More parents in the US are sending their children to Chinese schools or hiring Mandarin-speaking nannies to help their children learn Chinese better and earlier.
The Chinese language is very hot right now, and kids all over the country, from California to Kentucky, are doing their best to learn it.
Many parents believe if their children learn Chinese now, they will have an easier time getting a good job. China's economy and influence grow year after year.
PHOTO: AFP
Some schools offer half-English, half-Chinese environments for learning.
For example, 150 students at Potomac Elementary School near Washington, DC spend half their school day learning mathematics and science in Mandarin and then switch to English for reading, social studies and language arts.
The program is popular for different reasons.
"It's fun because I can speak it with my brother and we tell secrets in Chinese that my parents don't understand," seven-year-old Olivia said.
(Jason Cox, Staff Writer with AFP)
美國有愈來愈多父母送小孩到中文學校，或僱請會說中文的保母協助小孩的中文學得更早、更好。
中文現在非常熱門，全美的孩童，從加州到肯德基州，現在都卯足全力來學中文。
中國的經濟與影響力逐年成長。許多父母相信，假如孩子現在就開始學中文，有助於將來找好工作。
有些學校提供了中英文的雙語學習環境。
例如，鄰近華盛頓特區的波多馬克小學，在校就有一半時間用中文學習數學與自然科學，再改用英文閱讀、學習社會科目與語言藝術。
這項教案受歡迎的原因眾多。
七歲的奧莉薇亞說︰「我可以跟我弟弟說中文，用中文說祕密，這樣爸媽就聽不懂了。」 （翻譯：賴美君）
★ Bilingual Story is a fictionalized account. 雙語故事部分內容純屬虛構。 “Get in. It’s pouring.” She slid into the back seat, drenched and silent. “Tissues?” the driver asked. “No, thank you,” she said. Water beaded off her hair, ran from her coat, and made a small lake on the vinyl. She kept her head down, long black strands clinging to her face. “Where to?” She gave an address. “Funeral?” he asked as they slipped into the Xinhai Tunnel, rain fading to a hollow drum. She glanced up, puzzled. “No. Why?” “Crematorium’s about the only thing here.” He caught her eyes in the mirror.
Have you ever dreamed of hiking Taiwan’s majestic Mt. Jade or visiting Peru’s breathtaking Machu Picchu? These adventures sound amazing, but there’s something you should know about first: “altitude sickness.” This condition strikes when you climb to a higher elevation too quickly. The higher you go, the thinner the air becomes, making it harder for your body to absorb oxygen. The symptoms usually begin within hours of reaching high altitudes — about 2,500 meters or higher. You might experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue. These symptoms can last for several days. The severity of altitude sickness varies
A: Any fun events happening this weekend? B: Boyband Energy’s concerts and Taiwan’s first major male dance revue have both sparked anticipation recently. A: Energy staged a comeback last year — 15 years after they disbanded — and they’re now more popular than ever. B: Their megahit “Friday Night” even won Song of the Year at the Golden Melody Awards. A: To pay tribute to the Queen of Pop Madonna, they added her choreography of 16 continuous jump squats to their music video, prompting a “16-squat challenge” that went viral across Taiwan. Do you wanna try it out? A:
Week 24 詞法—名詞 1. 人們一致稱讚他。 ˇ People praised him unanimously. χ Peoples praised him unanimously. 註：people 作「人們」（＝ men and women）解時，是單數形式，作複數用。peoples 是「多個民族」、「各國人民」，不是「多數人」，如 the peoples of Asia（亞洲各民族、亞洲人民）。 2. 她為他做了一條新褲子。 ˇ She made him a new pair of trousers. χ She made him a new trousers. 註：scissors 和 trousers 等名詞習慣用複數形式。「一把剪刀」或「一條褲子」正統說法為 a pair of scissors 或 a pair of trousers。 3. 我們提前兩年完成了第二個五年計劃的主要目標。 ˇ We fulfilled the major objectives of the Second Five-Year Plan two years ahead. χ We fulfilled the major objectives of the Second Five-Years Plan two years ahead. 註：five-year 作為一個複合形容詞，year 不用複數。又如 a twelve-year-old boy、a five-dollar note、a one-hundred-meter race 等，也是一樣。 4. 他們決定買一輛新車。 ˇ They have made up their minds to buy a new car. χ
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