回地球村生活美語精彩文章選單

Hats Off to Dr. Seuss 蘇斯博士與兒童閱讀日 ( 地球村生活美語月刊2015年3月號文章)

American educators and their students observe1 National Read Across America Day on March 2 in honor of the birthday of the beloved2 children’s author, Dr. Seuss.  The day celebrates reading development and is filled with language-related activities and fun.
美國的教師和學生,在三月二號,也是受喜愛的童書作家蘇斯博士的誕生日這一天,慶祝美國國家閱讀日。這個節日歡慶閱讀發展,並且充滿和語言有關的活動和樂趣。

Hats Off to Dr. Seuss

Kenneth :  When you were a child, what was your favorite book?
肯尼斯:你小時候最喜歡哪一本書?

Jessica :  That is a tricky3 question.  I had an extensive4 collection of books in my bedroom, and many of those books I joyfully5 read over and over again.  I suppose if I must choose one, I would have to say Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson.
潔西卡:這是個難回答的問題。我的臥房中擁有大量的藏書,許多書我都高興地一遍又一遍閱讀。我想如果我必須選一本,我會選克拉格特,強森所寫的《阿羅有枝彩色筆》。

Kenneth :  What a classic6!  I remember everyone wanted to borrow that book from the local library when I was a kid.  There was always a waiting list2, no matter how many copies the library owned.
肯尼斯:真是本經典著作!我記得當我小時候,每個人都想要從當地圖書館出借這本書。而且不管圖書館擁有多少備份,要出借這本書仍然永遠有等候名單。

Jessica :  What was your favorite book?
潔西卡:你最喜歡的書是哪一本呢?

Kenneth :  I’ve always appreciated7 the work of Dr. Seuss.  Of course I like The Cat in the Hat, but as a child my favorite was Green Eggs and Ham.
肯尼斯:我一直很欣賞蘇斯博士的作品。我當然喜歡《魔法靈貓》,但是小時候我最喜歡的是《綠雞蛋和火腿》。

Jessica :  Even though Dr. Seuss’ children’s books are quick reads8, their storylines9 are timeless10.  I still get real pleasure from reading his work as an adult.  I love his book Oh the Places You’ll Go.  It’s a popular gift for students graduating from high school and college.
潔西卡:雖然蘇斯博士的童書是很簡單的讀物,但是故事情節卻永不過時。我長大後閱讀他的書仍然樂在其中。我喜歡他寫的書《你想去的地方》。這是贈送給高中和大學畢業生的受歡迎禮物。

Kenneth :  It’s also this year’s featured11 book for National Read Across America Day, a program that strives12 to motivate children and teens to read.  It’s an annual celebration that takes place on or near the birthday of the esteemed13 Dr. Seuss.
肯尼斯:這也是今年美國國家閱讀日的推薦圖書,這個計畫努力激勵兒童和青少年閱讀。這個節日每年在令人尊敬的蘇斯博士的生日期間慶祝。

ÅVocabulary
  1.observe (v.)          [6b`zRv]        慶祝
      observe  observed  observed
  2.beloved (adj.)        [bI`lVvId]       被喜愛的
  3.tricky (adj.)           [`trIkI]           棘手的
  4.extensive (adj.)      [Ik`stEnsIv]     大量的;龐大的
  5.joyfully (adv.)        [`dGOIf6lI]      高興地
  6.classic (n.)            [`kl8sIk]         經典著作
  7.appreciate (v.)        [6`priHI@et]    欣賞
      appreciate  appreciated  appreciated
  8.read (n.)                 [rid]             讀物
  9.storyline (n.)           [`storI@laIn]   故事情節
 10.timeless (adj.)          [`taImlIs]       永不過時的
 11.featured (adj.)         [`fItH2d]        作為特色的
 12.strive (v.)                [straIv]          奮鬥;努力
      strive  strived  strived
 13.esteemed (adj.)     [6`stimd]      受人尊敬的

Idioms, Phrases, etc.
  1.  hats off to sb. (idiom) 向...致敬
  2.  waiting list (n. phr.) 等候名單

