新奇事件簿 叙利亚难民成澳大利亚学校优等生（在线收听）

A Syrian refugee who could hardly speak a word of English two years ago has just passed his high school exams in Australia with flying colours. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, has just graduated with the top marks at one of Australia's biggest high schools. His outstanding overall grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all graduates in Melbourne. Saad fled the civil war in Syria to start a new life in Australia. He said: "Coming to a place where you don't know how to speak, where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it just felt unreal." He added: "It really makes me sad to think that I have friends in my school back in Syria who were as good as me, but who didn't have the opportunity that I've had."

两年前还几乎一个英语单词都不会说的一名叙利亚难民以出色的成绩通过了高中考试。19岁的Saad Al-Kaab在澳大利亚最大的高中以优异的成绩毕业。他的总分排在墨尔本所有毕业生的前4%。Saad逃离叙利亚内战，在澳大利亚开始了新生活。他说：“到一个语言不通，文化不同的地方是非常困难的，感觉非常不真实。”他补充说：“想到在叙利亚学校的同学，他们和我一样优秀，但是却没有我这样的机会，我就非常伤心。”

Saad said that he tried to learn English from his cousins for his first two months in Australia. Then he started to watch a popular political programme on television. It is a live broadcast of Australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the issues of the day. He explained how the show helped his English. He said: "They use the best, persuasive language in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find the words." He said it was very different to Syrian politicians and parliament, where "all they do is clap". Saad is very appreciative of his new beginning. He said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. It's revived me and given me a new life."

Saad说，来到澳大利亚的前两个月，他努力跟表兄弟姐妹学习英语。后来他在电视上观看一个非常受欢迎的政治节目，是澳大利亚政客向首相咨询时政问题的现场广播。他解释说，这个节目对他学英语提供了非常大的帮助。他说：“他们使用的是议会中最好的，最有说服力的语言。他们的语速很慢，你能够听清每个单词。”他说，叙利亚政客和议会则非常不同，他们只会鼓掌。Saad非常感激他的新开始。他说：“我非常感谢澳大利亚给我这样一个机会。它唤醒了我，给我了新生。”