VOA慢速英语--美国大学欲接收更多的非洲学生

US Universities Want More African Students 美国大学欲接收更多的非洲学生

From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report.

The United States is looking for sub-Saharan African students to study at American universities.

There were about 1 million international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities during the 2014 to 2015 academic year. Fewer than 3 percent of those international students came from sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa is home to six of the top 10 fastest-growing countries in the world. But it is difficult for even the most motivated students to succeed in African universities. Classes are overcrowded. Teachers often go on strike to protest low pay and poor working conditions.  There is little opportunity to do advanced research.

But studying outside of Africa can be even harder.

The U.S. government wants to change that.

Marcus Jadotte is the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis. He is leading the first educational trade mission to Africa this week.

“They [African students] should consider studying in the U.S because of the innovative¹ approach to education that we take in the United States, because international businesses are looking for the best-qualified, best-prepared prospective² employees and we certainly believe that it enriches⁴ education back home in the U.S.," Jadotte said.

He is traveling with representatives of 25 U.S. colleges and universities. The delegation⁵ reflects the wide variety of higher education institutions in the United States. The group includes representatives from two-year community colleges and universities that offer specialized⁶ advanced degrees. The team wants to recruit⁷ students and build relationships with African universities.

“Many of the universities who have traveled with us on this mission are including scholarships as a part of the conversation with students here," Jadotte explained.

At each stop, the Assistant Secretary will join local government officials and academic leaders at an education fair.

The delegation’s first event was an education fair for South Africans. Jadotte spoke⁸ about the academic support services and technology offered by America’s world-class universities. His message attracted a long line of South African high school students.

Boneng Mofokeng says he is hoping to go to law school at Michigan State University.

“I want to see the world and our country’s economy is not good. Maybe I can have a better life over there," he said.

Jadotte says it is not just the African students who benefit from studying in the United States. The American host institutions also benefit from the increased diversity. He says Africa offers “a number of opportunities for U.S. institutions seeking to globalize their campuses." 

From South Africa, the delegation heads to Ivory⁹ Coast and Ghana.

Words in This Story

motivated – adj. eager, wanting to be successful

trade mission – n. an international trip by government officials and businesspeople that is organized by agencies of national or provincial¹⁰ governments to explore international business opportunities.

innovative – adj. introducing or using new ideas or methods

enrich³ – v. to improve the quality of (something) : to make (something) better

community college – n. a school that offers courses leading to a two-year associate's degree

recruit – v. to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc.

scholarship – n. an amount of money that is given by a school, an organization, etc., to a student to help pay for the student's education

globalize – v. to make (something) cover, involve, or affect the entire world

1 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

2 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

3 enrich   

vt.充实，使丰富，使富裕，使富有

参考例句：

• Some cream will enrich the sauce.在调味汁里加一些奶油会使其味道更加丰富。
• Music can enrich your life.音乐能丰富你的生活。

4 enriches   

使富有( enrich的第三人称单数 )； 使富裕； 充实； 使丰富

参考例句：

• Fertilizer enriches the soil. 肥料使土壤肥沃。
• A crop of tomatoes enriches the soil and makes It'suitable for growing cabbage. 西红柿茬口壮，种白菜挺合适。

5 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

6 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

7 recruit   

n.招聘，新兵，新成员；v.恢复，补充，招募

参考例句：

• The country's first act would be to recruit for the navy.国家的第一个行动是为海军征募新兵。
• This is a nationwide campaign to recruit women into trade unions.这是一次吸收妇女参加工会的全国性运动。

8 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。

9 ivory   

n.象牙，乳白色；adj.象牙制的，乳白色的

参考例句：

• My grandmother has some jewelry made of ivory.我祖母有一些象牙首饰。
• It is carved from ivory.它是用象牙雕成的。

10 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。