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

托馬斯，你的英語很好。你是怎麼學的呢？

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，在我們國家，每個人都要從一年級就開始學英語。到現在為止，我學英語已經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。我記得我們去年去那兒旅遊，去你們家做客。看起來好像沒有很多人能用英語和我交談。

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

哦，那是因為他們不經常說英語。

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

但是他們在學校裡說，是吧？或許他們不喜歡我，所以他們不想和我講話。

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。事實上他們很喜歡你。他們告訴我說他們覺得你很好。他們只是太害羞啦，他們不習慣和外國人講話。我記得我第一次來美國時，跟人們講話時我真的很緊張。

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

我明白啦。我以為很多美國人在你們國家教英語呢。

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，沒錯兒。或許現在美國老師的數量比五年前多了一倍。但是他們大多都在城市裡，我家在農村。

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.

我在想是什麼原因。和城市比起來，我個人倒更喜歡農村。很安靜平和。如果我去教書的話，我倒想去農村教。

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.

你覺得你以後會去教書嗎？我知道在我家附近的一些城鎮的學校在找老師，如果你想去那兒教書的話，我可以打電話給他們，多了解一些情況。

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。我還要在那兒呆一年，我覺得我休不了那麼個長假。

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

哦，如果你改變注意的話，告訴我一聲。我覺得你會成為一個很好的老師。