Listening assignment
Voice of America Webcasts Coast to Coast April 18, 2003
Foreign language teaching in the U.S. and Yao Ming
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Foreign languages in the U.S.

Vocabulary:

Dave Arlington
focus on
immigrants
low level
instruction
to affect
Pro Basketball star
Yao Ming
from the vantage point of
interpreter
time frame
sooner rather than later
season
NBA
"Little Giant"
edition
members of Congress
to sponsor legislation
official language
chairman
to promote
South America
Spanish-speaking population
to get by without
to create disunity
to oppose
proposed
Delia Polpa (?)
National Association for Bilingual Education
influx
Latino immigrants
to be threatening
smaller proportion
1800s
succeed
to line for
ESL
chief goal
academic subjects
to keep
heritage language
Mexico
household
form of communication
to press for
disincentives
proficient
to take place
assessment
to develop
native language
tool for learning
translation
Constitutional rights
safety
courts
representation
transitional
driver's test
to cast ballots
grateful
court services
health and safety
alarm
official language
to be led by
to apply
to be misinformed
to go on
belief system
desire
to be rooted in other issues
xenophobia
attitudes
regional difference
minority
Southwestern state
New Mexico
to be preserved
economic boon
bilingualism
mastery
to be well on their way to
a lesson to be learned from
to be unique in
fear of languages
large economic powers
the G-7 countries
school career
to have a lot to learn from
to be valued
to be gratified
don't seem to be getting too far
national language
extremely
attempts
to come up
rational
benefit
treasure
to hold on to
concerns
atmosphere
patriotic fervor
following
terrorist attacks
Iraq
elements
citizens
to die in the war
to be noted
to participate fully
aspect
knowledge
all around
intelligence and diplomatic efforts
situation
to play out
southern state
Georgia
to place a high priority on
in view of the fact that
public school
to push for more classes
officials
cutback
Columbia High School
Atlanta
Phyllis Thompson Willis
Dorthea Derico
career
lawyer
many
case
academic program
college preparatory field
board of education
elimination
controversy
to take office as
school superintendent
to be dropped
elective
to dwindle in size
cash-strapped programs
to stop offering
decreasing enrollment
to lay off
to speak up in favor of
in past years
to communicate
essential
colleague
curriculum
at a disadvantage
to stress
tomorrow
Coca-Cola
current events
multilingual
eleventh grader
culture
requirements
to point to
to do better in other subjects
to give more thought to
to remain in place
governor
to be unlikely
to expand
deficit
pilot program
elementary school children


Listening comprehension questions:
1. What is the official language of the United States?
2. What is interviewee Delia Polpa's own experience with bilingualism?
3. What do some people claim are 'disincentives' in the U.S. to learning English?
4. What does the interviewee believe is the actual function of bilingual services and educational programs in the U.S.?
5. The interviewee suggests that opposition to bilingual services is not necessarily a language issue but may be rooted in what?
6. How does the interviewee say the U.S. is 'unique'? What advantages does she see to learning other languages?
7. How does Dorthea Delico think Spanish will be useful to her? What kind of advantage does Mr. Gatarni say a foreign language may give a student?

(you can skip the portion on the effect of war on language)

Yao Ming
Vocabulary:

sports
regular season
to come to an end
NBA
literally
rookie center
Yao Ming
Houston Rockets
sensation
to stand...tall
meters
centimeters
expectations were high
draft
fans
all-star votes
Western Conference
Shaquille O'Neal
Los Angeles Lakers
to peak
to go up against
overtime
to have a losing record
to miss the play-offs
disappointing end
to predict
coach
teammate
Steve Francis
Chinese-American
athletic
inside game
great passer
feel for the game
novelty
to root for s.o.
to support and be proud of
it seems like
the guy's been here in America
can relate to
down
in a real tough spot
golden bridge
to open up
area
plus
inspiration
young Asian players
nothing like this
throughout the season
to work on
to appear on
national television
commercial
Visa
Apple Computers
largely
non-speaking roles
his conduit to
Colin Pine
to polish
language skills
Park Brewer
law school
to reconsider
State Department
interpretation
to hire
to apply for a position
résumé
cover letter
agent
fortunate
right combination of
abilities
application
official
key reason
passion
to enjoy
to come through in
to be reflected in
to be dedicated to
to select
news conference
on the spot
awkward
an exceptional human being
to joke around
to build a good working relationship
great sense of humor
mature beyond his years
it's funny
independent
goal
time frame
sooner rather than later
adjustment
tough
to adapt well to
schedule
on the road
tiring
league's
draft choice
to be surrounded by the media
demands
tolling
Park Brewer
swing
takinabreak.com


Listening comprehension questions:
1. How tall is Yao Ming in feet and inches? What position does he play?
2. What disappointment did the Houston Rockets face this past season?
3 What does Yao Ming's coach mean when he says Yao Ming's 'not a novelty at all'?
4. What is one Chinese-American view on Yao Ming?
5. What is Yao Ming's own comment on his current achievements?
6. How long has Colin Pine been studying Chinese?
7. How did Colin Pine decide to apply for the job of official interpreter for Yao Ming?
8. Why does Pine think he was hired for the job over other applicants? About how many applicants were there?
9. How did Yao Ming make things 'easy' for Pine from the beginning? Why does Pine think he has 'a lot to learn' from Yao Ming?
10. How has Yao Ming adjusted to life in the U.S.?

11. Transcribe the lyrics of the song on Yao Ming as best you can.


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