VOA标准英语2012--Euro 2012 Prompts Ukrainians to Learn English

 

Euro 2012 Prompts¹ Ukrainians to Learn English

Euro 2012 has changed Ukrainians’ daily routine², especially those who live in the host-cities. The championship has attracted many tourists to the country, who remind Ukrainians that while the national parliament³ struggles to decide which language they should speak - Russian or Ukrainian - more and more people around the world are turning to English, especially in international business.

With that in mind, some Ukrainians, on their own, have begun speaking and running their businesses using several languages.

“We organize many tours with English-speaking guides, but most of them are still ordered by some self-organized travel groups that are coming here to Kyiv," said Arseniy Finberg, project coordinator⁴ for Interesting Kyiv.

The Ukrainian capital is also switching⁵ to English. The names of subway stations are now announced in Ukrainian and English, and all the signs are in both languages. And restaurant owners have added⁶ a few extra menus in English to those they already have.

“Last year when I was here, everything was in Ukrainian. Now everywhere, in the subway for example, all the signs are in English, and also the speaker voice is in Ukrainian and in English," said Swedish⁷ tourist Katerina. "And you can really tell that the town has prepared to welcome the tourists because now all the signs are in two languages and so on.”

Ukrainians are sometimes surprised by how well soccer fans from abroad speak English - even though it is not their national language. Those who have had a chance to take part in Euro 2012, have seen that market forces are in effect, with those knowing at least three languages in demand among employers⁸.

“English language is a must these days," said Euro 2012 volunteer Tetiana. "It doesn’t matter in which field you work, you can find it connected with English."

“The quantity of people speaking English is increasing with a speed of a sound. I know people who don’t speak English they start attending language schools. Almost everyone now speaks English," said Kateryna, another Euro 2012 volunteer.

With the flow of tourists to Kyiv, local residents⁹ are seeing the important role the English language plays - even in the course of watching soccer games in their home country. As a result, Ukrainians are finding¹⁰ they are going back to their school years, trying to come up with a few English phrases¹¹ - if only to explain to foreign fans why the Ukrainian team they are cheering for will win. 

1 prompts   

v.为（演员）提示台词( prompt的第三人称单数 )；促使；为（发言者）提示；导致

参考例句：

• The play was so regularly performed that there was no need of written prompts. 这戏经常演出，没必要使用书面提示。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• It is this fact which prompts us to declare that the wasp is not free. 正是这一事实促使我们宣称，那只黄蜂不是自由的。 来自哲学部分

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 Parliament   

n.议会，国会

参考例句：

• She won a seat in Parliament at the election.她在选举中赢得了议会中的席位。
• The drug was banned by an act of parliament.议会的法案明令禁止该药品。

4 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

5 switching   

n.开关；转换；交换；配电v.转变，改变( switch的现在分词 )；转换；挥动（棍棒、鞭子等）；迅速转动

参考例句：

• Check all your wiring before switching on the current. 开启电流前检查所有的电线路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many factories are switching over to a shorter working week. 很多工厂都在减少每周的工作日数。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 added   

adj.更多的，附加的，额外的

参考例句：

• They have added a new scene at the beginning.在开头他们又增加了一场戏。
• The pop music added to our enjoyment of the film.片中的流行音乐使我们对这部电影更加喜爱。

7 Swedish   

n.瑞典人，瑞典语；adj.瑞典的，瑞典人的，瑞典语的

参考例句：

• From his looks I'd say he was Swedish.从他的相貌上看，我敢说他是瑞典人。
• He is going after that pretty Swedish girl.他正在追求那位美丽的瑞典女郎。

8 employers   

雇主( employer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
• The onus is on employers to follow health and safety laws. 雇主有义务遵行健康安全法。

9 residents   

n.居民( resident的名词复数 )；（旅馆的）住宿者

参考例句：

• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。
• Local residents have reacted angrily to the news. 当地居民对这一消息表示愤怒。

10 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

11 phrases   

n.短语( phrase的名词复数 )；成语；说法；乐句

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》