Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Being able to speak more than one language has so many benefits. Traveling to new countries is easier. You can make more friends and learn about their cultures. You can enjoy and understand more music, books, and movies. And scientists have learned that people who learn to speak a second language have skills in school that people who speak only one just don’t have.
When looking for a job, knowing a second language is especially helpful. People who can translate one language into another are more and more important in a world where new business partners can be found just using the internet. If you can tell someone all about your company in another language, it’s possible that your company will grow and make more money. Be sure to put translation skills in your resume!
Sara and Marni are talking about the subtleties of translating. Find out who is a translator in her family in this week’s English lesson.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
Marni: I was watching this movie, and there were no subtitles, and it was in German. And I realized, I have no idea what’s going on. I need a translator here. I’m not getting the full story.
Sara_R: It’s very important to have a translator for something like that. My aunt is from Mexico and I sometimes translate for her.
Marni: I didn’t realize that you were fluent in Spanish.
Sara_R: I am partly fluent in Spanish. It’s hard sometimes to translate the subtleties of the conversation…
Marni: Sure.
Sara_R: ... and the nuances of what people are saying. Sometimes meaning gets lost.
Marni: Right.
Sara_R: Sometimes it’s hard for her to keep up, but I try.
Marni: I think as long as you’re conveying the meaning, right? That she’s getting the general sense of what’s being said.
Sara_R: I try to convey the meaning. Sometimes the word is just on the tip of my tongue and I can’t find it.
Marni: That’s so frustrating. I feel that way, too, when I try to speak in other languages, which I’m not very good at, but…
Sara_R: Well, we can both keep practicing.
Marni: OK. Sounds like a plan.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Past Progressive Tense" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
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Discussion
Marni tells Sara that she was watching a movie when she realized that all the actors were speaking German. Unfortunately, Marni doesn’t speak German, so she didn’t understand what was going on! She wished that she had a translator with her who could explain exactly what was happening.
Sara shares with Marni that she often translates for her aunt who is from Mexico. Sara feels that translating can be difficult for her because she isn’t completely fluent in Spanish. A language can have a lot of nuances that are hard to explain to someone who didn’t grow up speaking it.
Can you translate one language into another? What makes someone a good translator?
Comments
Spain |
Philippines |
Algeria |
Turkey |
United Arab Emirates |
Venezuela |
Indonesia |
Colombia |
Colombia |
Yemen |
Yemen |
Yemen |
United States |
Egypt |
United States |