Thomas your English is so good. How did you learn it?

托马斯，你的英语很好。你是怎么学的呢？

Well, in my country everyone has to take English starting in the first grade. I've been taking English courses for 12 years now.

嗯，在我们国家，每个人都要从一年级就开始学英语。到现在为止，我学英语已经12年啦。

Wow, that's interesting. I remember when we took that trip last year and visited your family. It seemed like there weren't many people that could speak with me in English.

哇，很有趣。我记得我们去年去那儿旅游，去你们家做客。看起来好像没有很多人能用英语和我交谈。

Oh, that's because they don't speak English that much.

哦，那是因为他们不经常说英语。

But they speak it in school, right? Maybe they just didn't like me so they didn't want to talk to me.

但是他们在学校里说，是吧？或许他们不喜欢我，所以他们不想和我讲话。

No, actually they liked you a lot. They told me they thought you were very nice. They are just shy. They're not use to talking with foreigners. I remember when I first came to the U.S. I was really nervous about speaking with people.

不是的。事实上他们很喜欢你。他们告诉我说他们觉得你很好。他们只是太害羞啦，他们不习惯和外国人讲话。我记得我第一次来美国时，跟人们讲话时我真的很紧张。

I see. I thought there were lots of Americans teaching English in your country.

我明白啦。我以为很多美国人在你们国家教英语呢。

Yes, that's true. There are probably twice as many now as there were five years ago, but they are mostly in the cities. My family lives in the country.

是的，没错儿。或许现在美国老师的数量比五年前多了一倍。但是他们大多都在城市里，我家在农村。

I wonder why. Personally I prefer the country to the city. It's so quiet and peaceful. If I were to teach, I would want to teach in the country.

我在想是什么原因。和城市比起来，我个人倒更喜欢农村。很安静平和。如果我去教书的话，我倒想去农村教。

Do you think you would want to teach someday? I know the schools around my town are looking for teachers, so if you want I can call them and get more information.

你觉得你以后会去教书吗？我知道在我家附近的一些城镇的学校在找老师，如果你想去那儿教书的话，我可以打电话给他们，多了解一些情况。

No, I don't think so. I would need to stay there for a year, and I don't think I can take that much time off work.

不用啦，我不去。我还要在那儿呆一年，我觉得我休不了那么个长假。

Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I think you would be a really great teacher.

哦，如果你改变注意的话，告诉我一声。我觉得你会成为一个很好的老师。