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哈佛大學校園生活情景對話

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哈佛大學,簡稱哈佛,是著名的常春藤盟校成員之一,被公認爲是當今世界最頂尖的高等教育機構之一。哈佛大學是很多學生都向往的一所大學,那麼你想一邊瞭解哈佛的校園生活,一邊練習英語口語嗎?下面本站小編爲大家帶來有關哈佛大學校園生活的英語情景對話,歡迎同學們閱讀學習!

哈佛大學校園生活情景對話


目錄
哈佛校園情景對話:追溯哈佛曆史
哈佛校園情景對話::"哈佛大學"的由來
哈佛校園情景對話:馬薩諸塞堂
哈佛校園情景對話:哈佛紀念堂
哈佛校園情景對話:哈佛學院
哈佛校園情景對話:學習生活
哈佛校園情景對話:哈佛法學院
哈佛校園情景對話:哈佛肯尼迪學院
哈佛校園情景對話:法學院之爭
哈佛校園情景對話:畢業典禮
  返回目錄

Han Meimei has just immigrated to the United States. Her new home is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John is her new classmate and friend. They are talking about their plans for the weekend.

J:John H: Han Meimei

J: Han Meimei, What’s your plan for the weekend?

j:韓梅梅,你固末有什麼計劃?

H: I plan to travel around Harvard University and know more about it. To tell you the truth, I plan to apply for Harvard after graduation from high school. It’s better to get to know it. What about you?

H:我打算去哈佛大學四處轉轉,瞭解一下。實話告訴你,我計劃在高中畢業之後申請 哈佛。我最好先了解一下哈佛。你呢?

J:I get together with my Christian brothers on Saturdays.

J:我每固六都和教友們聚會。

H: Oh, my God! John, I didn’t know you are religious. You just look like a scientific kook, like Leonard in the Big Bang Theory.

H:哦,天哪!約翰,我不知道你還信教。你 看上去就像個科學狂人,像《生活大爆炸》

裏的那個倫納德。

J: Come on, Han Meimei, don’t make a fuss. A lot of Americans, including many scientists, believe in religion.

J:得了,韓梅梅,別大驚小怪的。很多美國人,包括很多科學家,都信仰宗教。.

H: But I’m really surprised. I thought science and religion are not compatible,are they?

H:但我真地很吃驚。我以爲科學和宗教是不相容的,難道不是嗎?

J:Yes, they are compatible. Actually, the U.S. is both the most developed and the most religious country in the world.

J:不,是可以兼容的。事實上,美國是世界上最發達、最篤信宗教的國家。

H:I’ve heard about it a little bit before, but I don’t understand. How can people believe in God since they know God doesn’t exist?

H:我以前聽說過一點點,但我不理解。既然人們知道上帝不存在又怎麼能相信上帝呢?

J:That’s a little complicated?. You’ll get to know it when you are acquainted with the u.s. history later on. Religion was and is a part of American people’s life. Guess what?? Even Harvard University, which is a highly academic institution, is in a sense the product of religion.

J:這有點複雜。以後你熟悉美國曆史後就會有所瞭解。不管以前還是現在,宗敎都 是美國人生活的一部分。知道嗎?甚至是哈佛大學這個學術性很強的機構,從某 種意義上講也是宗教的產物。

H:Really?

H:真的嗎?

J:Absolutely! It was founded by a group of Puritan immigrants from England.

J:當然!哈佛是由一批來自英國的清教徒移民創建的。

H:Why was it founded by Puritans? Where were the atheistic educators?

H:爲什麼由清教徒創建?那些無神論教育家呢?

J:Because most of the first English immigrants who came to the United States were Puritans.

J:因爲第一批到美國的英國移民大多數是清教徒。

H:H:How come? I mean why most of them were religious people?

H:怎麼回事?我的意思是爲什麼大部分人是宗教徒?

J:That’s because in the 16th and 17th century, there was a series of? religious reforms in England. Many religious separatists were persecuted and fled? to other countries.

J:那是因爲在16和17世紀英國進行了一系列宗敎改革。許多異敎徒遭到迫害,並 逃亡到其他國家。

H:So, you mean people didn't enjoy religious freedom in England?

H:那你的意思是人們沒有宗教自由?

J:Yes, that’s why Puritans moved to the New World? where they believed they could establish a heaven for r on, it was these Puritans who founded Harvard College.

J:是的,這就是清教徒遷移到美洲新大陸的原因,他們相信可以在那裏建立一個清 教徒的天堂。後來,就是這些清教徒創建了哈佛學院。

H:Why did they want to found a college?

H:他們爲什麼想到要建一所學院呢?

J:Many Puritans had received classic style of higher education in Oxford University and Cambridge University back in England. They hoped that their descendants? could receive this kind of education as well.

J:很多清教徒還在英國時,在牛津大學和劍橋大學接受了古典式的高等敎育。他們 希望自己的後代也能接受這種教育。

H: Oh, I see.

H:噢,我明白了。

J: Actually Harvard was first named “New College”,without a formal namev

J:實際上哈佛最初的名字是"新學院”,設有一個正式名稱。

H: When did it begin to be called Harvard University?

H:什麼時候改名爲哈佛的?

J: In 1639, it was renamed after its major benefactor? John Harvard. Interestingly, John

Harvard himself was a clergyman?.

J: 1639年以捐贈者約翰·哈佛的名字重新命名。有趣的是,約翰?哈佛自己也是個牧師。

H: It seems that Harvard was predestined to? be influenced by religion.

H:貌似哈佛註定要受宗教的影響。

J: Therefore, it’s not exaggerate to claim that had there not been religion, there would not

be Harvard.

J:所以,在一定程度上說,如果沒有宗教就沒有哈佛一點都不誇張。

H: Wow, I didn’t know that religion had played such an important role in Harvard history.

H:哇,我以前不知道宗教在哈佛曆史上扮演瞭如此重要的角色。

J: Religion has been playing an Indispensible? part in Harvard history as well as the U.S.

history.

J:宗教在美國曆史和哈佛曆史上一直都扮演着不可缺少的角色。

H: I finally begin to get to know Harvard. It seems that my knowledge of Harvard is rather poor. I have a lot work to do before applying for Harvard.

H:我終於開始瞭解哈佛了。看來我對於哈佛的知識很匱乏。在申請哈佛之前我有很 多工作要做。

J: Remember that Harvard is a part of the United States. So you have to know the U.S. history and culture if you want to have in-depth knowledge of Harvard. The two are closely related.

J:記住,哈佛是美國的一部分。所以,如果你想深入瞭解哈佛,你就必須得知道美 國的歷史和文化。兩者是緊密相連的。

H; That’s right. I have a lot to learn from you.

H:對,我要向你多多學習。

J: You can ask me any question at any time.

J:有問題可以隨時問我。

  返回目錄

Han Meimei is still asking John questions about Harvard University.

H: John, I remember you said that initially? Harvard University was called “New College” or something??

H:約翰,我記得你說過哈佛大學最初是叫“新學院”還是什麼來着?

J: Yes, it was first named “New College” or “the College at New Towne”.

