幫忙，Tom 說，不要忘記請我參加你的 going away party 臨行聚會。

A: We must travel in the direction of our fear. 必須朝著恐懼前行! 說的真對! 這麼說起來，我昨天真地不應該被一隻小小的蜘蛛嚇得躲在房間裡不敢出來…

B: Haha, I’m terrified of heights, tell you what…I’ll trade you, If you go skydiving with my friends this weekend, I’ll squish the spider in your house.

A: 好，一言為定! 同學們，這次節目時間就到這裡。 如果你想提甚麼問題，請發電子郵件到meiyu@voanews.com.

B: Also tell us how you want us to improve our show! Like, if you want more Mike and less Yanglin…etc…

A: Yeah, dream on! 大家也別忘了關注新浪微博，愛說英語的牛，收聽更多課程!

B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!

A: See you next time!