VOA慢速英语2021--50岁尼日利亚女子首次上学

50-Year-Old Nigerian Woman Goes to School for First Time

Until recently, Shade Ajayi had never gone to school. Now 50, the businesswoman is learning to read and write alongside¹ students nearly 40 years younger than she is.

Ajayi attends a school in Ilorin, in Nigeria's western Kwara state. She wears the same uniform, or school clothing, as hundreds of girls at the school: a pink dress and head covering.

"I'm not ashamed that I wear a uniform," she said.

As a child, Ajayi worked in her aunt's shop instead of attending school. She now runs her own business making and selling purses and bags. But she believes her inability to read or write is holding her back.

Ajayi signed up to attend school last year, but the school closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Schools reopened in January and Ajayi finally got her chance.

She sits in a class with students aged² 11 to 13 and raises her hand to answer questions.

Ajayi's teacher, Nasrat Busari, said she did not appear worried about the age difference with other students.

"She has been coping well with them: playing together, talking together and discussing things together," he said.

Ajayi's daughter, Shola Adeboye, said at first, she was embarrassed that her mother attended school alongside children. But later, she supported her mother's efforts.

"She has always wanted to be educated but she couldn't (until now)," Adeboye said.

Ajayi still makes bags and purses after finishing classes. A helper serves her customers during school hours.

She plans to continue her education for four more years, saying it will help her business.

"People around me can read and write and they are succeeding in their businesses," said Ajayi.

And she does not seem to care what others may say about her. Ajayi said, "It's my duty not to pay attention to what they're saying."

Words in This Story

ashamed – adj. feeling shame, guilt³, or disgrace⁴

coping – v. dealing⁵ with and trying to find solutions for problems

embarrassed – adj. feeling or showing a state of self-conscious confusion⁶ and distress⁷

purse – n. a usually leather or cloth bag used by women for carrying money and personal things

1 alongside   

adv.在旁边；prep.和...在一起，在...旁边

参考例句：

• There was a butcher's shop alongside the theatre.剧院旁边有一家肉店。
• Alongside of him stood his uncle.他的身旁站着他叔叔。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

4 disgrace   

n.耻辱，不光彩，丢脸的人（或事）；vt.使丢脸

参考例句：

• You will bring disgrace on yourself by doing this.你这样做会给自己带来耻辱。
• He is a disgrace to our school.他是我们学校的耻辱。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 confusion   

n.困惑，迷乱，混淆，混乱，骚乱

参考例句：

• His answers to my questions have only added to my confusion.他对我的问题的回答只是使我更加困惑不解。
• His unexpected arrival threw us into total confusion.他的突然来访使我们完全不知所措。

7 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。