环球英语 — 52：Listener Mail 76

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight¹’s Listener Mail program! I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Welcome to today’s Spotlight listener mail program! You may have been listening to Spotlight for a long time. You may have been listening to Spotlight for only a few weeks. Or maybe this is the first Spotlight program you have ever heard! Well, whether you have been listening for a long time or a short time, we have got a special treat for you today! And it’s all because of Semion from Israel! Semion wrote us an e-mail. He wrote:
Voice 3
“Hello! I’m enjoying listening to your programs! I started listening to Spotlight only a half a year ago. And I’m interested in what was in the first Spotlight program. Is it possible to get it?”
Voice 1
Semion, your question got us thinking! The idea for Spotlight began in 1996 - more than ten years ago! And in that time, Spotlight has changed a lot! Today, we would like to take you on a journey. We will explore a little bit of Spotlight’s history. And we will even listen to parts of our very first program ever! Keep listening!
Voice 2
The idea for Spotlight came from a man named Mike Procter. In fact, you may recognize his name and voice! Mike has worked on many Spotlight programs.
Voice 1
In the mid² 90’s Mike was working in Cyprus. There, he heard some radio programs from Voice of America. These programs were in Special English. This method of broadcasting is easier for people to understand. The Voice of America broadcasts news stories. But Mike believed that he could also use the method to share Christian³ ideas!
Voice 2
So, Mike closely⁴ studied this broadcasting method. In the beginning, Mike produced programs himself. He asked a few people he knew to read parts of the script⁵ with him. Voices in the first program came from the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and the United States. Radio stations broadcast Mike’s first program in October of 1999.
Voice 1
This program was fifteen [15] minutes long - just like Spotlight. It used a special English method of broadcasting - just like Spotlight. But the very first program sounds different than a Spotlight program you would hear today! The original structure of the first Specialized⁶ English programs was different. In the first programs, Mike combined three unrelated subjects into one program. But today, each Spotlight program concentrates on only one particular subject. This way, we can include more information and explore a subject more carefully.
Voice 2
Mike’s first program was not called Spotlight. Instead, he called it “a program in Specialized English.” But in 2001, this Specialized English program got its name - Spotlight.
Voice 1
The first program to use the name Spotlight was the program “Responses to Suffering.” This program told about different ways people react to tragedies and sad events. This was Spotlight’s 86th program. A few programs later, we explained why we chose the name “Spotlight” for our Specialized English program. So, why is our program called Spotlight?
Voice 2
In the program, “Spotlights⁷,” we explained that a spotlight is a strong and narrow beam⁸, or line, of light. Spotlights can help people find things. They can place importance on a subject. A spotlight often shows a performer on a theatre stage. A spotlight can also help to lead people or show people the way. In a news story, a presenter⁹ can also “spotlight” a particular subject. He concentrates on one particular issue - like we do in our Spotlight programs.
Voice 1
But here is another important way that people can think about the word spotlight. It is a deeper meaning. In the Bible¹⁰, Jesus says he is the light of the world. He is like a light that leads us to safety. He is a light showing us the important things in life - like love, peace, and justice.
Voice 2
When people read the Bible, they can know more about Jesus and God. This knowledge can help us to shine God’s light in the world. We call our program Spotlight because we believe that God’s light can shine into every part of life. God’s light can shine in science, art and culture, stories, technology or anything! Our programs try to show how God’s light shines in our world.
Voice 1
In his e-mail, Semion also asked if we will ever repeat our first Spotlight program. The answer is probably no. The name is different, the structure is different, and the subjects are no longer fresh. But, so that you can hear it, here is a short part of that first program. We hope you enjoy this short journey into the past!
“Welcome to our program in Specialised English. I’m Mike Procter. This program uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.
In today’s program we will tell about slang¹¹ words and how the word Christian first came into use. And we have some information about an interesting internet website for movie lovers¹². But first here is Anne Rajoo with some thoughts about the future of radio. Anne comes from the country of Malaysia.
Have you noticed how much radio has changed in recent years? International radio especially is different...
...From all of us in the Specialised English team, happy listening!
English speakers often use slang words and sayings. These are common but they are not one hundred [100] percent correct use of English. Here is Lee De Young:
One of the things that makes it hard to learn another language is the use of “slang”. “Slang” is the way we often speak in our....
...who believe in him, and try to live like him. It is the same in every language, no matter what word you use...
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

5 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。

6 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

7 spotlights   

n.聚光灯（的光）( spotlight的名词复数 )；公众注意的中心v.聚光照明( spotlight的第三人称单数 )；使公众注意，使突出醒目

参考例句：

• The room was lit by spotlights. 房间被聚光灯照亮。
• The dazzle of the spotlights made him ill at ease. 聚光灯的耀眼强光使他局促不安。 来自辞典例句

8 beam   

n.横梁；光束；vi.发光，发热

参考例句：

• The load on this beam is more than it will bear.横梁上的负荷比它能承受的要大得多。
• I could see the beam of his flashlight waving around in the dark.我可以看到他的手电筒光在黑暗中上下舞动。

9 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。

10 bible   

n.《圣经》；得到权威支持的典籍

参考例句：

• According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的，我们都是亚当的后裔。
• This dictionary should be your Bible when studying English.学习英语时，这本字典应是你的主要参考书。

11 slang   

n.俚语，行话；vt.使用俚语，辱骂；vi.辱骂

参考例句：

• The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
• Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。

12 lovers   

爱好者( lover的名词复数 )； 情人； 情夫； 情侣

参考例句：

• They were off-screen lovers. 他们是真实生活中的情侣。
• Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet 罗密欧和朱丽叶这一对莎士比亚笔下命运多舛的恋人