VOA慢速英语2020--难民在犹他州跑步俱乐部寻求帮助

Educators and officials in Utah have been concerned about the effects of COVID-19-related restrictions¹ and closures on children's education. But activists³ say the closures are hardest for those who were already struggling in school: local refugees and immigrants.

Halima Ali is an activist² for the state's Somali refugee community. She noted⁴ that even under normal conditions, refugee children are often in need. Their parents are new to the United States, and they do not know our education system, she said. In some cases, the parents may have had little schooling⁵, so COVID-19 made the situation worse.

Ali and her family immigrated⁶ from Somalia long before the start of the coronavirus health crisis. She said it was a struggle to feel at ease in their new homeland. For many families where the parents did not receive much education, it can be even worse.

This was the case for Salman Yusef, whose family immigrated to Utah in 2018.

"When I came here, I didn't know how to read and write," he said. "And I was learning, but then COVID-19 came. And it still is hard for me to read and write."

But a local nonprofit group helped Yusef find his way, both in the classroom and as a runner. Mike and Kristi Spence launched Athletics⁷ United as a running club after they found that many refugee children needed help with their schoolwork. Their hope was to unite the community and make children more physically⁸ active.

The group used to hold tutoring sessions two times a week at the public library in Logan, Utah. But those meetings were halted in March because of measures designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Library officials have yet to let private groups back into the building.

Like every other industry, Athletics United had to think differently to meet the new rules on physical distancing. Mike Spence told The Associated Press that the past three years have been a very important time for the group. He said it has used word-of-mouth and friendships to help with individual student's needs.

For many refugees, language barriers are the root of many problems. Spence, for example, helps tutor Yusef once a week because there are not enough teachers for all the students.

"Teachers sometimes are not available for you, because they've got meetings," he said. "They got other things to do, too. You can't really stay after school because of the COVID-19 stuff ... but before, when we needed to get help after school, but it was not enough, you would still get help from the program."

Frank Schofield heads the Logan City School District. He said the push to get students to build relationships with teachers was important to creating trust. He said this is similar to how Athletics United operates. The club has served the Logan community for years and proved helpful to refugees and immigrants, or anyone who needs help.

Schofield added that, "if we don't have in-person, face-to-face learning, we know that those challenges are greater for those families because of a lack of access to technology in many cases."

Providing computers and other technology to students helps, but the system is not perfect.

Yusef's cousin Mowlid Nur has been with the group for a long time. The two attended Logan High School together. He said that finding extra help can be difficult and often depends on the teacher.

"It's just always, 'If you have any question or anything, send me an email," he said. "It's only through email, and when I email, you never know how long they might take them to respond. It might take days, hours, minutes, however long, and it depends on your teacher."

Yusef's niece Sabrin attends Thomas Edison Charter School-South. She said while it was a similar struggle at first, the school was able to add two new tutors to help.

In the past four weeks, Spence has started up more running groups. The club used to meet at Ellis Elementary School. Spence and several volunteers now meet two times a week in two different locations. He said this gives the children something to look forward to and a chance to get together in as safe an environment as possible.

Words in This Story

club – n. a group of people who meet to participate in an activity (such as a sport or hobby)

tutor – n. a teacher who works with one student

library – n. a place where books, magazines, and other materials (such as videos and musical recordings) are available for people to use or borrow

challenge – n. a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do

access – n. a way of being able to use or get something

cousin – n. a child of your uncle or aunt

respond – v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request

niece – n. a daughter of your brother or sister

location – n. a place or position

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 schooling   

n.教育；正规学校教育

参考例句：

• A child's access to schooling varies greatly from area to area.孩子获得学校教育的机会因地区不同而大相径庭。
• Backward children need a special kind of schooling.天赋差的孩子需要特殊的教育。

6 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

7 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。

8 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。