Jessica :  Read Across America is run by the National Education Association1, right?  They organize literacy2-centered events and partnerships3 nationwide.
潔西卡:美國國家閱讀日是由全國教育協會主辦的,對吧?他們在全美各地,組織和讀寫能力相關的活動和合作夥伴關係。

Kenneth :  That’s correct.  The NEA is all about encouraging kids and their families to read.  Just as a child develops language skills before they can speak, a child also develops literacy skills before they can read.
肯尼斯:沒錯。全國教育協會盡在為了鼓勵兒童和他們的家庭閱讀。就像兒童在會說話之前,就會發展語言技能一樣,他們也在會閱讀之前開始發展識字能力。

Jessica :  That’s why it’s critical4 that parents start reading to their children as early as possible.  Some pediatrics5 are so insistent6 on this point that they prescribe7 reading activities to parents.
潔西卡:所以父母盡早開始閱讀給他們的孩子聽,是非常重要的。有些小兒科醫師由於對這一點非常堅持,甚至會囑咐父母要和孩子進行閱讀活動。

Kenneth :  It can be hard for parents to get into the habit of reading with their kids, especially if they didn’t share the pastime8 with their own mother or father.  The good news is that it’s easier than ever to get started.
肯尼斯:要讓父母養成和孩子閱讀的習慣,可能不容易,尤其是假若他們和自己的父母也沒有一起閱讀當做消遣的先例。但好消息是,現在要開始閱讀非常容易。

Jessica :  Buying or downloading books is an obvious9 option, but it can get expensive quickly.  However, literacy development doesn’t have to depend solely10 on books.  When parents sing to their children, it also helps strengthen11 the regions of the brain associated with language.
潔西卡:買書或是下載書本,當然是一個顯然的選擇,但是很快的開銷就會太大。然而,讀寫能力發展不只依賴讀書。當父母對孩子唱歌時,也會幫助加強大腦中與語言相關的區域。

Kenneth :  If belting out1 a song doesn’t sound appealing12, something as simple as a conversation with a child will support language development.  All too often I hear parents dumb down2 their language when they speak to their child.  That’s not necessary.  It’s important that the child understands what is being spoken about, but it doesn’t do much good if you baby talk3 an 8-year-old.
肯尼斯:如果扯開嗓門唱歌令你不感興趣,只要簡單的與孩子交談,也能支持語言發展。我時常聽到父母在和孩子說話時,會將詞句變簡單。沒有必要那樣做。孩子理解在被談及的事情是很重要,但是假若你和八歲小孩牙牙兒語,是不會有任何益處的。

Jessica :  And remember, it’s never too late to add reading to your daily routine!
潔西卡:記得,將閱讀加入你的日常作息,永遠不嫌太晚! 

Vocabulary (字彙)
  1.association (n.)    [6@sosI`eH6n]  協會
  2.literacy (n.)         [`lIt6r6sI]         識字;讀寫能力
  3.partnership (n.)   [`pArtn2@HIp]  合作關係
  4.critical (adj.)        [`krItIk4]         緊要的;關鍵性的
  5.pediatric (n.)       [@pidI`8trIk]    小兒科醫師
  6.insistent (adj.)      [In`sIst6nt]       堅持的
  7.prescribe (v.)      [prI`skraIb]      規定;囑咐
      prescribe  prescribed  prescribed
  8.pastime (n.) [`p8s@taIm]  消遣;娛樂
  9.obvious (adj.)            [`AbvI6s]       明顯的
 10.solely (adv.)              [`sollI]          唯一地
 11.strengthen (v.)         [`strENS6n]     加強
      strengthen  strengthened  strengthened
 12.appealing (adj.)        [6`pilIN]        吸引人的

Idioms, Phrases, etc. (片語)
1.  belt out (v. phr.)拉開嗓門唱
2.  dumb down (idiom) 將複雜的事物簡化
3.  baby talk (idiom) 裝可愛地說話

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