VOA常速英语2008年-Liberian Teachers, Students Want More Than Book

By Nico Colombant
Monrovia
22 February 2008

Teachers and students in Liberia say they want more than textbooks and desks to improve their war-ravaged education system, following new aid pledges¹ by President Bush at the end of his Africa tour this week.  VOA's Nico Colombant reports from Monrovia.

Wesley Kennedy, the principal of the Richard Nixon Institute, reads out instructions that he posts inside classrooms to increase discipline.

He says imposing² discipline at his private school in Monrovia is difficult since many students are former child soldiers.

"Many of the students that we do have here were students that fought, and so can you imagine seeing a student who was a general during the war and come back to school wearing a uniform, being restricted," he said.  "It is difficult. So it is very hard for us to get the message through."

Kennedy says Liberian schools need counselors³, psychologists and disciplinarians.  He says students in Monrovia need libraries more than textbooks and desks, so everyone can share books and research different topics.

Sylvester Tangboe reads out the fees for the typing classes he offers in an abandoned building in downtown Monrovia.

He says he is disappointed that Mr. Bush visited the nicer places during his short visit, rather than seeing places that really need help.

"They closed the doors, betraying⁴ the downtrodden masses and President Bush," he said.  "It would have been better for Bush to enter here and see how nasty⁵ this place is than to carry them to university campus, and some other places that they faced.   They went up there saying, all these things, that they are doing well, while they are not doing anything."

High school dropout⁶ and father of three, Isaiah Thomas, 33, says he is slowly increasing his typing speed to 15 words a minute. He would like to go back to high school, but says he cannot afford to.

"For now in Liberia, we are suffering because there is no job, no correct school, because of financial constraints," he said.  "So because of that, we want to learn but because of that how can we learn? So for this reason, some of us, we decided⁷ to come here, so we can learn how to type, so we can get our daily bread through that."

Many Liberians said they were expecting the announcement of a big, new financial aid package from the Bush visit.  Those interviewed for this report said they were grateful for existing U.S. help, but that they need much more.

1 pledges   

保证( pledge的名词复数 )； 抵押； 信物； 保人

参考例句：

• Although they had not made love, they had secretly exchanged solemn vows and pledges, bearing their hearts to each other. 虽未成双，却也海誓山盟，私传表记，已有无限的风情了。
• Philip pledges support and offers to help in any way that he can. 菲利普保证给予支持，并主动提出尽其所能提供帮助。

2 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

3 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

4 betraying   

对…不忠( betray的现在分词 )； 背叛； 出卖； 泄露

参考例句：

• For years they had been betraying state secrets to Russia. 他们多年来一直在向俄罗斯泄露国家机密。
• Don't try to trick me with words into betraying the secret. 别拿话来诈我。

5 nasty   

adj.令人讨厌的，困难的，恶劣的，下流的

参考例句：

• She got a nasty knock on the head when she fell.她跌倒时头部受到严重碰撞。
• When this material burns，it flings off a nasty smell.这种物质燃烧时发出一股难闻的气味。

6 dropout   

n.退学的学生；退学；退出者

参考例句：

• There is a high dropout rate from some college courses.有些大学课程的退出率很高。
• In the long haul,she'll regret having been a school dropout.她终归会后悔不该中途辍学。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。