High 1 · Reading series
Lesson 45 · Listening to an Accent
Audio track 45
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
During an online exchange, I spoke with students from several countries about music. One student described an instrument used in her school orchestra. I understood the word “strings” but missed the instrument's name. I smiled and pretended I had followed everything.
When she asked whether we had one at our school, I could not answer. I finally said, “Sorry, I missed the name. Could you say it again or show me a picture?” She repeated it more slowly and held up a photograph. I recognized the instrument but had never heard its English name spoken that way.
After that, other students also asked for words to be repeated. Nobody had to speak with the same accent. We adjusted by using pictures, examples, and shorter explanations when needed.
I had treated understanding as a test I had to pass silently. The exchange became more interesting when I treated it as work we could do together.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
在线交流活动中，我和来自几个国家的学生谈音乐。一位同学介绍了她们学校管弦乐队的一种乐器。我听懂了‘弦’这个词，却没听清乐器的名称。我只是笑着，装作全都听懂了。
她问我们学校有没有这种乐器，我答不上来。最后，我说：‘不好意思，我没听清名称。你能再说一遍，或给我看张图片吗？’她说慢了一些，还举起一张照片。我认出了乐器，只是以前没听过那个英文名称以那样的口音说出来。
之后，其他学生也请对方重复词语。没有人必须用同一种口音说话。需要时，我们用图片、例子和更简短的说明来调整交流方式。
我原先把听懂当成一场必须独自默默通过的考试。等我把理解看作大家可以一起完成的事，这次交流反而更有趣了。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- exchange
- 交流；与多国学生在线谈音乐。
- instrument
- 乐器；主人公没听清名称。
- string
- 弦；他听懂的一个词。
- miss a name
- 没听清名称；导致无法回答问题。
- pretend
- 假装；先装作完全听懂。
- recognize
- 认出；看照片后认出乐器。
- accent
- 口音；同一个名称有不同说法。
- adjust
- 调整；借图片与例子协助理解。
- repeat
- 重复；学生们也开始请人再说。
- silently
- 默默地；不必独自闷声应对。
Background notes (Chinese)
跨地区英语交流可能出现不同口音和陌生名称。遇到没听清的地方，可以礼貌地请对方重复或展示图片，而不是假装理解。