J:是的,剛幵始叫“新學院”或"新市民學院”。

H: But I heard that its original name is “Cambridge College”.

H:但我以前聽說它最初叫"劍橋學院”。

J: Oh, maybe it is because the town where the college located? was named Cambridge.

J:哦,可能因爲學院所在的鎮叫劍橋吧。

H: When did it get the name “Harvard University”?

H:什麼時候得了 “哈佛大學”這個名字?

J; There are two t, the college was renamed “Harvard College”i n 1639. During the following nearly 140 years, it existed as a “college”. Then in 1780,in the new Massachusetts Constitution Harvard was first officially referred to as a “university”.

J:這經歷了兩個階段。首先,學院在1639車改名爲“哈佛學院”。在接下來的近 140年裏,一直以“學院”存在着。然後1780年在馬薩諸塞州新憲法中,哈佛第 一次被正式稱爲“大學”。

H: I think I can guess why it was upgraded? from a college to a university. Its scale became larger and larger.

H:我想我可以猜到爲什麼它可以從一所學院升級爲一所大學,它的規模越來越大了吧。

J: You bet?! Still, it did not reach the standard of being a university. We know that a

university usually has several or many colleges or schools. In 1780,however,Harvard ‘^University,’ had only one college,namely? Harvard College.

J: 一點沒錯!但是,它仍然沒有達到一個大學的標準。我們知道大學通常要有幾個 或很多學院,但1780年時哈佛‘‘大學”只有一個學院,那就是哈佛學院。

H: Then, why could it be upgraded to the university status?

H:那它爲什麼可以升格爲大學?

J: Maybe Massachusetts legislature made such an exception with the hope to spur on Harvard. Can you guess why it was renamed “Harvard”?

J:也許馬薩諸塞州議破此例是希望能鞭策哈佛。那能猜到爲什麼它改名叫‘‘哈佛” 嗎?

H: Let me think. Is it because someone called Harvard made contributions to the college?

H:讓我想想。是不是因爲某個叫哈佛的人對 學院做出了貢獻?

J: Wow, you,re smart!

J:哇,你很聰明啊!

H: I know that many U.S. universities are private ones, and they are founded on the basis of donations by some successful people.

H:我知道很多美國的大學都是私立學校,且 都是在某些成功人士捐肋的基礎上建立的。

J: And Harvard College was no was renamed in honor of? John Harvard who was the first benefactor of Harvard College.

J:哈佛學院也不例外,它改名字正是爲了紀 念哈佛學院的第一個捐助者約翰·哈佛。

H: Oh, John Harvard! He got the same first name as you.

H:喔,約翰·哈佛!和你的名字一樣呀。

J: Well, it’s my honor. “John” is a very common name,but “Harvard” is a rare family name. Not only on the entire American continent but also in Britain, few people have the family name “Harvard”,

J:好吧,這是我的榮幸。"約翰“是個很普通的名字,但"哈佛”是個很罕見的姓。不僅在整個美洲大陸,就是在英國本土都很少有人姓‘‘哈佛”。

H: That makes Harvard University more special.

H:這讓哈佛大學顯得更特殊了。

J: Or rather?, it’s unique.

J:更確切地說是獨特。

H: How great on earth? was John Harvard's contribution to the college?

H:約翰·哈佛對學院的貢獻到底有多大?

J: Upon his death in 1638, he left his entire library and half of his estate, about £779, to the

new institution.

J:他在1638年臨終前把他的所有藏書和一半資產,約779英鎊,都留綰了這所新學院。

H: That could be ai large fortune at that time.

H:在那時應該算是一筆不小的財富了吧。

J: Yeah. The market value of his half estate is 3,500,000 dollars in 2010. In 1630s, it was nearly twice as much as one year’s financial appropriations?. It was this big fortune

that assured the continued operation of the college.

J:是的。2010年他的一半資產的市值是350萬美元。在17世紀30年代,相當於一 年財政撥款的兩倍呢。正是這筆錢保證了學院的持續運轉。

H: Why did he chose to donate almost all of his estate to the college? Didn’t he have children or relatives?

H:爲什麼他選擇把幾乎所有的遺產都捐贈給學院?他設有孩子或親戚嗎?

J: I,m not quite sure. I only know that his father and four of his siblings? died in a plague? which broke out in 1625, and that he had no kids because he had got married less than one year before he died.

J:我不是很確定。我只知道他父親和他的四個兄弟姐妹在1625年爆發的一場瘟疫中死去了,而且因爲他結婚不到一年就死了,所以設有孩子。

H : Sorry to hear that.

H:很遺憾聽到這些。

J: Maybe he left the other half of his estate to other relatives. Besides, he, like many founders of the new college, was an alumnus of Cambridge University. I guess he did want to do something for the new college.

J:也許他把另一半遺產留給了其他親戚吧。再說,他和新學院的許多創建者一樣都 是英國劍橋大學的畢業生。我想他確實想爲這所新學院倣些什麼吧。

H: Maybe

H:也許吧。

J: Fortunately, the college named after him has now become one of the most outstanding universities in the world. If he knew this, John Harvard would feel greatly honored and proud.

J:幸運的是,以他命名的學院現在成了世界上最出色的大學之一。如果約翰·哈佛 知道這些,他會感到無比的榮幸和驕傲的。

H: He might not expect that his donation has benefited numerous people. Since you are free this Sunday, why not show me around Harvard University?

H:他也許設想到他的捐助恩澤了很多人。旣然你星期天沒什麼事兒,帶我到哈佛大學四周轉轉吧。

J: OK. It’s a deal?.

J:好的,就這麼說定了。

H: Thank you. See you the day after tomorrow.

H:謝謝。後天見。

  返回目錄

Han Meimei and John is looking for somewhere they can have a rest.

J: I'm exhausted.I can’t walk any longer. Let’s have a rest.

J:累死我了,我走不動了,歇會兒吧。

H: You all right? We didn’t walk too much.

H:你還好吧?我們也沒走太多路呀。

J: I went mountain climbing yesterday with my Christian brothers.

J:我昨天和教友們去爬山了。

H: That must be tiring. Look, there,re a lot of people sitting over there. Hold out! We're almost there.

H:那肯定很累人。看,有很多人坐在那邊休息呢。堅持一下,就快到了。

J: Oh, I didn’t realize we’re arriving at Tanner Fountain. Great!

J:哦,我沒意識到我們就快到唐納噴泉了,太好了

H: You know there?

H:你知道那兒?

J: Sure. I believe that’s the most terrific place at Harvard.

J:當然,我認爲那是哈佛最美的地方。

H: Why didn’t you take me here?

H:那你爲什麼不帶我來這兒呢?

J: I planned to show you some places that have historical significance. You can put the blame on me.

J:我原打算讓你看看有歷史意義的地方,怪我。

H: I wasn’t blaming you. I was just asking you.

H:我不是在怪你,我只是問你。

J: Well, not too late to make up for my fault.

J:好吧,亡羊補牢爲時不晚。

(They reach the fountain.)

(他們達到噴泉。)

H: It is beautiful. looks a little strange, but I can’t tell.

