时差N小时 双语教育

Bilingual Education, a work in progress—Today on Congressional Moment. By the time the 13 British colonies declared their independence, over two million people had immigrated¹ across the ocean from Europe. Many were British, but many more were from other countries, and spoke² other languages. It was not long before bilingual education became an issue. By the mid³ 1800s, various states were conducting classes in languages such as French, German, Dutch and Greek.

今日国会时刻——双语教育，仍在发展的事业。到英国13个殖民地宣布独立时，已有超过200万人穿越海洋从欧洲移民。很多人来自英国，但更多人来自其他国家，他们讲其他语言。不久之后双语教育便应运而生。到19世纪中期，各州均开设了用法语，德语，荷兰语以及希腊语讲授的课程。

Non English-speaking students received some protection under the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, ratified⁴ in 1868, and over a hundred years later, in 1968, the Bilingual Education Act was created. It was the first official federal legislation recognizing the specific needs of students with limited English-speaking ability.

第十四条修正案的平等保护条款于1868年批准生效，这为母语为非英语的学生提供了更多保护，且在100后的1968年，国会通过了《双语教育法》。这条法案以联邦法律形式成立，它的重要意义在于认识到英语能力差的学生的特殊需求。

It gave assistance to many local districts to establish bilingual education programs. During the 1980s and 90s, Congress amended⁵ the Act several times, reflecting new challenges, changing priorities and new teaching techniques.

这条法律协助了各地机构建立双语教育项目。在20世纪80年代至90年代，国会屡次修改这条法案，修改内容反应了新的挑战，不断变化的优先事项以及新式教学技巧。

The issue was, and still is, hotly debated at the grass roots level, with children coming to our schools speaking more than 200 languages. Congress continues to wrestle⁶ with the important issue of how best to help students from non-English speaking families move into the mainstream⁷ of American life. The Bilingual Education Act is clearly a work-in-progress, and related issues are likely to be found in the media and on the ballots⁸ for many years to come.

进入美国学校读书的学生所说的语言超过200种，这个问题曾是并仍然是民间热议的话题。如何帮助来自非英语家庭的学生融入进美国主流生活，国会将继续设法解决这一问题。显然，双语教育仍是有待发展事业。未来许多年内媒体，竞选宣传仍会持续报道、提及相关问题。

1 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

4 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。

5 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

6 wrestle   

vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付

参考例句：

• He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
• We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。

7 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

8 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》