Soldier

BBC Learning EnglishWeekenderSoldier
Jackie: Hello, welcome to the programme. I’m JackieDalton. Today, we take a look atsome job related language with the help of Jeffrey, who’sgoing to tell us about his work. What does he do?
　　JeffreyI’m Captain Jeffrey Scammerhorn and I’m a Canadian armyofficer. I’m currently¹ stationed inFrederickton, New Brunswick.
　　Jackie: Jeffrey is a Captain in the Canadian army. A job heenjoys and which he has learnt a lot from. How does Jeffreyfeel being in the army has changed him?
　　JeffreyThe army has certainly changed me as a person. The clearestchange from the man I was to the man I am now is the degreeof confidence that I have in myself and my ability to takeon completely new tasks, use the skills and planning andconsideration that I’ve been taught and carry out the job.
　　Jackie: Jeffrey says the biggest change is his degree ofconfidence – he’s more sure of himself. He talks abouthis ability to take on new tasks – tasks – jobs or otherthings he has to do. To take something on is to do it ortry it. Listen to some examples of that expression in use.
　　Voice:
　　I'm going to take on the huge task of cleaning the wholehouse today.
　　Weekender  ? BBC Learning EnglishPage 1 of 4bbclearningenglish.comVoice:
　　I’ll only take on the project if I get extra money for it.
　　Jackie: Jeffrey says it’s not just at work that theseskills are useful. They can be applied² in other contexts,which means they can be used in other situations. Whatother examples does he give of situations where thoseskills can help?
　　JeffreyIt’s amazing how you can apply these same skills toeverything from dating to building a house, even though itwas all taught to you for war fighting.
　　Jackie: Jeffrey says the skills you learn in the army caneven be useful in things like building a house or dating.
　　What did Jeffrey think of the army when he started out intraining – did he think people where nice or nasty³?
　　JeffreyWell in the training system, everything I expected of themilitary took place. There was the structure, there was theNCOs whose voice was occasionally a little too loud, butnobody was being malicious⁴ – it wasn’t the way Hollywoodtends to portray⁵ this thing.
　　Jackie: As he expected, life in training was ‘structured’
　　, which means well organised.
　　But he says no-one was malicious, so people weren’t nasty.
　　He mentionsHollywood – what does he say?
　　Jeffrey…it wasn’t the way Hollywood tends to portray this thing.
　　Jackie: Jeffrey says being in the army isn’t likeHollywood portrays⁶ it – so not like it’s shown in themovies.
　　Now Jeffrey is going to tell us what drives him about thejob – what he reallylikes about it. So what drives Jeffrey? And what is themost difficult thing about his job? Try to answer those twoquestions.
　　JeffreyWhat really, really drives me with this job is that everymorning I get up and I put on these combat⁷ boots and I’mhappy about what I am doing. I mean, I’ve been doing thisfor 24 years. And I can honestly say, whether it was on anexercise and it was pouring down rain, whetherit was in Bosnia, whether it was back here and… everysingle day I enjoy what I’m doing. And it changes, thearmy never let’s you get bored with what you’re doing.
　　The most difficult thing, I would have to say, is the waythat military service takes you away from your family.
　　Jackie: What really drives Jeffrey is that fact he likeshis job and he’s doing something different all the time –he never gets bored. The most difficult thing is being awayfrom his family.
　　Jeffrey has never had to kill anyone. He points out thatmost of the work they do in the army involves helpingpeople and trying to stop fighting. Listen for threeexamples he gives of ways the army helps people.
　　JeffreyWhen we go some place on behalf of Canada, and we get onthe ground and we stop people from shooting at each otherand we start taking mines out of the ground and we startmaking sure that fresh water and a decent⁸ supply of food isgetting to people...
　　Jackie: Did you find three examples? Jeffrey talks aboutstopping people from shooting each other, getting cleanwater and food to people and taking out mines, which arebombs that are hidden in the ground. This is what makesJeffrey happy about what he does.
　　JeffreyIf we can hold civilization together for just that momentin time, I can’t think of anything else that makes youfeel that good about yourself.
　　Jackie: That's all for today, but do keep practising yourEnglish with BBC LearningEnglish dot com

1 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

2 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

3 nasty   

adj.令人讨厌的，困难的，恶劣的，下流的

参考例句：

• She got a nasty knock on the head when she fell.她跌倒时头部受到严重碰撞。
• When this material burns，it flings off a nasty smell.这种物质燃烧时发出一股难闻的气味。

4 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

5 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

6 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 combat   

n.战斗，斗争，格斗；vt.与...斗争，与...战斗

参考例句：

• The police are now using computers to help combat crime.警方现在使用电脑打击犯罪活动。
• A reporter interviewed the combat hero.记者访问了这位战斗英雄。

8 decent   

adj.象样的，不错的，体面的，正派的，恰当的

参考例句：

• We want to raise our children to be decent men and women.我们盼望把孩子们培养成优秀人才。
• There isn't even a decent table in this room.这屋里连张像样的桌子也没有。