H:確實很漂亮,但……看起來有點怪,但又說不上來。

J: Look at it more closely. Don’t you see that the water is at the same level as the ground?

J:再仔細看看,不覺得水和地面在一個平面上嗎?

H: Oh, I see. The fountains Fve seen before all have basins, but this one doesn't.

H:啊,我明白了。我以前見過的噴泉都有水池,而這個設有。

J: That’s the innovation of this fountain.

J:這就是這個噴泉的創新之處。

H: No wonder it is well-preserved.

H:怪不得保持得這麼完好。

J: I haven’t thought about this question. Why?

J:我設想過這個問題,爲什麼?

H: You know, most of the fountains are actually abandoned after some time. The water used to be clear, and there were even some fish. Finally, they only turn out to be dry basins without water.

H:你知道,實際上很多噴泉在用了一段時間之後就荒廢了。以前水是清的,水裏甚 至還有魚,但最後只剩下設有水的乾池子了。

J: How come?

j:怎麼回事?

H: Because the basin can leak, and people don’t want to take the trouble to mend it.

H:因爲水池會漏水,人們也不想修,嫌麻煩。

J: That happens. The innovation of the design also lies in that a fountain like this brings people close to it.

J:這樣的事經常發生。這個設計的新意還在於像這樣的噴泉可以讓人們更靠近它。

H: Look at that guy, he seems to forget where he is and is just enjoying his life.

H:看那個傢伙廠他似乎忘了自己在哪兒了,只是在盡情地享受生活。

J; When people are here, they can totally relax and forget about the stresses of study and work.

J:人們在這兒的時候可以完全於鬆,忘記學習和工作的壓力。

H: You’re right that this is the most wonderful place I’ve seen today at Harvard. It shortens the distance between human and nature although it’s artificial.

H:你是對的,這是我今天在哈佛看到的最棒的地方了。它縮短了人與自然之間的距 離,雖說它是人造的。

J: In this sense, the design is human-centered.

J:從這個意義上說,這個設計很人性化。

H: Nature is blended into? life.

H:自然融入了生活。

J: What’s more, the fountain will have some changes with seasons.

J:而且這個噴泉會隨季節變換而有一些變化。

H: Sounds interesting!

H:聽起來很有意思。

J: In summer, people can play in the water. In winter, the steam from the heating system takes the place, making it even more beautiful

J:夏天的時候,人們可以在水裏玩耍;冬天的時候,供暖系統提供的熱氣會籠罩這 裏,讓它更加漂亮。

H: That’ll add some mystique? to it

H:那會給這裏增添神祕感。

J: Feel like you5re in heaven.

J:感覺在天堂。

H: I wish it were winter now. I’m imagining how beautiful it is in winter.

H:希望現在就是冬天。我在想象冬天時它有多美。

J: You can come back and appreciate it in winter.

J:你可以冬天再來欣賞。

H: I don’t want to miss such a good chance to take pictures. Can you take a photo for me?

H:我可不想錯過這麼好的照相機會。你能繪我拍張照嗎?

J: I don’t have a camera.

J:我沒有相機。

H: You can use the camera on my cell phone, it has five megapixel.

H:可以用我手機上的相機,有500萬像素。

J: Cool! Say “cheese”,done! Come and see how it looks.

J:酷! “茄子”,好了!過來看看怎麼樣。

H: Perfect. Thank you.

H:很好,謝謝你。

J: It’s getting late. We’d better go home now.

J:不早了,我們最好回去吧。

H: My time in paradise is coming to an end. I haven’t finished my homework yet. I’m afraid I have to stay up.

H:我的快樂時光即將結束了。我還沒寫完作業呢,恐怕要熬夜了。

J: You’ll get used to it.

J:你會習慣的。

H: Well, I’ve been a bother today. Thank you very much for being my guide today.

H:好吧,今天打擾你了,非常感謝你今天做我的導遊。

J: Don't mention it. See you tomorrow at school.

J:不客氣,明天學校見。

H: See you.

H:再見。

  返回目錄

Han Meimei and John are heading for Harvard Memorial Hall.

J: Next, I’ll show something that can remind people of the wounds of the States.

J:接下來我要讓你看一樣東西,它令人們想起美國的創傷。

H: Do you mean the Civil War?

H:你是不是說內戰?

J: Yes. It split a family, with the father on the Southern side and the son on the Northern side, and brothers turning against each other.

J:是的,內戰使得家庭破裂,父親爲南方而戰,兒子爲北方而戰,兄弟之間也反目 成仇。

H: What a tragedy!

H:真是悲劇!

J: The Civil War has been a grief to Americans, including Harvard people, needless to say. Classmates made their way to different armies. Some joined the Union and other turned to the Confederate.

J:內戰一直都是美國人心中的痛,不用說也是哈佛人心中的傷痛。同學投奔不同的 軍隊,一些加入了北方聯邦軍隊,而另一些則加人了南方聯盟軍。

H: Why did some students fight for the South? It is the South that broke away from the country.

H:爲什麼有的學生要爲南方而戰呢?南方不是叛軍嗎?

J: Yes, for most people, the North was fighting to liberate the slaves. It’s true. Nevertheless, not all the northern people fought with such a altruistic aim. You know, the North was desperate for free labor then.

J:是的,對大多數人來說,北方是在爲解放奴隸而戰,但並不是所有北方人都這麼 無私。你知道的,那時北方急需自由勞動力。

H: If slaves were freed from the southern plantation,there would be more free labor.

H:假如奴隸從南方的種植園中解放出來,就會有更多自由勞動力。

J: It turned out to be true. After the Civil War, the South’s traditional economic system was paralyzed while the northern industry took off.

J:事實確實如此。內戰後,南方的傳統經濟體制癱疾了,但北方的工業卻取得了巨 大的成功。 .

H; Despite this, it was a must to rise as a modern industrial country.

H:儘管如此,爲了能成爲一個現代工業強國,這個過程是必需的。

J: That said,people can’t forget it. To remember the alumni who fought for the Union cause and died, Harvard constructed this Memorial Hall. Here we are. Lefs go inside.

J:話雖如此,但很多人仍對此念念不忘。爲了紀念爲北方聯邦軍獻身的校友,哈佛 建造了這個紀念堂。我們到了,進去看看吧。

H: It looks like a typical European architecture.

H:看起來像個典型的歐式建築。

J: The theatre’s design is based on Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford, England.

J:這個劇院是按照英國牛津大學的謝爾登尼安 劇院的樣子設計的,謝爾登尼安劇院是列恩 設計的。

H: The theatre? Didn’t you say it’s a memorial hall?

H:劇院?你不是說這是個紀念堂嗎?

J: Oh, yes. The Hall consists of three parts, the Annenberg Hall, the Memorial Transept and Tower, an Sanders Theatre.

J:哦,是的,紀念堂包括三個部分:安內伯格廳、

H: Does each function differently?

H:每個的功能各不相同?

J: Rather different. The Annenberg Hall is the hall’s great room. It was converted to a student commons soon after construction. Now it’s the dining hall for all freshmen.

