VOA标准英语2009年-Becoming an Educator Tops Nabila's Lis

Ferris State University Student Nabila Taufiq

I think teaching¹ is definitely² a good profession for me, so anywhere I decide to go, I would definitely like to teach.

Nabila Taufiq is in her junior year at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan and although the earlier years here were difficult, she says receiving an education in the United³ States is highly⁴ valued around the world.  "Well, the thing is I've been here for a pretty long time so I am use to the school system here and when I first came here it was definitely hard for me to adjust⁵ to the school system here because the school system in Bangladesh is so different, so I thought that if I stayed here and finish my education here it would be much better for me," she says.

"Also, I think the education in the United States is very much valued all over the world and there are more opportunities here for students."

Nabila moved to the United States from Bangladesh at a very young age with her family. Nabila's initial⁶ interest consist of a bit of math and science, however she finally decided⁷ to declare her major in education.  "I'm an education major. Secondary⁸ education.  I'm doing actually a math major and chemistry minor⁹ and the reason I chose education I was actually choosing pharmacy¹⁰ first and then I tried chemistry for a while, but I chose education because I want more out of a job.  The thing is for me education seems like something that I would enjoy because also I am a minority.  I am an international student so I think education for me would be great to be a teacher because then students would be exposed to diversity¹¹ from a very young age and I think that would definitely be good for them."

Some things Nabila enjoys about Ferris University besides studying is.."Well it is close to home and I was talking to people at the international center and they are very friendly to me. They are very nice and just the staff, I love the teachers, the professors and especially [those at] the international center.  They are like a second family.  Whenever I have a problem I can go to them and ask them.  They are very involved with students lives so I really like that about them.

Now one of Nabila's activity includes her giving back to other international students.  "I'm a secretary at the international student organization.  I work with international students and basically¹² sometimes organize activities for them to get together and we try to involve students more, like get them involved more and try to make them more comfortable," she said.

It did take me a while to [adapt to] being one of the very few minorities, but I don't regret it at all going there.  I absolutely love it there.  Although I am a minority, people are very open to me and I feel I get to share my experiences more.  People ask me questions all the time. I get to share my experiences and stories and ideas.

Whether Nabila goes back to Bangladesh or stays in the United States, teaching is at the top of her list of what she wants to do.  "I'm hoping to finish in a year or two and I would like to become a high school teacher and I can either stay here or go back to Bangladesh.  Even if I go back to Bangladesh I would like to do the same thing.  I would like to teach students.  I think teaching is definitely a good profession for me anywhere I go, I would definitely like to teach."

Nabila's advice to other international students is...  "It is going to be a little difficult, but be yourself.  Don't give into peer¹³ pressure or anything else just be yourself and hold on to your values, your morals¹⁴, your culture, but don't be so stuck to your culture that you are not open to anything because it is going to be a little difficult getting use to the language and the culture and yeah, just the culture I guess, but you will definitely get use to it.  Once you get use to it, it is much more enjoyable."

1 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

2 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

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 highly   

adv.高度地，极，非常；非常赞许地

参考例句：

• It is highly important to provide for the future.预先做好准备非常重要。
• The teacher speaks very highly of the boy's behaviour.老师称赞这个男孩的表现。

5 adjust   

vt.调整，使适应于，校准；vi.调整，适应于，校准

参考例句：

• Foreigners take some time to adjust to our way of life.外国人要花一些时间才能适应我们的生活方式。
• It is difficult to adjust one's habits to someone else.一个人很难使自己的习惯适于他人。

6 initial   

adj.最初的，开始的，词首的；n.首字母，姓名的开头字母；vt.标注姓名的首字母于

参考例句：

• After she'd overcome her initial shyness,she became very friendly.她克服了起初的羞怯之后，变得十分友善。
• The experiments have given initial results eventually.那些试验总算初见成效了。

7 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。

8 secondary   

adj.中级的，中等的，次要的；n.次要位置，副手

参考例句：

• It's a question of secondary importance.这是个次要的问题。
• Secondary school means junior school and high school.中学是指初中和高中。

9 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

10 pharmacy   

n.药房，药剂学，制药业，配药业，一批备用药品

参考例句：

• She works at the pharmacy.她在药房工作。
• Modern pharmacy has solved the problem of sleeplessness.现代制药学已经解决了失眠问题。

11 diversity   

n.差异，多样性；vt.使不同，使多样化

参考例句：

• Our party believes in encouraging cultural diversity,not diversion.我们党鼓励多种文化，而不是文化分歧。
• His object is to gather as great a diversity of material as possible.他的目标就是尽可能多地搜集各种材料。

12 basically   

adv.基本上，从根本上说

参考例句：

• His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
• Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。

13 peer   

n.同辈，同等地位的人，伙伴，贵族；vi.仔细看，费力地看

参考例句：

• Children are easily influenced by their peer.孩子很容易受同辈影响。
• He is a peer.他是一个贵族。

14 morals   

n. 道德; 名词moral的复数形式

参考例句：

• a self-appointed custodian of public morals 自封的公共道德的卫道士
• We must arm the people against the lowering of our morals. 我们必须武装人们的头脑，以防我们的道德标准降低。