英语听力—环球英语 708 Learning in North Korea

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Robin² Basselin.
Voice 2
And I'm Ryan Geertsma. 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
Grégoire is a student at McGill University in Canada. He studies the languages and cultures of East Asia. In August of 2010, as part of his education, Grégoire went on a trip. He travelled to North Korea to study. Normally³, it is difficult to travel to this country. But Grégoire was able to do this with the P'yongyang Project. He believes this trip was important for making him a better student and person.
Voice 3
"The P'yongyang Project made me grow into a more critical, thoughtful⁴ and responsible being. It also connected me with individuals I will always remember as friends. I will never forget any of this."
Voice 2
Today's Spotlight is on the work and people of the P'yongyang Project.
Voice 1
Matthew Reichel, Nicholas Young and Jonathan Warren created the P'yongyang Project in 2009. They were students at Brown University in the United States. Like Grégoire, they studied the language and cultures of East Asia. They each studied other areas too – including politics and economics⁵. But all three men shared a common interest. They had an interest in the country of North Korea.
Voice 2
The government of North Korea is careful about what information it permits North Korean citizens to see. And it tries to control what information about the country is shared with the international public. Kay Seok is a researcher for Human Rights Watch. This organization reports on human rights around the world. She described the country of North Korea to the Guardian⁶ newspaper.
Voice 4
"North Korea is a culture where almost all freedoms are restricted⁷."
Voice 1
As a result, news media from other countries often present North Korea as very secret or very controlled. Matthew believes that they only present the negative parts of North Korea. He believes there are positive things about the country that should be shared too. Matthew told the Duke University newspaper,
Voice 5
"North Korea is a country full of life. It has a lot of elements you do not hear about in the news. It is a far more complex and active society than it is presented."
Voice 2
So, in January 2009, Matthew, Nicholas, and Jonathan sent a request to the government of North Korea. They wanted the government to permit them to bring a group of people to North Korea. But this trip would be different. They wanted to encourage a trip organized around education. And they wanted to help encourage understanding between people of very different cultures. They hoped the government would let them bring a group of students and professors into the country.
Voice 1
It is possible for people from many countries to take guided trips in North Korea. As in many other countries, people must request a travel permit, a visa, from the government. And the government always requires visitors to travel with an approved North Korean guide.
Voice 2
But Matthew, Nicholas, and Jonathan believed a trip based on education would be different. They hoped it would give people the chance to talk with citizens of North Korea.
The men did not expect the government to agree to their request. But in April 2009, they decided⁸ to start an organization. This organization became The P'yongyang Project. P'yongyang is the capital city of North Korea. The P'yongyang Project is a not for profit organization for education. They wrote the goal of the organization on The P'yongyang Project website:
Voice 5
"Our goal is simple. We want to create a new level of educational cooperation and cultural exchange. We believe that peaceful meetings, discussion⁹ and working together is the most direct way to build trust and encourage respect between people of both countries. We also believe this will form the beginning of peace and successful conditions between North Korea and the global community."
Voice 1
Then they heard from the government of North Korea. The government had agreed to their request! It permitted Matthew, Nicholas, and Jonathan to bring a group of students and professors to North Korea. The men began to plan the trip immediately. In August of 2009, the first group of students and professors travelled to North Korea.
Voice 2
Today, Jonathan has a job with a financial company. Matthew and Nicholas still work with the P'yongyang Project. And now they offer four different kinds of educational trips. The first is called Delegations¹⁰. The Delegations trip is organized to give people a chance to meet local people and have discussions¹¹. On this trip participants learn about the main issues facing North Korea and the areas around it.
Voice 1
The second educational trip is called The North South Dialogue Project. It is a two week trip. On this trip, people are asked to think of ideas for encouraging peace. They are also asked to think of ideas to improve the well-being¹² of the area.
Voice 2
The third educational trip is called THiNK. It is a summer program. The letters of the word THiNk each represent a different word. The word means Transcending¹³ History in North Korea. People on this trip go to Kim Il Sung University to study the Korean language and learn about the history of North Korea.
Voice 1
Independent University Courses are the fourth kind of educational trip. These trips change each time. The P'yongyang Project works¹⁴ with individual universities to organize the Independent University Courses. These trips are organized on one particular subject. Participants from the trip research and study that subject at schools in North Korea.
Voice 2
The Harvard University newspaper asked Matthew about The P'yongyang Project. The newspaper wanted to know why people would be interested in this kind of program. He answered,
Voice 5
"Many people come on the trip with a lot of already formed ideas. The one thing we like to tell people is to be questioning observers¹⁵. We tell them to ask questions, but to be respectful¹⁶. It is important to understand that North Korea is a place of its own. It is not like other places. It has its own individual culture and a political system like no other."
Voice 1
The P'yongyang Project values relationships and understanding. It was not easy to begin the project. Matthew and Nicholas had to work through many difficult problems to start it. But they believe the P'yongyang Project encourages values that will help bring people together. Matthew told the Duke University newspaper,
Voice 5
"The P'yongyang Project got started because we talked. It takes patience. It takes being very respectful. And it takes acting¹⁷ in an informed way. It is about being more interested in someone else."
 

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 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

3 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

4 thoughtful   

adj.思考的，沉思的，体贴的，关心的

参考例句：

• She is thoughtful for her friends.她很体贴她的朋友们。
• This is a thoughtful essay.这是一篇具有思想性的随笔。

5 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

6 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

7 restricted   

adj.有限的；受约束的

参考例句：

• Speed is restricted to 30 mph in towns. 在城里车速不得超过每小时30英里。
• a restricted range of foods 有限的食物种类

8 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。

9 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

10 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

11 discussions   

n.讨论( discussion的名词复数 )；商讨；详述；论述

参考例句：

• Discussions are held on an informal basis within the department. 讨论限于在本部门内非正式地进行。
• Her specialist input to the discussions has been very useful. 她在这些讨论中提供的专家建议很有助益。

12 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

13 transcending   

超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的现在分词 )； 优于或胜过…

参考例句：

• She felt herself transcending time and space. 她感到自己正在穿越时空。
• It'serves as a skeptical critic of the self-transcending element. 它对于超越自身因素起着一个怀疑论批评家的作用。

14 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

15 observers   

n.观察者( observer的名词复数 )；遵守者；观测者；目击者

参考例句：

• According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off. 据目击者说，飞机起飞后不久就爆炸了。
• Some military observers fear the US could get entangled in another war. 一些军事观察家担心美国会卷入另一场战争。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 respectful   

adj.恭敬的，对...表示尊敬的

参考例句：

• He is respectful to his elders.他对长辈很尊敬。
• She received guests with a respectful attitude.她恭恭敬敬地接待了客人。

17 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。