H:相當不一樣。安內伯格廳是紀念堂的大廳,一建成就被用作學生休息室,現在是 新生食堂。

H: A dinning hall?! Oh, my god! I thought it serves at least as a gallery or what.

H:食堂?噢,天哪!我以爲至少會是個美術館什麼的。

J: The transept, or the main entrance to the hall, mainly serves that function. In 2006,I came here to appreciate the Deep Wounds, a temporary art instaUation that explored relationships destroyed by conflict and the possibility of healing.

J:耳堂,也就是紀念堂的入口的主要功能是展覽。2006年我來這兒欣賞了一下“深 傷”,那是個暫時性的藝術裝置,用來探索在內戰中破裂的關係和傷□愈含的可 能性。

H: What was it like?

H:是什麼樣的裝置?

J: You know, the hall was built to honor the Harvard graduated who died in the Civil War while fighting for the Union. So each of these men’s year of graduation, name, and date of death are permanently inscribed in the marble wall of the transept.

J:你知道的,紀念堂是爲紀念在內戰中爲聯邦軍陣亡的校友而建的,所以每個人的 畢業年份、名字、死亡日期都被永久性地刻在了耳堂的大理石牆上了。

H: Only the names of those on the Union side?

H:只有聯邦軍的名字?

J: Yes. In the Deep Wounds, however, each Harvard Confederate man’s year of graduation, state, and date of death were projected onto the floor. Instead of a name, however, I saw a relationship such as “father” or “classmate” that described a relationship he had to those Union men on the wall.

J:是的,但在“深傷”這個展覽上,每個參加南方聯盟軍的哈佛人的畢業年份、所 在州、死亡日期也都被投射在地板上。但我沒有看到名字,只看到了諸如“父親” 或“同學”之類的字樣,這些是用來描述他們和牆上那些聯邦軍之間的關係。

H: To mend the broken families or relationships. What’s the function of the…theatre? I forget its name.

H:爲了修復破裂的家庭和關係。那個什麼劇院,我忘記名字了,它的功能是什麼?

J: Sanders Theatre. It's internationally known for its superior acoustic. During the academic year, the theatre serves as the major lecture hall, hosting undergraduate courses, many prestigious lectures, and annual commencement and reunion activities. In other time, it’s a theatre.

J:桑德斯劇院,它的音響效果超級好,在世界上都是有名的。學生在校期間,劇院 的功能是主教學樓,本科.生課程、很多著名講座、每車的畢業典禮和其他聚會活 動都是在這裏舉行的。其他時間裏,它就是個劇院。

H: Designers were smart to combine historical meaning and practical functions in one architecture.

H:設計者很聰明,把歷史意義和實用功能結含在了一起。

  返回目錄

Han Meimei and John meet on Monday. They are now talking about their future major.

J: Han, Which major do you plan to choose?

J:韓,打算選什麼專業啊?

H: I haven’t think about this question.

H:我還設想過這個問題。

J: Jesus! Don’t you worry about or even think about you future?

J:天啊,你從來沒想過或擔心過你的前途嗎?

H: Yes,I do. I just don’t want to ask for trouble so early.

H:是的,我只是不想這麼早就自尋煩惱。

J: Too early? Han, it's your second year in high school!

J:太早?梅梅,你現在已經是高二了!

H: So what? Give me a break. Don’t laugh at me.

H:那又怎樣?得了,別取笑我了。

J: Don’t get angry. I was just kidding, to test your knowledge of Harvard University.

J:別生氣,我只是開開玩笑,想試下你對哈佛大學的瞭解程度。

H: Did it sound like a joke?

H:這像開玩笑嗎?

J: I apologize. But you have to confess that you don’t know Harvard at all.

J:我道歉,但是你不得不承認你對哈佛大學一無所知。

H: Not again. Does it have anything to do with Harvard?

H:又來了。這與哈佛大學有什麼關係嗎?

J: Yeah, of course it does. Aren’t you going to Harvard after graduation?

J:當然有關係了,你畢業後不是想去哈佛大學嗎?

H: Sure.

H:是啊。

J: So you’re right not to think too much about your major too early.

J:因此你不想太早過多地考慮專業選擇的問題是對的。

H: Don’t fool me. You know how important a major is? You know what a major mean? To a large extent,it'll determine your future life,.

H:別笑我了,你知道專業有多重要嗎?你知道專業意味着什 麼嗎?在很大程度上,專業會決定你未來的生活。

J: That’s right. A lot of students go to college because they believe that a good college or a

good major will help them find a good job in the future.

J:很對。很多學生認爲上個好大學或者選擇_個好專業會幫 他們在未來找個好工作。

H: Is it wrong to think so?

H:那麼這麼想,錯了嗎?

J: No. I said everyone has their own values. But to me, a good higher education aims to

educate well-rounded individuals.

J:不是的,每個人都有自己的價值觀,但是對我來說,一個好的高等教育的目標是要培育全面發展的人。

H: Aren’t we?

H:難道我們不是?

J: If you aim at pursuing a certain occupational target, then you’re not well-rounded.

J:如果你的目標是從事某一種職業,那麼你就不是很全面了。

H: Make sense. I have so many interests and I don’t want to give up any of them. As a result, I can’t decide on my major.

H:有道理,我有許多興趣,我不想放棄任何一個,所以我還設決定我要選什麼專業。

J: Don’t worry. The freshmen don’t choose a major at Harvard College. They are only

required to take Expository Writing, and may enroll any courses in which they are interested.

J:別擔心,哈佛學院的新生不用選擇專業。他們只要求新生學習說明文寫作,學生 可以根據自己的喜好選擇所要學習的課程。

H: That’s great!

H:那太好了 !

J: Besides, you can even change your major.

J:另外,你還可以換專業。

H: Couldn’t imagine that.

H:真是難以想象啊!

J: Harvard College offers us a liberal education. You do have a major, but it’s not so important as you thought, especially when you plan to go to graduate school.

J:哈佛學院提供了一個自由的教育環境,你可以選擇一個專業,但是專業設有你想 象中的那麼重要,特別是如果你打算繼續研究生學習的話。

H: Unbelievable.

H:難以置信。

J: The good graduate schools want flexible, adaptable minds, minds exposed to a broad

range of knowledge and trained in rigorous critical thinking.

J:好的研究生院是希望學生有靈活和適應性強的頭腦,能夠掌握全面的知識,擁有 良好的邏輯思考能力。

H: So I don’t have to get a bachelor degree m pre-law if I want to go to the Law School.

H:那就是說,如果我想進入法學院,我可以不用先拿到法學預科學位。

J: Yes.

J:是的。

H: Really? (Han Meimei lets out a sigh of relief). To be honest, I've been torn between American literature and law. Vm interested in literature, but I want to be a lawyer.

H:真的?(韓梅梅舒了一口氣)說真的,我正在爲選擇美國文學,還是選擇法律而 左右爲難呢。我喜歡文學,但是我又想成爲一名律師。

J: You can major in literature first, and go to Law School for further education, like me.

J:你可以先選擇文學專業,然後進人法學院讀研究生,就像我一樣。

H: You?

