Nontraditional Students

By Jerilyn Watson
Broadcast: August 7, 2003
This is Bill White with the VOA Special English Education Report.
In a few weeks, more than one million students in the United States will start their first year at a college or university. Traditionally, students complete high school in June and go on directly to college.
Traditional students will not hold a job while they work toward¹ a degree. They will depend on the financial support of their parents. Or, if they do hold a job, they will work only part time.
During a recent school year, though, only about one in four college 1)undergraduates³ in the United States could be considered "traditional." The National Center for Education Statistics⁴ says most students faced more difficult conditions.
These 2)nontraditional students were likely to be older than others. They worked full time. Some supported families.
Nontraditional students are less likely to have earned a degree or still be in school after five years. They may not have enough money. They may have to seek 3)loans or other aid to complete their education. This is true even at public colleges that cost less than private schools.
And another tradition has changed. In nineteen-seventy, a little more than forty percent of undergraduates were female⁶. Now a little more than forty percent of undergraduates are male.
Nontraditional students may have trouble combining work and school. They may have difficulties getting child care. Older students who have been out of school for years may find it hard to study again.
Some Americans try to solve these problems by attending two-year community colleges. These offer many classes on nights and weekends. Students can later go on to complete their studies at a four-year college if they choose.
The Department of Education says about eleven-million people attend community colleges, including technical schools. These teach skills for jobs such as computer programmer or heating⁷ and air-conditioning 4)technician⁸.
Still other people choose schools designed especially for working adults. Strayer⁹ University, for example, holds classes in twenty-three places in the United States. Students can also do all their work online by computer.
Students can work toward undergraduate² or graduate degrees. And, as at many other schools, they can also complete short programs of study. Instead of a degree, they receive a certificate¹⁰ upon completion.
This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Jerilyn Watson. This is Bill White.

注释：
1) undergraduate [7QndE5^rAdjuit] n.大学肄业生，（尚未取得学位的）大学生
2) nontraditional [7nCntrE5diFEnEl] adj.非传统的，不符合传统的
3) loan⁵ [lEun] n.（借出的）贷款
4) technician [tek5niF(E)n] n.技术员，技师

1 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

2 undergraduate   

n.大学生，大学肆业生

参考例句：

• Mr. Stone spent his undergraduate days in Columbia University,majoring in economics.斯通先生在哥伦比亚大学度过了他四年的大学生活，主修经济学。
• During this time,they are called undergraduate students.在此期间，他们被称为大学本科生。

3 undergraduates   

（未获学士学位的）大学生，大学肄业生( undergraduate的名词复数 )； 本科生

参考例句：

• All undergraduates reading English attend a turtorial group each week. 所有攻读英语的本科生每周上一次导师辅导课。
• This is a course for undergraduates. 这是为本科生开的一门课。

4 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

5 loan   

n.贷款；借出的东西；借；vt.借出；贷予

参考例句：

• I asked the bank to help me with a loan.我请银行给我一笔贷款。
• Has the bank okayed your request for a loan?银行批准你的贷款要求了吗？

6 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

7 heating   

n.加热，供暖，暖气装置；adj.加热的，供暖的

参考例句：

• They will install a heating and lighting system in our house.他们将在我们家装上供热供电系统。
• If the pressure is too low,the heating system will act up.如果压力太低，供暖系统就会出毛病。

8 technician   

n.技术员，技师

参考例句：

• The technician is busy repairing the machine.技师正忙于修理那台机器。
• A skilled technician takes years to train.一个熟练的技师需要数年时间才能培训出来。

9 strayer   

迷路者，流浪者，不走正路的人

参考例句：

10 certificate   

n.证书，证明书；vt.发给证明书，认可，鉴定

参考例句：

• She proudly displayed her degree certificate to her parents.她自豪地向父母展示了学位证书。
• No one had seen her marriage certificate.没人看到过她的结婚证书。