Level 1 · Reading series
Lesson 9 · My First Video Call
Audio track 09
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
Before a video call, check your camera, microphone, and internet connection. Look at the background, too. Turn on the camera only when you are ready.
When you are not speaking, you can mute your microphone. This keeps small sounds out of the call. When you speak, look near the camera and use a clear voice.
In a group call, take turns and do not interrupt. A short pause helps people know when the next person can start. Good calls need good listening.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
视频通话前，先检查摄像头、麦克风和网络连接。还要看看镜头里会出现什么背景。准备好后再打开摄像头。
不说话时，可以把麦克风静音，避免周围的小声音传进通话。说话时，看向摄像头附近，用清楚的声音表达。
多人通话要轮流发言，不要打断别人。稍作停顿，能让下一位发言者知道何时可以开口。好的通话也需要认真倾听。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- video call
- 视频通话；同时传送画面和声音的通话。
- camera
- 摄像头；相机。
- microphone
- 麦克风；收录声音的设备。
- background
- 背景；画面中主体后面的景物。
- mute
- 静音；把声音关掉。
- turn on
- 打开电源或功能；反义短语是 turn off。
- clear voice
- 清楚的声音。clear 还可表示‘清晰的’。
- take turns
- 轮流做；按顺序做。
- connection
- 连接；也可指网络连接。
- interrupt
- 打断；在别人说话时插话。
Background notes (Chinese)
视频通话传递的不只是声音，还可能把房间里的物品、通知声等带给对方。加入前检查镜头范围和麦克风；不用时可按需关闭。也要留意画面里是否有可能暴露学校或住址的东西。