VOA标准英语2012--Former Torture Center Teaches Khmer Rouge History

Former Torture Center Teaches Khmer Rouge¹ History

Teacher Ser Sayana stands before a classroom of foreigners and tries to cover in 15 minutes the violent history of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge. 

She says the course, sponsored by the Documentation Center of Cambodia, has added weight because it is held in a historic site. 

“They can see the building," she said. "They might have some background about the atrocity² of this prison. But, they might not have the more in-depth, insightful into the whole history of the Khmer Rouge. So, this place is kind of the collection of memory of the history.” 

The Khmer Rouge locked up as many as 20,000 Cambodians here, deemed enemies of the revolution. Only seven survived. The rest were tortured and executed. 

Organizers hope the twice-a-week classes can help redefine Tuol Sleng as a place of education. 

“Yeah, it’s really really good. I enjoyed it to get this way information about what was really going on here,” said German tourist Sebastian Poschlu. 

Norwegian tourist Ingunn Jaabok says she has goose bumps after taking the class and touring the torture rooms. 

“I can’t explain the feeling I have," she said. "It’s not a good feeling after the entire day. But, still it’s a good feeling cause I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad I know this. I’m glad I know this happened.” 

Chum Mey, one of only two living survivors³ of Tuol Sleng, now works at his former prison selling books about the Khmer Rouge. He welcomes the classes but says more education is needed. 

“This is not enough," he said. There must be many more [classes] so young people will understand. Once they understand they will not follow [in the footsteps] of the [Khmer Rouge].” 

While the courses are now mainly aimed at tourists visiting Tuol Sleng, instructors⁴ also teach Cambodian student groups in the Khmer language. Organizers say public interest is growing and they plan to add more classes to the schedule. 

1 rouge   

n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红

参考例句：

• Women put rouge on their cheeks to make their faces pretty.女人往面颊上涂胭脂，使脸更漂亮。
• She didn't need any powder or lip rouge to make her pretty.她天生漂亮，不需要任何脂粉唇膏打扮自己。

2 atrocity   

n.残暴，暴行

参考例句：

• These people are guilty of acts of great atrocity.这些人犯有令人发指的暴行。
• I am shocked by the atrocity of this man's crimes.这个人行凶手段残忍狠毒使我震惊。

3 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

4 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。