Dialogue:
JJ:Hey, Xiao Gao, why do you look so stressed out? Do you have a lot of homework or something?
京晶:小高,你为何看上去愁眉苦脸的?你是作业太多了吗还是什么?
XG:Well that's just it, school's going fine this year… but I'm not sure about next year.
小高:就是这么回事,上学的事今年还行吧,但明年我就不太确定了……
JJ:I don't get it. You said school's going fine now, so why do you think you'll have an issue at school next year?
京晶:我不明白。你说上学的事今年还行,那你为什么认为明年这会是一个问题呢?
XG:The way things are looking now, I don't think I'll be able to fork up enough money for tuition next year.
小高:照目前来看,我认为我明年可能交不起学费了。
JJ:Oh, that's not good. So what are you gonna do?
京晶:嗯,这可不妙,那你打算怎么办?
XG:Well, I was planning on working at a factory this summer and saving up some money, and maybe taking out a student loan. That way I should be able to go to school next year.
小高:我计划这个暑假去工厂工作,挣点钱,同时也许申请学生贷款,这样的话,我明年就能继续上学了。
JJ:Well, problem solved right? What are you worrying about?
京晶:那问题不就解决了吗?你还在担心什么?
XG:I got a job offer to work as an English teacher. I wouldn't be able to go to school on such a low salary, but I think it would be really fun. So now I'm having second thoughts. Maybe I should take the English teaching position instead?
小高:我得到了一个做英语老师的工作机会,靠这工作的报酬我仍然付不起学费,但是我相信这工作很有趣,所以现在我正重新考虑中,也许我应该选择这个教英语的工作?
JJ:Xiao Gao, you have to think this through carefully. On one hand the English teaching job is fun, you're right. But on the other hand you wouldn't be able to fulfill your long term goal of getting a bachelor's degree. I don't think it's in your best interests to take the English teaching job.
京晶:小高,这事儿你可得想仔细了。一方面教英语的工作确实很有趣,但另一方面,你将不能完成你的长期目标:拿到本科学位。我不认为做这个教英语的工作是真正对你有利。
XG:But I think that the teaching job will help me in the future to land a better job. Don't you think it will look good on my resume if I had some teaching experience?
小高:但是我认为这个教学工作未来会帮助我找到更好的工作。难道你不觉得我的简历上如果有教学经历会看上去会很不错吗?
JJ:It might help, but I think having a bachelor's degree on your resume will look even better. You really have to weigh the pros and cons.
京晶:有可能有助,但是我想你的简历上如果有学士学位应该看上去更好,你真的应该好好权衡利弊。
XG:But working in the factory will be so boring! I'd much rather do something that would make me happy, like teaching English. It's always been one of my dreams.
小高:但是在工厂工作将会多么枯燥乏味,我宁愿做点让自己高兴的事,比如教教英语什么的,这一直以来是我的梦想之一。
JJ:Well, that's part of growing up and being responsible. This experience will make you a better and more responsible person in the future. Trust me, a bachelor's degree is worth much more than a temporary English teaching job. Plus, you don't even know for sure if you'll like teaching English. Anyways, you could always make learning English your hobby at night when you come home from work. Next semester at school, maybe you could take an Englishelective class. If you're certain you really like teaching English, then next semester maybe you could tutor a child on the weekend and at the same time make some extra money?
京晶:这就是成长的一部分,学会负责任。这次经历会让你未来成为一个更好的更对自己负责任的人。相信我,一个本科学位比临时教英语的工作更有意义。再说了,你也并不十分肯定你会喜欢教英语。对了,你也可以把学英语当作每晚下班回家后的一个习惯,下学期你也许还可以上英语选修课。如果你确定你十分喜欢教英语,下学期也许你可以在周末给儿童做家教同时挣点钱。
XG:Okay, you've convinced me. I'm gonna do what's best for myself and work hard to earn enough money to pay for school! Thanks so much, Jing Jing.
小高: 好吧,你说服了我,我将去做对我而言最有利的事,努力工作挣足学费。谢谢你,京晶。
New words for dialogue:
Well that's just it = 就是怎么回事
I don't get it = I don't understand 我不明白
An issue = a problem 一个问题
The way things are looking now = 按照现状来看
Fork up [money] = to pay a large amount of money 花费一大笔钱
Take out a student loan = to borrow money from a bank to pay for tuition 助学贷款
Problem solved = 问题解决了
Have second thoughts = to hesitate 犹豫
Think [something] through = 充分的考虑某事
Long term goal = a goal that should be accomplished over a long period of time 长远目标
In one's best interests = 对某人最好的的利益
Land a job = to get a job 获得工作
Weigh the pros and cons = to consider the benefits and consequences of something 权衡利弊
Elective = 选修课