【英语趣味课堂】做零活的人-Handy Man

 Todd: Rob, when you first came to Japan you said you did construction.

 

Rob: Yes, I was hired as a framer for 2x4 types of homes, so the same style of homes that are built in Canada or America.

 

Todd: OK, so what do you mean by frames?

 

Rob: Framing, the actually frame of the house so, we start from the foundation, we lay down the sub-floor, we build the walls, a second floor, more walls, square everything up, and then add in the windows, the exterior¹ wrap, and on some occasions we will finish the roof.

 

Todd: How long does it take you to make a house?

 

Rob: Our job would take around two to three weeks, with three guys, a team of three, we able to frame a house, shingle² the roof, install the windows and the doors in less than three weeks.

 

Todd: Oh, wow. Now when you work, do you work with a Canadian crew or Japanese?

 

Rob: Actually, it was quite mixed. Our boss was from Seattle, Washington, and we had people from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and some Japanese workers.

 

Todd: Wow, that's cool. What it a good experience?

 

Rob: Yeah, it was a very good experience. I hope one day maybe to be able to build my own house with some friends. It's possible to save money and it's the enjoyment³ of building something for yourself.

 

Todd: OK, where would you build this house?

 

Rob: That's a good question. I'm thinking, maybe back in Canada, but maybe not in the East Coast. It'd be possibly in B.C. or maybe in another country. Who knows?

 

学习内容：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

foundation

 

We start from the foundation.

 

The "foundation" of something is a strong base or support that is used so the building will not move.  Notice the following:

 

The earthquake broke the foundation of the building.

The construction workers dug a big hole on the property for the foundation.

square up

 

Square everything up.

 

To "square something up" is to make it straight and in order, the way that it should be.  Not to one side or the other.  Notice the following:

 

The addition was built very well, with everything squared up.

Make sure to square the building up or the door won't open easily.

shingle

 

We shingle the roof.

 

A "shingle" is a thin piece of strong material that is used with many other shingles⁴ to cover and protect a house.  Shingle can also be used as a verb.  Notice the following:

 

Many people put new shingles on their houses in the summer.

The rain storm was so strong that it caused big problems for the shingles on the roof.

install

 

We install the windows and the doors.

 

To "install" something is to put it in place so that it works properly.  We use this for things are parts that are not moved from the place they are originally put.  Notice the following:

 

The mechanic is installing an new windshield in my car.

The bathroom is almost finished.  They just need to install the toilet and the sink.

mixed

 

The crew was quite mixed, people from Canada, Australia.

 

A "mixed" group is a combination of people from many different countries.  Mixed is a combination of many different things.  Notice the following:

 

My friend made me a mixed CD.  It had songs by many different musicians.

The university had a very mixed population.

 

1 exterior   

adj.外部的，外在的；表面的

参考例句：

• The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。
• We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。

2 shingle   

n.木瓦板；小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌)；v.用木瓦板盖（屋顶）；把（女子头发）剪短

参考例句：

• He scraped away the dirt,and exposed a pine shingle.他刨去泥土，下面露出一块松木瓦块。
• He hung out his grandfather's shingle.他挂出了祖父的行医招牌。

3 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

4 shingles   

n.带状疱疹；（布满海边的）小圆石( shingle的名词复数 )；屋顶板；木瓦（板）；墙面板

参考例句：

• Shingles are often dipped in creosote. 屋顶板常浸涂木焦油。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The roofs had shingles missing. 一些屋顶板不见了。 来自辞典例句