70年的学习

　　Rob: Hello, I'm Rob and this is 6 Minute English and I'm joined this week by Finn. Hello Finn.

　　Finn: Hello Rob.

　　Rob: We are in a celebratory mood this week Finn aren't we?

　　Finn: Yes we are. We have something to shout about - it's the 70th anniversary¹ of the BBC teaching² English to the world.

　　Rob: Happy birthday to us! So, we have been teaching English for 70 years - actually Finn I think we look quite good for 70!

　　Finn: Yes, not too many grey hairs. And you would think that if our audience has been listening for 70 years they would be fluent - or perfect speakers of English by now. Maybe we should just go home now?

　　Rob: Stay where you are - of course you know Finn that our audience is always changing. New people are finding³ us and wanting to learn English and we'll be finding out why they do very soon. But let's see what you've learnt over the years and see if you can answer this question. According to the Oxford⁴ English Dictionary, what is the most commonly used English word. Is it:

　　a) I

　　b) and

　　c) the

　　Finn: Rob, I think it has to be c) the.

　　Rob: I'll let you know the answer at the end of the programme. Now let's talk more about 70 years of teaching English. The BBC's English-teaching department first started transmitting⁵ radio programmes in 1943. The world was a very different place then.

　　Finn: Yes. World War Two was taking place and many parts of Europe were occupied by German forces. It was felt that by teaching other nationalities English, they could understand radio news bulletins⁶ on the BBC Empire Service - the old name for the BBC World Service.

　　Rob: So, for many listeners there was a practical need to learn English.

　　Finn: After the war there was a big demand in people wanting to learn English and the BBC tried to do this in "…light and entertaining dialogues in simple, though not basic, English." That's conversations that sounded natural and interesting to listen to.

　　Rob: A bit like our programmes today. In the years after the war, people wanted to learn English not just to understand programmes on the BBC but so they could do business with or work for companies around the world. So we could say it had an economic benefit.

　　Finn: Today, people are learning⁷ online via the internet and some are learning English to communicate with - or talk or write to - other non-native speakers, particularly on social media.

　　Rob: That's true. We can hear from some students now who are learning English here in the UK. See if you can hear why they think it's important to learn English:

　　Vox pop of students:

　　My name is Bruno, I am from France, I like to learn English because this language is international and I can use it to have a conversation with people from different countries. I have more liberty⁸ if I want to speak with different people.

　　My name is Juan Reynoso, I come from Peru. I want to learn English because I think this is the language the world speaks.

　　Rob: Some good reasons there. Bruno and Juan want to learn English to communicate with others. Bruno says it gives him more liberty - he means freedom to speak with and understand other people.

　　Finn: So, English is good for that but let's hear some more practical reasons - or ways that it will be a real benefit to someone's life:

　　Vox pop of students:

　　My name is Rafael Guimaraes, I come from Sao Paulo in Brazil. I've chosen English because I am studying business so it's very important for my career and also because you can communicate to people from all over the world.

　　My name is Ivo. I am from Lima, Peru. I am planning on studying mechanical⁹ engineering¹⁰ and there is not much market for it in Peru, so I'm thinking of going abroad and for that I will need to learn another language so that's why I'm learning English too.

　　Rob: So, Rafael and Ivo are learning English to help with their studies. They hope it will help their career.

　　Finn: The jobs they will end up doing. So really they are learning English to help themselves!

　　Rob: Well luckily, BBC Learning English is here to help those and many other students around the world learn English. It is one of the world's most widely spoken languages so it is good to have a least a smattering - a small understanding - of English.

　　Finn: Yes, and if you want to live in the UK it's now expected that you can speak at least some English. But come on Rob, let's face it, learning a new language is fun too.

　　Rob: That's true and it's been fun teaching it for 70 years - let's hope we've helped at least some of you learn the language. Now Finn, let's find out if you answered my question correctly. Earlier I asked you what is the most commonly used English word.

　　Finn: I said the.

　　Rob: And you are right. The is the most commonly used word. Well, that's all we have time for today. Please join us again soon and keep learning English with BBC learning English.

　　Both: Bye.

1 anniversary   

n.周年(纪念日)

参考例句：

• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
• Today is my parents'30th wedding anniversary.今天是我父母结婚30周年纪念日。

2 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

3 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

4 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

5 transmitting   

v.发射，播送，广播( transmit的现在分词 )；传播；传导；传（热、声等）

参考例句：

• They are trying to find a better way of transmitting energy. 他们正试图寻找一种更好的输能方法。 来自辞典例句
• A current of high potential is used in transmitting electric power over long distances. 高压电流被用来远距离输送电力。 来自辞典例句

6 bulletins   

n.公告( bulletin的名词复数 )；新闻快报；小报；期刊

参考例句：

• AP and UPI had flashed bulletins nationwide and overseas. 美联社和合众国际社已经火速地向全国和海外发布了新闻简报。 来自辞典例句
• I just got BBC on shortwave. Same bulletins as last night. 我刚刚收听了英国广播电台的短波，和昨天晚上一样的新闻。 来自辞典例句

7 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

8 liberty   

n.自由，自由权；冒昧行为

参考例句：

• He stood for the cause of liberty and justice.他为自由和正义的事业而奋斗。
• You are at liberty to do as you please.你可以随意行事。

9 mechanical   

adj.机械(学)的；力学的；机械似的；手工操作的

参考例句：

• He borrowed a mechanical book from me.他从我这儿借了一本力学方面的书。
• He looks very mechanical.他看上去非常呆板。

10 engineering   

n.工程，工程学，管理，操纵

参考例句：

• The science of engineering began as soon as man learned to use tools. 人类一学会使用工具,工程科学就开始了。
• It was the first great engineering works in the world. 这是世界上第一家大型的工程工厂。