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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Ryan Geerstma. 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
In the mountains of Kenya, an old man stands at a gate. His skin is aged3 and his hair is white. He stands bent4 over his walking stick. He is wearing blue school clothes. And he has a blanket over his shoulders. This man waits outside the Kapkenduiywa Primary school near Eldoret, Kenya. This is not the first time the man has come to the school. He has come many times over the last few months.
Voice 2
Today, he watches the children sing in the school yard. He waits at the gate for the head teacher. He asks her the same question as he always does. He asks if he can attend the school. In the past, the head teacher told him no. She told him that this school is for children. However, this time is different. This time she says yes. Today, 84-year-old Kimani Maruge will start his first day of school.
Voice 1
This story is from the recent film “The First Grader.” The film is based on the real life story of Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge. Today’s Spotlight is on Kimani Maruge and his desire to become educated5.
Voice 2
In 2003, the Kenyan government passed a new law. This law established that the government would provide free education for all primary school students. In Kenya, primary school includes eight grades, or levels. Usually, primary students start Grade One when they are six or seven years old. However, when Kenya began free education, many older children started school for the first time. New students filled schools all over the country. In many Grade One classrooms, children had to share seats or even sit on the floor.
Voice 1
Schools were prepared for the thousands of new students. However, no one was prepared for a student like Kimani Maruge. At 84, he set a new record in the Guinness Book of World Records. He became the oldest person in the world to ever start primary school.
Voice 2
Voice 3
“At first, the head teacher said no. I thought it must be because I did not have the official school clothes. So, I saved my money and bought clothes.”
Voice 1
However, Maruge had to visit the school four more times before the head teacher let him stay. Head teacher, Jane Obinchu told the Mirror,
Voice 4
“At first, we thought this was insane7. But I knew we would have to admit a man who was so serious about learning8... I told the teachers to prepare for the oldest school boy ever.”
Voice 2
Many people wonder why Maruge wanted to start school at such an old age. The reason is simple - he was not able to attend school when he was younger.
Voice 1
Maruge was born around 1920. He had no official papers9 to tell him the exact date of his birth. He was the oldest son of seven children. When he was old enough to attend school he could not go. Instead, he helped his father work on their farm. He sacrificed his education so that his younger brothers and sisters could go to school.
Voice 2
In the 1950s, Maruge joined the Mau Mau rebels10. This group of Kenyans were mainly from the Kikuyu tribe11. Together, they fought against the British people that occupied Kenya. Kenyans did not gain their independence from this rebellion12. But many people believe this rebellion began a process. This process led to Kenyan independence in 1963.
Voice 1
After years of farming13 and fighting, Maruge then had a wife and children of his own. He needed to continue farming to support his family. Many years passed. Maruge raised 12 children. He never had the time or money to spend on his own education.
Voice 2
However, in 2003, that all changed. The government had promised to provide free education for all. So, Maruge decided it was his time to go to school.
Voice 1
Maruge wanted to learn to read and write for many reasons. He wanted to be able to read letters from friends, family and the government. He also wanted to be able to read official business papers. He wanted to be able to make more educated decisions. He told the Mirror,
Voice 3
“I have suffered so many problems from being uneducated. People used to cheat me when I bought goods.”
Voice 2
However, letters and business were not the most important reasons Maruge wanted to go to school. For Maruge, religion was the most important reason. Maruge was a Christian14. He had attended church all of his life. However, he had to depend on religious15 leaders and his children to learn about the Christian Bible16. He told news writer Kate Snow,
Voice 3
“All my life I have wanted to read the Bible.”
Voice 1
When Maruge started school, he attended with three of his children’s children. They were all in higher grades than Maruge. However, with much hard work, Maruge learned17 quickly. One of Maruge’s teachers told the Mirror,
Voice 5
“He is so intelligent. When he came to school, he could not write his name. But now, he reads the newspapers. We are learning from him.”
Voice 2
Many people agreed with Maruge’s teacher. Maruge was a student, but he also had much to teach. In 2005, the United18 Nations invited Kimani Maruge to come to New York City. They wanted him to speak about the importance of free education. Maruge accepted the invitation. And in his speech he said,
Voice 3
“I want all children in the world to be educated. That is what I really hope to see.”
Voice 1
Even after great success, there were still barriers19 to Maruge’s education. In 2007, riots20 began in Kenya. Two major tribes21 were fighting over land and government rule. Maruge had to move to a refugee22 camp where it was safe. At the time, he was 88 years old. The camp was more than three kilometers from his school. However, the long walk did not stop him from attending school. He told the news organization Reuters,
Voice 3
“It is hard. There is no one to help me walk. I go to the school alone. But the urge23 to learn keeps me going.”
Voice 2
Kimani Maruge continued to go to school until he became sick in 2008. And on August 14th, 2009 Maruge died from stomach cancer. He was 90 years old.
Voice 1
Although Maruge is now dead, his story lives on. The film, The First Grader will continue to spread his story. And his message is simple. As Maruge once told the Mirror,
Voice 3
"A person is never too old to learn."
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Robin Basselin. The producer was Mark Drenth. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes24 were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to and read this program again on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called “The Oldest First Grader.”
Voice 1
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
spotlight
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| n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目 | |
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robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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educated
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| adj.受过教育的，有教养的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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insane
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| adj.蠢极的，荒唐的，精神错乱的，疯狂的 | |
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learning
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| n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词 | |
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papers
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| n.文件，纸币，论文 | |
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rebels
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| n.反政府的人( rebel的名词复数 )；反叛者；造反者；叛逆者v.反抗政府( rebel的第三人称单数 )；反抗权威 | |
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tribe
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| n.部落，种族，一伙人 | |
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rebellion
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| n.造反，叛乱，反抗 | |
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farming
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| n.农事；耕作 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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religious
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| adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人 | |
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bible
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| n.《圣经》；得到权威支持的典籍 | |
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learned
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| adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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united
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| adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的 | |
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barriers
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| n.障碍( barrier的名词复数 )；屏障；栅栏；分界线 | |
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riots
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| n. 暴乱, 骚乱, 暴动 vi. 骚乱, 闹事 | |
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tribes
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| n.部落( tribe的名词复数 )；（动、植物的）族；（一）帮；大群 | |
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refugee
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| n.难民，流亡者 | |
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urge
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| n.冲动，推动力，迫切的要求；vt.驱策，力劝，力陈，推动；vi.强烈要求 | |
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quotes
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| v.引用，援引( quote的第三人称单数 )；报价；引述；为（股票、黄金或外汇）报价 | |
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