H:你?

J: I’m going to study physics and then go to Business School.

J:我會先學習物理,然後去讀商學院。

H: Good idea!

H:好主意!

J: No matter how many your interests have, Harvard College will fulfill most of them. In addition to the major field of concentration, you can choose a secondary field which need not be related to the primary field.

J:無論有多少興趣愛好,哈佛大學都能滿足彳爾所有的需求。除了一個主攻學習專 業以外,你可以選擇第二專業,但是這個第二專業無需和主攻專業相關。

H: We can choose as we wish.

H:我們可以根據自己的意願來選擇。

J: But we have to meet the minimal demand for a bachelor degree.

J:但我們需要達到學士學位的最低要求。

H: I like this kind of education. It treats students as humans rather than tools prepared for future walks.

H:我喜歡這樣的教育方式,它把學生當成真正的人來培養,而不是把學生訓練成未 來工作所需要的工具。

  返回目錄

Han Meimei pays a visit to Li Lei on Sunday.

H: This is the second time I’ve been here.

H:這是我第二次來這兒。

L: You’ve been here before?

L:你以前來過?

H: Several weeks ago, John showed me around, but we only took a look at the buildings and scenery.

H:幾個星期以前,約翰帶我轉了一下,但只看了些建築和風景。

L: Next week you two will come and sit in on the class of positive psychology, right?

L:你們兩個下週要來聽積極心理學了是吧?

H: Yes, I feel time goes by so slowly. Tell me about your first impression of Harvard.

H:是的,我覺得時間過得好慢呀。給我說說你對哈佛的第一印象吧。

L: Well, as I went through the main gate and entered the Yard, the sun was filtering through the trees, softly illuminating the historic, brick buildings and causing the green grass to sparkle in the early morning dew. I gazed out the window at this beautiful scene and thought to myself, “No freshman should be so lucky.”

L:好吧,當我穿過大門來到哈佛園,看到陽光穿過樹木,柔和地照在古老的磚牆建 築上,陽光下綠草在晨露裏閃光。我凝望着窗外,看着這美麗景色,心想M沒有 新生竟會這麼幸運了”。

H: Get to the point, tell me about your life in the first week. The first thing you did must be going to your dorm room.

H:說重點,給我說說你第一週的生活。第一 件事應該是去宿舍吧。

L: Right. I was luckily enough to move into the Canaday Hall. It s the newest dormitory in Harvard Yard,yet it was completed as early as in 1974.

L:對。我很幸運搬進了卡納迪堂,它是哈佛 學院最新的宿舍樓了。儘管如此,它早於 1974年就建成了。

H: The newest was built in 1974. How old the other dormitories are!

H:最新的樓都是1974年的,其他宿舍樓該 多古老呢!

L; Very old. Some were even built in the 18th and 19th century.

L;很古老,一些甚至建於18和19世紀。

H: I know. Last time John and I had a look at Massachusetts Hall, the oldest dormitory, from the outside.

H:我知道,上次我和約翰從外面看了最古老的宿舍樓馬薩諸塞堂。

L: In addition to Mass Hall and Canaday Hall, there're about 15 other dormitory buildings, most of which are quite ancient. And these dormitories have housed many distinguished people in history. Emerson lived in Hollis Hall, J. F. Kennedy lived in Weld Hall, Bill Gates lived in Wigglesworth Hall, and so on and so forth.

L:除了馬薩諸塞堂和卡納迪堂,還有大約15個宿舍樓,很多都很古老。歷史上有 很多著名人士曾經住過這些宿舍樓。愛默生住過霍利斯堂,J. F.肯尼迪住過維 爾德堂,比爾·蓋茨住過威格爾斯沃斯堂,等等。

H: The feeling of living in these buildings must be different.

H:住在這些樓裏的感覺肯定不一樣吧。

L: Quite different. When I went into the Canaday Hall, I was a little disappointed. It lacks some of the charm of the freshmen housing. Instead of hardwood floors and fireplaces, Canaday's rooms have white cinderblock walls and sketchy carpeting,

L:相當不一樣。我剛進卡納迪堂時,有點失望。它缺少一些新生宿舍的魅力。卡納 迪的房間不是硬木地板和壁爐,相反卻是白色煤渣墻壁和破爛的地毯。

H: I think it’s good to have a different feeling in modem times when everything is made of, you know, cement. Didn’t it give you the feeling of historical vicissitudes?

H:我想,在什麼都是用水泥做的現代社會,有一種別樣的感覺也挺好的。設有給你 一種歷史滄桑感?

L: Whatever you say, I was really disappointed at the first sight. However, my initial disappointment quickly wore off as I came to realize all the advantages Canaday has to offer.

L:隨便你怎麼說,反正我第一眼看到時,真的有些失望。不過,這種失望很快就消 失了,因爲我發現了卡納迪的好處。

H: You change your mind so quickly and easily.

H:你的想法變得還真快,真容易。

L: I'm sharing a suite with four other boys that has four singles off of a large common room. Thus, only two of us have to share a bedroom. I chose to share a room with another boy.

L:我和另外4個男生住在一個套房裏,有四個房間,一個公共休息室。所以,只有 兩個人需要住在一個房間裏。我選擇和另_男生住在一個房間。

H: That’s wonderful. In Chinese universities, usually six or eight students have to share one room. It’s too crowded. How do you like your roommates?

H:那很好啊,在國內的大學,通常6到8個人要住在一個房間,很擠。你喜歡你的 室友嗎?

L: I adore my roommates. They’ve definitely helped make this place feel more like home. During this first week, it’s such a relief to have four boys to be my friends whom I can count on to help me through this adjustment process.

L:喜歡,他們幫了我很多忙,讓我有家的感覺。第一週能有4個人成爲我的朋友, 我感覺輕鬆許多,我靠他們幫我度過了調整期。

H: Do you have any difficulties in communication?

H:你和他們交流有沒有困難?

L: No. Sure, we're completely different in terms of background, ethnicity, religion, and interests, but we actually reflect quite well the diversity that Harvard is so proud to offer. There is nearly no obstacles between us.

L:沒有。當然我們的背景、民族、宗教和興趣都完全不同,但我們實際上很好地反 映了哈佛的多樣性,這是哈佛引以爲豪的。我們之間幾乎沒有什麼障礙。

H; Will you live in the same dorm room all four years?

H:你們4年要一直住在同一個宿舍嗎?

L: No, in the second year, we,11 move from dormitories to Houses. But I haven’t ftgure out what Houses are like.

L:不是的,我們第二年會從宿舍搬到學舍,但我還不清楚學舍是什麼樣的。

  返回目錄

Han Meimei is watching the movie “Liar” on TV when there is a knock at the door.

H: Hey, John, why are you here?

呀,約翰,你怎麼來了?

J: I just went to my uncle’s and stop by. You’re watching TV?

我剛去我叔叔家,順便就過來看下你。你在看電視嗎?

H: Yeah, a movie called Liar. I like Jim Carrey. He’s so funny.

是啊,看電影《大話王》。我喜歡金·凱瑞,他很搞笑。

J: A little nonsensica.

