(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Korean language studies are quickly growing in popularity across the United States. The Modern Language Association says the number of U.S. college students taking a Korean language class rose by almost 45% between 2009 and 2013. The group notes that the increase comes at a time when the number of college students taking foreign language classes has declined.
This is K-pop -- Korean popular music. Many people around the world like the sound of K-pop.
"They do a lot of dancing, yes. And it's more upbeat."
"I think it's fun. I'm a little surprised that it's caught on to the rest of the world."
People can listen to K-pop music, and watch K-pop videos and Korean drama programs on websites like YouTube.
David Schaberg is Dean of Humanities at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also serves as a professor in UCLA's Department of Asian Languages & Cultures, where students can study Korean.
"As a dean of humanities, to look at a country that's creating its reputation globally through cultural production, that's very exciting. Of course, it attracts students. Of course, it means more Americans who may have had nothing at all to do with Korea will now be gravitating to the study of Korean language and culture."
Rosemary Feal has worked as the executive director of The Modern Language Association since 2002. She spoke to VOA on Skype.
"Many students say they really want to get inside the culture and they want a better understanding, and so clearly language gives us access into culture and cultural expression."
Persida Radu is learning Korean. Like many others, her interest in the language started with music.
"I actually first got into Korean pop and then the dramas they show, and then learning it."
Ms. Feal says there is another reason for the popularity of Korean language studies. She notes that children of Korean immigrants want to speak to their parents and grandparents in Korean.
"We know there is a correlation between the immigration patterns and the new generations wanting to learn a family language."
She is describing people like John Park. He is taking a special class for ethnic Koreans. The class is designed for those who may speak a little Korean, but not enough to talk with older family members who may not speak English.
"I don't speak Korean too well, and of course I want to communicate with my parents, my grandparents, and so I took it to learn how to read and write more effectively."
Professor Sung-Ock Sohn teaches Korean classes at UCLA. She says another reason people want to learn the language is the growing economic power of South Korea.
Professor Schaberg says the popularity of Korean language training is also affecting American culture. He says it shows that American culture is becoming more Asian, or at least opening up to more Asian influences.
Language researchers say the growing number of U.S. students taking Korean language classes shows no sign of ending anytime soon. Their reasons: the popularity of K-pop and the rising number of Korean-Americans seeking to re-connect with older family members.
I'm Jonathan Evans.
词汇解释
1.upbeat n. 兴旺；上升；弱拍 adj. 乐观的；上升的
The Defense Secretary gave an upbeat assessment of the war so far.
国防部长对迄今为止的战事进行了乐观的评价。
2.humanities n. 人文学科（humanity的复数 ）
The number of students majoring in the humanities has declined by about half.
主修人文学科的学生数量已经下降了近一半。
3.gravitate vi. 受引力作用；被吸引
You naturally gravitate toward people with shared values.
你自然而然地被具有共同价值观的人吸引。
4.correlation n. [数] 相关，关联；相互关系
Are you familiar with their correlation ?
你了解他们的相互关系吗？
内容解析
1."I think it's fun. I'm a little surprised that it's caught on to the rest of the world."
catch on to 理解；突然了解
It took me a long time to catch on to the directions.
我花了很久才弄明白说明书的意思。
Wait a minute! I'm beginning to catch on.
等一下！我开始有点懂了。
2."I actually first got into Korean pop and then the dramas they show, and then learning it."
get into 进入；陷入；穿上；习惯于
He was eager to get into politics.
他渴望从政。
I was working hard to get into Yale.
我为了能进入耶鲁大学而努力学习。
参考译文
韩语学习在美国越来越热门，现代语言协会表示，2009到2013年年间，上韩语课程的美国大学生数量增长了近45%。该组织指出，与此同时，上外语课程的大学生数量却在下降。
这就是韩国流行音乐，全世界有很多人都喜欢韩国流行乐。
“这种音乐里有很多舞蹈，而且更快乐。”
“我觉得它很有趣，对于它能全球热门很吃惊。”
人们可以在YouTube这样的网站上收听韩国流行乐，观看相关视频以及韩国舞蹈节目。
戴维·史嘉柏是加州大学洛杉矶分校的人文部主任，他还是该校亚洲语言文化系的教授，学生们可以在该系学习韩语。
“作为人文部主任，看到一个国家能通过文化产品来提升全球声望，是令人激动的事。当然它吸引了学生们，这也意味着很多可能与韩国没有关系的美国人现在开始被吸引去学习韩国语言和文化。”
罗丝玛丽·费尔自2002年开始担任现代语言协会的执行董事，她通过Skype接受了美国之音的采访。
“很多学生说他们希望深入了解韩国文化，所以显然语言能让我们接触文化和文化现象。”
像很多人一样，佩尔西达·拉杜在学韩语，她对这本语言的兴趣始于音乐。
“我实际上是先接触到韩国流行乐，然后是舞蹈，然后开始学韩语。”
费尔说，韩语学习热门还有一个原因，她指出，韩国的移民儿童希望用韩语和父母及祖父母对话。
“我知道，在移民模式和年轻一代希望学习祖籍语言之间存在关联。”
她指的是约翰·朴这样的人，他参加了为韩裔人开设的专门课程，该课程是为那些能讲一点韩语，但不足以和家里不讲英语的老年人交流的人开设的。
“我的韩语讲得不是很好，当然我想和父母及祖父母交谈，所以我就去学习更高效地读写。”
孙晟玉教授在加州大学洛杉矶分校教韩语，她说人们想学习韩语的另一个原因是韩国日益增强的经济实力。
史嘉柏教授说，韩语培训的热门也影响了美国文化。他说这表明美国文化正在变得更加亚洲化，或者至少愿意接受亚洲的影响。
语言研究者们称，学习韩语的美国学生人数的增加没有显示出很快结束的迹象，原因是韩国流行乐的流行，以及越来越多的韩裔美国人希望和家中老人重新联系。
我是乔纳森·伊万斯。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
