英语听力—环球英语 583 Celebrate Teachers

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I'm Mike Procter. 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
A man stands in front of a large crowd of people. He has a crown² on his head. He carries a stick - a sceptre. A crown and a sceptre usually show that a person is a king or queen. But this man is not a king. He is a teacher. Around him, all of his students and friends are clapping and laughing. He has been voted the best teacher in the Eastern European country of the Czech Republic.
Voice 2
On this day, only one teacher is honoured. But there is a day to honour all the teachers in the world. Today's Spotlight is on World Teachers Day – October 5.
Voice 1
Teachers make a very big difference to children and adults. Around the world today there are millions of teachers. Most teachers work very hard to help their students. They work long hours. Often, they are not paid well. So why do they do this work? They do it for their students!
Voice 2
In 1994 the United³ Nations declared that there should be one day a year for teachers. On this day students and their families would celebrate their teachers. This day is to recognize the importance of teachers. It was first celebrated⁴ in 1966 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). At that time the United Nations agreed to a document called the "Recommendation⁵ Concerning⁶ the Status of Teachers." This said that education is the right of all people. This means⁷ that teachers are necessary for society. It also gave a guide for how teachers should behave and how they should be treated.
Voice 1
Organizations in many places try to help teachers and students. One of these organizations is Education International. It calls itself "the voice of education workers world wide." It supports teacher unions around the world. These teacher groups encourage fair pay, and good treatment. Education International is one group that supports the celebration⁸ of World Teachers Day. They hope that these celebrations⁹ will create more support for teachers.
Voice 2
Can you imagine a world without teachers? They are very important for our societies and the future of our world.
On World Teachers Day we take time to recognize the hard work that teachers do. Many countries have a day to celebrate teachers. Some countries have a day off school. Some have a half day of school or other kind of celebrations.
Voice 1
So how can we celebrate teachers? Examples from three different countries show us how: the Czech Rebublic, Peru¹⁰ and South Korea¹¹. Some countries celebrate Teachers Day on October fifth. Other countries celebrate teachers on a different day of the year. This depends on the history and customs¹² of each country. But every teacher day shares the same goal!
Voice 2
In the Czech Republic, Teachers Day is on March the twenty eighth. This is the birth date Jan Amos Komensky. He was a very great teacher. He also wrote many books. These books helped people learn more about education. He is very well respected in the Czech Rebublic and Slovakia as well as around the world.
Voice 1
On Teachers Day in the Czech Republic, teachers and students take part in a special competition. It is named after Jan Amos Komensky. The competition is called the Zlaty Amos. In this competition, students choose their favourite teacher and one teacher wins the prize. The best teacher wears a crown and carries a sceptre, like the man at the beginning of our programme today. It is a great honour.
Voice 2
But not every country has a competition for the best teacher. Most countries just honour all their teachers. In Peru, schools give teachers awards and plaques¹³. These special signs honour the teacher's work. Many schools in Peru also hold special events where the students and the teachers play sports together. Students may also give their teacher a small gift.
Voice 1
In Peru, Teachers Day is celebrated on July sixth. This is the date when the first school in Peru was built, in 1822. Peruvians honour a man named Jose de San Martin. San Martin is best known¹⁴ as a leader, with Simon Bolivar, in South America's fight for freedom from Spain. But in Peru, he is also known for building the first school for common people. He also began the National Library and the Normal Lancasteriana, a teacher-training school. He recognized that education is the best way for people to make their lives better.
Voice 2
In South Korea, teachers are celebrated on May the fifteenth. Many people celebrate their teachers with traditional gifts. The most common gift to a teacher is a flower called a carnation¹⁵. This small pink flower is a sign of respect. As a gift, it signals¹⁶ thankfulness. Students have been giving carnation flowers since 1963. Some students also give their teachers a card. On this paper, they write some words of thanks and respect.
Voice 1
Teachers report that this means very much to them. The good words that students share give the teachers new energy to teach. Some students may even have a small performance of poems or music for the teachers. In South Korea, like in many countries around the world, teachers are greatly respected. A teacher has a large influence on the life of the student. The student and teacher may even keep a relationship after the time in class is over.
Voice 2
Each individual country's celebration of teachers day may be different, but there is only one WORLD Teachers Day. On October the fifth, we can be thankful for all the teachers in the world. We can look for ways to support their work.
Voice 1
It is also a good day to remember that not everyone is able to go to school. Some people live in areas where there are no teachers. Some people have a school but they lack the money to attend. On October 5, we can also think about ways to bring education to every community.
 

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 crown   

n.王冠，王权，顶点；v.使...成王，加冕，居...之顶

参考例句：

• He won the crown in 1973.他荣获1973年冠军称号。
• They wanted to crown Caesar king.他们想立凯撒为王。

3 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 recommendation   

n.推荐（信）建议，优点，长处

参考例句：

• I wrote him a good recommendation.我为他写了一封很好的推荐信。
• This method deserves recommendation.这种做法值得提倡。

6 concerning   

prep.关于，论及

参考例句：

• What do you know concerning this?关于这事你知道些什么？
• Some senior students wrote in asking for information concerning postgraduate studies.一些四年级学生写信询问有关研究生课程的信息。

7 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

8 celebration   

n.庆祝，庆祝会；典礼

参考例句：

• The celebration passed off successfully.庆祝活动圆满结束。
• The celebration of Christmas is a custom.庆祝圣诞节是一种习俗。

9 celebrations   

n.庆祝( celebration的名词复数 )；庆祝会（仪式）

参考例句：

• The mayor was there to dignify the celebrations. 市长的光临为庆祝活动增辉。
• Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations 维多利亚女王登基50周年庆典

10 Peru   

n.秘鲁(南美洲国家)

参考例句：

• Lima is the capital of peru.利马是秘鲁的首都。
• China and peru are friendly countries.中国和秘鲁是友好国家。

11 Korea   

n.朝鲜(亚洲)

参考例句：

• Korea lies to the east of China.韩国位于中国东面。
• Korea and China are separated by only the Yalu River.朝鲜和中国只隔一条鸭绿江。

12 customs   

n.海关，关税

参考例句：

• The customs officials turned the man over to the French police.海关官员把那个人移交给了法国警察。
• They are collecting customs.他们正在收缴关税。

13 plaques   

（纪念性的）匾牌( plaque的名词复数 )； 纪念匾； 牙斑； 空斑

参考例句：

• Primary plaques were detectable in 16 to 20 hours. 在16到20小时内可查出原发溶斑。
• The gondoliers wore green and white livery and silver plaques on their chests. 船夫们穿着白绿两色的制服，胸前别着银质徽章。

14 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。

15 carnation   

n.康乃馨（一种花）

参考例句：

• He had a white carnation in his buttonhole.他在纽扣孔上佩了朵白色康乃馨。
• He was wearing a carnation in his lapel.他的翻领里别着一枝康乃馨。

16 signals   

n.信号( signal的名词复数 )；（无线电或电视所传送的）讯号；标志；（尤指铁路和公路上的）指示灯v.发信号，用信号传达，用信号通讯( signal的第三人称单数 )；发暗号；示意

参考例句：

• signals transmitted from a satellite 从卫星传送来的信号
• This metal tower is used to relay television signals to distant villages. 这个金属塔是用于向遥远的村子转播电视讯号的。 来自《简明英汉词典》