有點無厘頭吧。

H: I'm surprised that lawyers have such a bad reputation in America.

我很吃驚,律師在美國的名聲很差哦!

J: It’s true that people don’t like lawyers, but they can’t live without lawyers.

這是寘的,大家都不喜歡律師,但是又離不開他們。

H: Just like the rich people in the movie, they can buy freedom with money.

就像電影裏說的,有錢人魷能用錢買自由。

J: Do yowant to be a lawyer any more after watching the movie on TV?

看了這電影之後你還想當一名律師嗎?

H: Well, this career is indeed profitable. As you said, people need lawyers all the time. But now, I have another goal.

嗯,這樣的職業確實很賺錢啦。正如你說的,大家一直都需要律師的。但現在我有另一個 目標。

J: What’s it?

什麼目標?

H: You must promise not to laugh at me first. Cross your heart.

你要保證你不笑話我哦。你發誓!

J: Ok, I cross it.

好,我發誓。

H: If I stay in America, Fm determined to fight for the rights of Chinese who don’t know American laws. I don’t want to be a liar and a slave to money, who grind those poor people beneath his or her heel.

H:如果我留在美國,我決心要爲不懂美國法律的中國人爭取權益。我不要成爲一個 說謊的人,也不要成爲金錢的奴隸,把窮人踩在自己的腳底下。

J: Salute!

J:向你致敬!

H: John, don't forget what you promised.

約翰,不要忘了你的保證哦!

J: I did it from the heart.

我是發自內心的!

H: But first I have to go to a law school. Is it too early to say this?

但苜先我要能考上法學院。現在說這個是否有點太早啦?

J: No, only a person with a dream can go far.

不會,一個人要有夢想才能走得遠。

H: Right. But easier said than done. The admittance rate of Harvard Law School is only about 7%.

對!但說的比做的輕鬆。哈佛法學院錄取率只有7%。

J: I have confidence in you. You can make it. Anyway, you must give it a shot before

you know you can do it or not. It never will rain roses.

我對你有信心,你能做到的。不管怎樣你都要先試一試才知道行不行。想不勞而 獲也是不可能的。

H: Application is difficult, but study at the Law School is more Socratic teaching method daunts me.

申請很困難,而在法學院學習則更吃力。我被蘇格拉底教學法嚇到了。

J: What’s so horrible about it?

爲什麼這麼恐怖呀?

H: Law School professors love debating with students. Every semester, each student must have at least one or two heated debates with each professor who teaches them. The debate sometime lasts for over ten minutes.

法學院教授都愛與學生辯論。每學期每個學生至少要與教他們的每一個教授進行 1?2次的激烈辯論,有的還長達10分鐘以上。

J: As long as you,re prepared, you don’t have to worry too much.

只要你準備充分,就不用太擔心。

H: I’m worried about my English. After all, Fm not a native speaker.

我很擔心我的英語啊,畢竟我的母語不是英語。

J: Your English is pretty good now. Irm sure you’ll have a good command of English after staying in America for some time.

你的英語已經很好啦,我相信你在美國學習一段時間後一定會很精通英語的。

H: I believe so. Where there is will, there is a way.

我相信是,有志者事竟成嘛!

J: By the way, how much do you know about Harvard Law School?

對了,你對哈佛法學院的瞭解有多少?

H: Are you testing me? Don’t underestimate me, I,ve been collecting information about Law School.

你在考我嗎?別小看我哦,我已經收集了很多關於它的信息。

J: Tell me something I don’t know.

那講些我不知道的結我聽聽。

H: Do you know how many current Supreme Court justices are Harvard Law School graduates?

你知道現在有多少最高法院的法官是哈佛法學院的畢業生嗎?

J: You got me. How many?

還真被你問住了,有多少?

H: Six. Isn’t it amazing? You know, there5re only nine justices in Supreme Court in total!

6個!驚訝吧?伯^知道嗎,最高法院的法官總共才9個。

J: The Law School deserves its high reputation.

法學院真是名不虛傳啊。

H: And a quarter of all Supreme Court clerks in the last five years come from Harvard Law School.

在過去的5年裏,最高法院有1/4的司法人員都來自於哈佛法學院。

J: Incredible.

哇,難以置信!

H: Maybe I can be a member of the Supreme Court if everything goes well.

如果一切順利的話,說不定我以後能成爲最高法院的一員呢。

J: President Obama also graduated from Harvard Law School.

奧巴馬總統也是哈佛法學院畢業的。

H: I know. The blacks had their turn, now it’s women’s turn. I want to do something for women.

我知道,黑人早已經翻身掌權,現在輪到女同胞了。我一定要爲女同胞們做點事。

J: Oh, My! You’re so ambitious.

噢,上帝!你還真有雄心壯志。

H: I prefer to believe that’s a compliment,

我寧願相信這是一句讚美的話。

J: It is. Cross my heart.

是啊,我發誓。

  返回目錄

Han Meimei and John are reading magazines in the periodical reading room.

H: Look, you Americans has conceived of a new method to deal with its relations with other countries.

H:你看,美國想出了一種新方式去處理與其他國家的關係呢。

J: Is it soft power?

J:是軟實力嗎?

H: No, ifs smart power.

H:不,是巧實力。

J: Whafs that?

J:那是什麼呢?

H: Here it reads that “smart power is the ability to combine hard and soft power into a wining strategy”,It’s defined by Joseph Nye. But I don’t see much difference from it. Its aim is still to maintain its super power position.

H:這裏所說的“巧實力”其實就是硬實力和軟實力的結含,軟硬兼施,從而達到不 戰而勝。這是約瑟夫·柰所下的定義。但是我覺得沒什麼實質上的區別,因爲它 的目的仍然是維持其超級霸主的地位。

J: We don’t talk about politics and diplomacy, ok? It’s too sensitive. But I can tell you something about Joseph Nye.

J:我們不討論政治和外交好嗎?因爲這太敏感了。但對於這個約瑟夫·奈,我倒可 以說一些他的事給

H: Who’s this guy?

H:他是誰呢?

J: What Iwanttotalkaboutis not Nye himself, but Harvard Kennedy School from which he graduated. Or you can call it Kennedy School of Government.

J:我想說的不是奈本人,而是他畢業的那所肯尼迪政府學院。

H: I know it. It’s also a very famous graduate school at Harvard, training up its students to become outstanding civil servants, politicians, and statesmen.

H:我知道。這也是一個非常著名的哈佛大學研究生 院,培養學生成爲優秀的公務員、政客和政治家。

J: This school is relative young compared with other Harvard schools. It only has a history of about 70 years.

J:如果與其他學院相比,這所學院是一個相對比較 新的學院,它只有約70年的歷史。

H: Really? That’s pretty young. Why did such an idea as founding a government school popped into its founder’s mind?

H:真的嗎?那真的是相當的新。爲什麼突然想到去 成立一所政府學校呢?

J: At that time, the United States was in Great Depression and was on the verge of going into WWII. There seemed to be a lack of excellent talents in government.

