(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report.
Haiti is among the poorest nations in the world, only about half the children in the country go to primary school. And the United Nations children's agency UNICEF says, fewer than 25 percent attend secondary school.
Many Haitian schools are in poor condition. They lack running water and dependable electricity. The United States Institute of Peace has called the education system in Haiti "dysfunctional", it says reforms and financial assistance are badly needed.
Last week, U.S. Education Secretary, Arne Duncan visited Haiti to discuss its education system. He met with Haitian President Michel Martelly. Mr Martelly was elected in 2011, he is working on his campaign promise to make education required and free of charge for every child.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, center, stands in a classroom during his visit to the National School in Tabarre, Haiti, Nov. 5, 2013.
Mr Duncan announced that the U.S. Agency for International Development(USAID) will invest millions of dollars to improve Haiti's education system. The agency will invest the money through its Room to Learn program, a program seeks to increase equality in opportunities for education. Mr Duncan said the United States will also provide technical assistance to Haiti's Education Ministry.
The American Education Secretary spoke with VOA's Creole Service after he returned to the U.S.
He said Haitian lawmakers are considering legislation that would expand funding for education. He said that if the measure passes, the law would be hugely important. Mr Duncan talked about his visits to several schools in Haiti, these included a school for children who live on the street. Mr Duncan praised the students for their courage and their efforts to gain a better life.
"To hear their stories of why they are working so hard, and why they want to get off the streets - I'll never forget it," said Duncan.
Mr Duncan noted that many children lost parents in the 2010 earthquake. Another school he visited had 110 students in a single classroom. He also said it is very rare for Haitian school to have computers.
However, he said most students are able to get a meal at school. For many, that is their only meal of the day.
In his interview with the Creole Service, Mr Duncan also talked about language use in Haitian schools. The country has two official languages - Creole and French. Most Haitians speak Creole but most schools use French. Mr Duncan said he believes this situation is difficult for children who learn Creole at home.
"And I think that for other challenges students are facing, when their teacher speaking a different language from use, that can be pretty hard," said Duncan.
He praised an experimental program that teaches reading in Creole in about 300 schools. Mr Duncan also noted the importance of having good data to help schools. He said there is a need for collecting more basic information like the number of schools, the number of teachers and how the student are progressing.
And that's the Education Report from VOA Learning English. I'm Avi Arditti.
译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.dysfunctional 机能失调的,功能障碍的
He was born in a dysfunctional family.
他生于一个不正常的家庭。
2.campaign promise 竞选诺言
The governor was attacked by the press for failing to keep a campaign promise.
州长因没能履行一项竞选时的承诺而受新闻界抨击。
3.legislation n. 立法；法律
The new government dismantled their predecessors' legislation.
新政府废除了前任政府的立法。
4.experimental adj. 实验的；根据实验的；试验性的
His conclusions are underpinned by experimental findings.
试验的结果证实了他的结论。
内容解析
1.Mr Martelly was elected in 2011, he is working on his campaign promise to make education required and free of charge for every child.
work on 影响，对…起作用；继续工作；从事于…；设法说服
The scientists are still working on inventing new methods of reaching outer space.
科学家们仍致力于发明到达外层空间的新方法。
The doctor told him that this kind of medicine may work on him.
医生对他说这种药对他可能有效。
2.The agency will invest the money through its Room to Learn program, a program seeks to increase equality in opportunities for education.
seek to 追求；争取；力图
In order to maximize profit the firm would seek to maximize output.
为了获得最大利润，这家公司会把产量增至最大。
We will aggressively seek to control the weaponry of war.
我们会主动寻求对战争武器的管制。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语教育报道。
海地是全世界最贫困国家之一，该国只有一半的儿童上小学。联合国儿童基金会(UNICEF)称不到25%的孩子上中学。
许多海地学校条件很差，缺少自来水和可靠的电力。美国和平研究所称海地的教育系统“功能失灵”，称迫切需要改革和财政援助。
上周，美国教育部长阿恩·邓肯访问海地，讨论该国教育体系。他会见了海地总统米歇尔·马尔泰利，马尔泰利2011年当选总统，他正努力兑现竞选的承诺，即为每个孩子提供必需的免费教育。
邓肯宣布美国国际开发署(USAID)将投资数百万美元用于改善海地的教育系统，该机构将通过“学习房间计划”来投资，该项目的宗旨是改善教育机会公平。邓肯说美国还会给海地的教育部提供技术援助。
美国教育部长回美国后在美国之音的克里奥耳语频道作了讲话。
他说海地立法者们正考虑加大教育资金的法律，他说如果措施通过，该法将非常重要。邓肯谈到对海地几所学校的访问，在其中一所学校孩子们住在大街上。邓恩赞扬了学生们的勇气和争取美好生活的努力。
“听到他们为何这么努力学习的故事，以及为何想脱离大街，我永远也忘不了。”
邓肯指出，许多学生在2010年地震中失去了父母。在他访问的另一所学校有110个学生在一个房间上课，他说海地学校很少有电脑的。
不过，他说大多数学生都能在学校吃上饭，对很多人来说，这是一天中唯一的一顿饭。
在他接受克里奥耳语频道的采访中，邓肯还谈到海地学校的语言使用。该国有两种官方语言，克里奥耳语和法语。大多数海地人讲克里奥耳语，但大多数学校使用法语。邓肯说他认为这对那些在家学习克里奥耳语的孩子来说很困难。
“我想如果老师用不同的语言来讲课，这对学生来说就是另一挑战了，这对他们来说会非常艰难。”
他赞扬了一个在300多所学校用克里奥耳语教学的实验项目，邓肯还指出获取良好数据以帮助学校的重要性。他说需要收集一些基本数据，比如学校的数量，老师的数量，以及学生的进步情况。
这里是美国之音慢速英语教育报道，我是Avi Arditti。
