VOA慢速英语2010年-Remembering Math Teacher Jaime Escalan

Today we remember a man who was considered one of the best teachers in the United States. Jaime Alfonso Escalante was born in nineteen thirty in La Paz, Bolivia. Both his parents were teachers. He taught math and science in his home country for twelve years.

In the nineteen sixties, Jaime Escalante and his wife Fabiola came to the United States. During the next several years, he learned¹ to speak English and repeated his college education and teacher training.

In nineteen seventy-four, Mr. Escalante was hired at Garfield High School to teach mathematics.

The school was in a poor area of Los Angeles, California. Many of the students had serious problems with illegal drugs, gangs² and violence. The school was in danger of losing its official approval³ to operate.

Mr. Escalante’s students were mostly Mexican-Americans from a Spanish-speaking area of the city. Many were the worst students at the school and thought to be “unteachable.” But Mr. Escalante pushed the group to work hard. He told them basic math was too easy and that they had the ability to do harder work.

He told his students that he believed in them, but they must have the desire to be successful.

Jaime Escalante talks with a student in his calculus⁴ class at Garfield High School in Los Angeles, Cailfornia in 1988.

Jaime Escalante started an advanced math program with a small group of students. Advanced Placement is a program of college-level classes and tests. In nineteen eighty-two, eighteen of his students took the Advanced Placement test in calculus. They all passed.

Officials at the testing company suspected the students of cheating. Mr. Escalante protested⁵. He said the students were being rejected because they were Hispanic and from a poor school. He urged his students to take the test again.

Twelve of the students repeated the test. And again, all of them passed. Five earned top scores. Mr. Escalante’s students went on to become engineers, scientists and university professors. The advanced math program at Garfield became extremely successful over the next several years.

Jaime Escalante received many teaching⁶ awards including the Presidential Medal of Excellence⁷ in Education. A movie about his success, “Stand and Deliver,” was released⁸ in nineteen eighty-eight. It influenced other teachers to use his methods.

Jaime Escalante retired⁹ from teaching in nineteen ninety-eight and later moved back to Bolivia with his wife. He died earlier this year. He was seventy-nine years old.

And that's the VOA Special English Education Report written by Lawan Davis. I'm Steve Ember.

1 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

2 gangs   

n.（罪犯有组织的）一帮( gang的名词复数 )；一伙；（闹事青少年的）一群；（工人有组织的）一队

参考例句：

• Gangs of youths went on the rampage in the city yesterday. 成群结伙的年轻人昨天在城里横冲直撞。
• a vicious turf war between rival gangs of drug dealers 对立贩毒团伙之间的猛烈火并

3 approval   

n.赞成，同意；批准，认可

参考例句：

• The audience has expressed its approval.观众已经认可。
• The teacher signed his approval.老师做了手势表示同意。

4 calculus   

n.微积分；结石

参考例句：

• This is a problem where calculus won't help at all.对于这一题，微积分一点也用不上。
• After studying differential calculus you will be able to solve these mathematical problems.学了微积分之后，你们就能够解这些数学题了。

5 protested   

v.声明( protest的过去式和过去分词 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• He protested he was being cheated of his rightful share. 他提出抗议说他被人骗取了他依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Amy protested she was being cheated of her rightful share. 艾米提出抗议，说有人骗取了她依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

7 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

8 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

9 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。