J:當時美國在大蕭條和第二次世界大戰的邊緣,政府似乎缺乏優秀的人才。

H: That was a dark period in American history. A lot of people were out of work, and lived a miserable life. People nearly lost confidence in government.

H:這是美國曆史上黑暗的時期。很多人失去工作,並過着悲慘的生活。人們幾乎失 去了政府的信心。

J: Therefore, a Harvard alumnus called Lucius N. Littauer donated some money to Harvard to found a new school which would train talents for the government.

J:因此,一位叫盧休斯·立陶爾哈佛校友綰哈佛捐了一些錢,建立了一所新的學校, 爲政府焙養人才。

H: The benefactor was Littauer? I thought his name was Kennedy, because schools are often named after their benefactor, like Harvard University after John Harvard, and Widener Library after Harry Elkins Widener,

H:所以捐助者是立陶爾?我以爲是肯尼迪呢,因爲學校通常是他們的捐助者的名 字命名的,如哈佛大學是以約翰·哈佛;懷德納圖書館是以哈利·埃爾金斯·威德 而是他所畢業的那所哈佛肯尼迪學校,或者你可以叫做肯納命名的。

J: I’ve no idea. I just know that there is center named after him, tha Littauer Center.

j:這我就不清楚了。我只知道有個中心是以他命名的,立陶爾中心。

H; Then why is it called Kennedy School? Does Kennedy here represent John Kennedy?

H:那麼爲什麼叫肯尼迪學院?這裏的肯尼迪是約翰·肯尼迪嗎?

J: Yes, actually its full name is John F. Kennedy School of Government.

J:是的,實際上學院的全名是約翰·肯尼迪政府學院。

H: Did he make great contribution to the school?

H:他對這所學校有很大貢獻呢?

J: Not really, but he made great contribution to the country.

J:也不盡然。其實他是對國家有更大的貢獻。

H: His compassion for the blacks incurred anger from the white extremists and he was assassinated by one of them.

H:他對黑人的同情引發了白人極端分子的憤怒,而他也是被其中的分子所暗殺的。

J: You’re very familiar with American history.

J:看起來你非常瞭解美國曆史呢。

H; I took a world history class.

H:我之前上過世界歷史課呢。

J: Maybe Kennedy School want it students to remember Kennedy’s spirit and be good government officials.

J:也許是肯尼迪學院想要他們的學生記住肯尼迪的精神和要成爲一名好的政府官員。

H: I heard that the School not only trains up talents for American government, but helps other nations train their government talents.

H:我聽說這個學院不僅爲美國政府培育人才,也幫助其他國家培訓人才呢。

J: There have been tens of thousands of foreign students from more than 130 countries in the School.

J:有來自超過130個國家成千上萬的外國學生在這個學院呢。

H: I’m not talking about students. There was an agreement between Chinese government and US government that from 2002 to 2007,the School must train 60 officials for Chinese central and local governments.

H:我不是指一般的學生,中國政府和美國政府之間有一個協議,在2002年到2007 年間,學院要培養60名中國的中央和地方官員。

J: I don’t know. But I hope such cooperation can last as long as possible.

J:這我倒不清楚,不過我希望這樣的含作能長久下去。

H: So do I. If only there were no great conflicts which would threaten the peaceful relations among countries.

H:我也是這麼想的。希望以後沒有太大的衝突影響各國家間的和平共處。

  返回目錄

Han Meimei and Li Lei are talking about law schools.

H: Li Lei, did I tell you that I have full intent to go straight to law school after undergrad uate, although I’m still in high school?

H:李雷,我告訴過你我打算在畢業之後直接讀法律嗎?雖然我現在仍然還在讀高中。

L: No, but it’s good for you to set high goals for yourself so that you can push yourself to meet and exceed① them.

沒有。但你爲你自己設定高的目標對你來說是件好事。這樣你就可以推動自己, 並滿足和超越目標。

H: But I can’t decide on a law school.

但我現在不能夠決定進哪一個法學院。

L: Don’t you plan to come to Harvard Law School?

你不打算去哈佛法學院嗎?

H: I have my heart set on attending Harvard, but I know that Yale Law School always ranks first in the rankings of top law schools. This year, Yale stays No. 1 while Harvard Law School only ranks the second. Should I be aiming more for Yale than Harvard?

我一心想讀哈佛,但我知道耶魯法學院經常在頂尖的法學院的排行榜中排名第一。 今年,耶魯仍然保持第一,而哈佛才排名第二。這樣我是否應該瞄準耶魯而多過 哈佛呢?

L: Definitely, many people are pitting Harvard against Yale. From my personal point of view, however, if you get into both, flip a coin, you'll be fine either way.

確實,很多人經常把哈佛和耶魯比較。但對於我來說,如果你不知道選擇哪個好 的話,你可以拋硬幣,這樣無論是哪種結果都不賴。

H: I thought so, but..,

我也覺得是。但……

L: I believe at either place you’re going to get a great education and get a great I could give you one piece of advise it would be this: forget reputation. It can be very tempting to choose Yale because it’s the number one school in nation or Harvard because it’s Harvard.

我相信,這兩個地方的任何一個,都可以讓你得到很好的教育,也都可以找到一 份很好的工作。如果我能結你一點建議的話,那應該是:忘記聲譽。選擇耶魯會是 件很誘人的事情,因爲它在美國是排名第一的法學院,或者選擇哈佛,因爲它是哈佛。

H: Yes, Fve been tom between the two choices.

我在這兩個選擇中都快崩漬了。

L: When you,re deciding between these two schools I can’t emphasize too much how little this matters. Everyone has heard of both schools, and everyone will say, “Oh,wow!” when you tell them which school you attend.

當你正在這兩個學院中選擇決定的時候,這根本就不是什麼大問題。每個人都聽 說過這兩所學校,當你告訴他們你上哪個學校時,每個人都會說,"哦,哇! ”。

H: Despite this,I do hear that Yale’s pressure-alleviating and very “lenient". To an extent of course, grading system of “Honors,Pass, Fail” is given any less respect from top firms than the standard GPA/Rank system at HLS?

儘管這樣,我確實聽說耶魯大學壓力是比較小的,也很寬鬆。在某個程度來說, 與哈佛商學院的平均分評分系統相比,耶魯的"優異、及格、不及格”的評分方 式不太被一流公司重視認可。

L: I don’t think there is any evidence that firms on the whole give less respect to Yale Law grads than Harvard Law grads. Do you have any evidence to suggest that ?

我不認爲有任何的證據可以證明所有的企 業都對哈佛畢業生的重視多於對耶魯的。你有什麼證據來證明嗎?

H: No, but it’s said so.

沒有,但據說是這樣的。

L: Yes, there may be some firms that prefer the harder approach of Harvard, but there are other firms that prefer the softer approach of Yale.

是的。也許有些企業選擇哈佛這個較爲 強硬的方式,但有些其他的企業會選擇耶 魯較爲柔和的方式。

H: Thank you, because that clears up nothing.

謝謝你!因爲這等於沒說。

L: Don’t get hot and bothered. One thing that may cause a few firms to shy away from Yale Law is the predilection of Yale Law grads to not want to work in firms. They are in favor of other career paths, like academia, clerkships, or politics.

