【英语趣味课堂】不同国家的教养子女的方式-Parenting Here and There

Todd: So, you've seen obviously¹ life in France, family life in France, and now you've seen family life in America. Is there any differences?

 

Layla: Yes, there is a lot of difference about the education is different. The education in France, parents are more strict than here, but yeah, the lifestyle is different, too.

 

Todd: So you say that the parents are more strict in France. Like can you give an example? How are they more strict?

 

Layla: Like, here it's rare when parents say 'no' to their kids, and they say most of the time 'yes' for almost everything. But it's a good thing. It's a good thing, too, yeah.

 

Todd: So, you're saying the kids are spoiled?

 

Layla: A little bit, yeah. Sometimes.

 

Todd: What about like the daily routines³ of family life? Is there anything different about the daily routine²?

 

Layla: Here in the U.S. we have a lot of au pairs, and a lot of nannies, and in France the parents - most of the time - one of the parents work, and the other takes care of the kids. And here, in the U.S., I notice that both parents work all the time. It's rare when the parents take care of the kids. They contract a nanny most of the time.

 

Todd: So, now that you've been an au pair for awhile, would you recommend being an au pair for other people?

 

Layla: Yeah, sure. Of courses. It's a very good experience, and it's very good for our resume⁴, for people who want to finish their study, and to find work, and it's a good way to learn English.

 

Todd: OK, well, it was nice talking to you.

 

Layla: Thank you. You too.

 

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

obviously

 

You've seen obviously life in France.

 

We use the adverb 'obviously' when we want to express something the listener is sure to know or be aware of. The question or comment would be obvious to the speaker. Here are a few more examples:

 

Because of the rain, there will be no game obviously.

As a Japanese person, you obviously must know about sumo wrestling.

spoiled

 

You're saying the kids are spoiled.

 

A spoiled child is a child who gets anything they want. We usually use the term spoiled in a negative way, showing that someone gets what they want too much for their own good. However, it can be used positively⁵ sometimes. Notice the following:

 

That kid is so spoiled. He is going to have problems later in life. (negative reference)

I have a great boss and coworkers. I am very spoiled. (positive reference)

all the time

 

Both parents work all the time.

 

The term 'all the time' means 'often'. It shows that someone commits a lot of time to doing something. The phrase 'all the time' does not mean literally⁶ every minute of the day, but rather that something happens frequently. Here are a few more uses of 'all the time':

 

I played soccer all the time as a kid.

I see that guy all the time driving around town.

for awhile

 

You've been an au pair for awhile.

 

The phrase 'for awhile' refers to a lengthy⁷ period of time. We use the phrase 'for awhile' when we want to talk about time in general. The opposite of 'for awhile' is the term 'for not very long' which means a short period of time. Here are a few examples:

 

I've been studying Spanish for awhile, but I still can't speak it.

It's been awhile since I last saw Mary in class.

resumé

 

It's good for your resumé.

 

A resumé is a piece of paper that lists a person's job history and education history. When you apply for a job, you often have to submit⁸ a resumé. North Americans use resumés, while the British use C.V.'s. Notice the following:

 

Could you please proofread⁹ my resumé for me?

You should update your resumé before looking for work.

1 obviously   

adv.显然；明白地

参考例句：

• Obviously they were putting him to a severe test.显然他们是在给他以严峻的考验。
• Obviously he was lying.显然他是在撒谎。

2 routine   

n.例行公事，惯例；adj.例行的，常规的

参考例句：

• It is everyday routine.这是每天的例行公事。
• She found the hospital routine slightly dull.她感到医院的工作有点枯燥乏味。

3 routines   

n.[计算机]程序( routine的名词复数 )；例行公事；日常工作；固定节目

参考例句：

• The artists were going through their daily routines. 艺术家们正进行日常的练习活动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Hospital routines for nurses are very rigid. 医院中护士的日常工作非常刻板。 来自辞典例句

4 resume   

v.（中断后）继续，恢复；n.摘要，简历

参考例句：

• We'll stop now and resume at two o 'clock.我们现在停下来，到两点再干。
• My resume shows that I have the right qualifications for the job.我的简历表明我正符合这项工作的条件。

5 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

6 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

7 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

8 submit   

vi.(to)屈服，听从vt.呈送，提交；主张

参考例句：

• He was losing the fight but he would not submit. 他战败了,但不屈服。
• I will not submit to such treatment. 我不甘心忍受这样的待遇。

9 proofread   

vt.校正，校对

参考例句：

• I didn't even have the chance to proofread my own report.我甚至没有机会校对自己的报告。
• Before handing in his application to his teacher,he proofread it again.交给老师之前，他又将申请书补正了一遍。