EDUCATION REPORT - Adult Education

EDUCATION REPORT -August 29, 2002: Adult Education

By Jerilyn Watson
(Photo -Montgomery College)
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

Millions of Americans take part in adult education programs. Some adults are completing high school, college or
graduate school work. They attend classes designed especially for working people on weekends or at night. Other
adults take classes by mail or on their computers. For example, the University of Arizona Extended¹ University is
one of many colleges now providing such courses.

Other adults learn job skills like computer science or wood-working. Still other
adult students learn to read or improve their English.

Some adult students are not trying to finish their education or learn job skills.
Instead, they want to explore new interests. They want to learn to speak a foreign
language, play a musical instrument or take good pictures. They attend continuing
education programs at a community college or public school. For example,
Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland, offers many classes. They teach
adults how to build a house or how to write their memories.

An agency² in the federal³ government’s Department of Education supervises⁴ public
adult education programs. The Departments of Agriculture and Defense⁵ offer many subjects for adults. So do
private companies, labor⁶ unions and organizations. These subjects include the arts, science and business.

Adult education classes meet in schools, public libraries and business offices. They also meet in religious⁷ centers
or shopping centers. Classes in nature sciences and sports often take place outside.

Education experts say the large numbers of retired⁸ Americans are a major reason for the popularity⁹ of adult
education. These people say they want to continue developing¹⁰ their brains.

Some programs for older adults include travel. For example, the nonprofit organization Elderhostel serves
hundreds of thousands of people over age fifty-five. One Elderhostel program takes place in the famous southern
American city of New Orleans, Louisiana. The program teaches older adults about the special culture of the city.
Students travel there to learn about New Orleans food, music, history, art and building design.

Today, more and more American adults are proving that education is not only for young people.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Jerilyn Watson.

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1 extended   

adj.延伸的；伸展的；延长的；扩大的v.延伸(extend的过去式和过去分词)；伸展；延长

参考例句：

• an extended lunch hour 延长了的午餐时间
• France has greatly extended its influence in world affairs. 在世界事务中，法国的影响已大大地扩大了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

3 federal   

adj.联盟的；联邦的；(美国)联邦政府的

参考例句：

• Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
• The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。

4 supervises   

v.监督，管理( supervise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The group leader supervises a dozen workers. 组长管十二个工人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He makes the wines and supervises the vineyards. 他酿酒并管理葡萄园。 来自辞典例句

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 religious   

adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人

参考例句：

• She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
• It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

10 developing   

adj.发展中的

参考例句：

• Transport has always been the key to developing trade.运输一直是发展贸易的关键。
• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。