別火呀。造成某些企業迴避耶魯法學院的其中一個原因是耶魯畢業生不太偏向於 進公司,他們更喜歡其他職業道路,比如學術、法律辦事員或政治。

H: Do they?

是這樣嗎?

L: Yes, maybe firms shying away from Yale Law graduates because they’re scared that they’ll quit to go run for President. That’s an exaggeration, but you know what I mean.

是的,可能企業迴避耶魯法學院的畢業生,是因爲他們害怕這些畢業生將會離職 而去競選總統。這是誇張的說法,但我想你懂我的意思。

H: Then how on earth can I pick one? "

那麼我到底應該選擇哪個呢?

L: There’re some differences between the teaching methods of the two schools. YLS is more interested in the philosophy of the laws, while Harvard's approach is to examine the application of the law.

兩個學院的教學方式有些不一樣。耶魯更多的是專注於法律哲學,而哈佛方法是考查法律的應用。

H: Oh, I see. I’m more interested in practice.

H:哦,我明白了。我對應用實踐更感興趣。

L: So pick the one that will make you happy. For most of us these are the very last years we will ever spend in school. Why not enjoy them?

L:所以選擇一個可以讓你開心的學校吧。對於我們大部分的人來說,這將是我們在 學校度過的最後一些年頭了。爲什麼不好好享受它呢?

  返回目錄

A photo slips out of John’s book when he is arranging his books. Han Meimei picks it up.

H: John, where did you take the photo? There’re lots of people in the background.

H:約翰,這張照片是在哪照的?背景裏怎麼有那麼多人。

J: Oh, it’s taken against the background of a commencement. It's the picture I took when I attended the Harvard Commencement in 2009.

L:哦,背景是一個畢業典禮,照片是我09年參加哈佛的畢業典禮的時候照的。

H: Why did you go there?

H:你怎麼去那兒了?

J: My big brother graduated from Harvard last summer. It’s a big day for him. My parents and I were so proud of him. It’s out of question that we should go to witness the great moment.

J:我哥去年從哈佛畢業。對他來說是個重大的日子,我和父母都爲他感到驕傲,當 然要去見證那個偉大時刻了。

H: Is a commencement such a big event in America? I’ve never seen such a scene in China. My cousin told me that her university even didn’t hold a commencement. They had to rent bachelor gowns to take pictures.

H:畢業典禮在美國這麼重要啊?我在中國從沒見過這種情形。我表姐告訴我她們學 校甚至連畢業典禮都沒有,他們還得自己租學士服照相。

J: That’s awful. Commencement is such a holy day. It demonstrates that all your four years’ hard work finally pay off and that you’ll have a brand new life from that day on.

J:那太糟糕了。畢業典禮是多麼神聖的一天啊,說明你四年的努力設有白費,從那 天開始你就要開始全新的人生了。

H: Tell me about it. It must be interesting. I want to get an idea about how Harvard staff and students celebrate graduation. Can anyone attend Commencement?

H:給我講講吧,肯定很有意思,我想了解哈佛人是怎麼慶祝畢業的。任何人都可以 參加畢業典禮嗎?

J: No, you must get a ticket first. The tickets to Commencement are limited. Not everybody can go there. We got up early in the morning and arrived at Harvard at seven.

J:不是,你必須得先搞到票。畢業典禮的票數是有限的,不是每個人都可以去。我 們早上起得很早,七點就到哈佛了。

H: Why did you go there so early? Did the ceremony start so early?

H:爲什麼要去那麼早?典禮那麼早就開始了嗎?

J: Because seating capacity is limited, and seats are on a first-come basis and cannot be reserved. If we got there late, we had to stand.

J:因爲座位有限,先到先坐,不能預定。如果去晚了,就得站着了。

H: Did the campus look different?

H:校園看起來是不是和平時不一樣?

J: Yes. It looked great. Flowers were everywhere. And parents were thrilled to see their sons and daughters, and were incredibly proud to be here.

J:是的,看起來棒極了,到處是鮮花,家長們見到兒女們很激動,也爲自己能到那 兒而感到極其驕傲。

H: To be honest, I don’t understand. Why should parents feel so happy? When I saw the movie The Graduate, I couldn’t understand why everybody was happy to celebrate Benjamin’s graduation from college. He even didn’t get a job or something. I don’t believe Chinese parents will feel the same way.

H:老實說,我不理解。爲什麼家長們這麼高興?我看《畢業生》這部電影的時候就 很不理解爲什麼每個人都這麼高興地慶祝本傑明從大學畢業?他甚至都沒找到工 作什麼的。我相信中國的父母不會這樣的。

J: It’s hard to tell. We have different cultures.

J:文化不同,很難說清楚。

H : What else did you see and hear?

H:你的其他見聞呢?

J: On that day, I met with two centenarians. One was the oldest alumnus to take part in the ceremony and one was the oldest Radcliffe graduate to attend. They brought me back to the Harvard of the 1920s, and told me the crucial turning points in Harvard history.

j:那天,我遇見了兩個百歲老人。一個是來參加典禮的最老的校友,一個是來參加 典禮的最老的拉德克利夬院畢業生。他們把我帶回到20世紀20年代,給我講了 哈佛曆史上重要的轉折點。

H: Were there a lot of alumni? In China alumni only come back to celebrate significant anniversaries instead of animal Commencement, You did learn a lot from those alumni, right?

有很多校友參加?在中國校友只回來參加重大的週年校慶而不是每年的畢業典 禮。你確實從那些畢業生那裏學到了很多,是吧?

J: My brain was stuffed, so was my stomach. At noon, Harvard put on what may have been the world’s largest picnic, feeding countless graduates, families, and alumni in venues across the University with about 35 different menus. It’s said that planning for Commencement meals began nearly three months ago.

我的腦袋充實了,胃也被塞滿了。中午的時候,哈佛呈上了可能是世上有史以來 最大的野餐,在各個場地爲無數的畢業生、家人和校友提供大約35種不同的菜餚。 據說大概提前3個月就開始準備了。

H: My mouth is watering.

我都流口水了。

J: After lunch, we listened to speech given by the u.s. Energy Secretary Steven Chu. In 2008, the speaker was J. K. Rowling. That day, she received her honorary doctoral degree from Harvard.

午飯後,我們聽了一場美國能源部長朱棣文做的演講。2008年的演講者是J. K. 羅琳。那天她還被授予哈佛榮譽博士學位。

H: Does Harvard invite famous people to give a speech on Commencement each year?

哈佛每年都邀請名人在畢業典禮上演講嗎?

J: Yes, the speaker in 2010 will be David Souter, a Harvard alumnus who served nearly two decades on the U.S. Supreme Court before stepping down in June 2009.

是的,2010的演講者是前最高法院法官大衛·蘇特,他在最高法院幹了將近20年, 2009年6月剛退休。

H: Harvard Commencement is a like a visual and hearing feast, and is a real feast.

H:哈佛畢業典禮就像_場視覺和聽覺盛宴,也是一場真正的盛宴。


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