EDUCATION REPORT - High School Cyber Cafes

EDUCATION REPORT - High School Cyber Cafes
By Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: Thursday, January 08, 2004

This is Bob Doughty¹ with the VOA Special English Education Report.

Cyber Café computer centers are found in many cities around the world. Now, a few American high schools are opening these centers. For example, a high school in the state of Maryland began operating a Cyber Café last March. All students at Bethesda-Chevy Chase² High School in Bethesda can use the Cyber Café. But school officials say it especially helps students who have no computer or cannot use the Internet at home.

The officials say thirteen percent of the students at the school are from poor families. Many students have arrived in the United³ States from other countries only recently. Students in the school's program for learning⁴ English speak twenty-three other languages.

 
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
The idea for a Cyber Cafe at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School began three years ago. At that time, officials were planning to restore⁵ the school building. Parents interested in technology proposed⁶ a Cyber Café.

They wanted this center even though schools in the area had suffered budget cuts. The community wanted to help. It wanted all students to have the best chances to learn.

Officials in the area supported the idea. So did an organization called the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Educational Foundation⁷. The foundation includes parents, teachers, former students, and business, community and other leaders.

Over two years, the foundation collected money for a Cyber Café and other new computers. It received more than one-hundred-seventy-thousand dollars. The Café now has sixteen computers, a printer and a device⁸ called a scanner. School official Ann Hengerer (HEN-grr-er) says students use the Internet to complete research. They also write homework and required papers⁹ on the computers. In addition, they can send and receive electronic¹⁰ mail. That is especially helpful for the many students who have family members in other nations.

The Cyber Café also serves a social purpose. Visitors can stop by for a drink of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. On Long Island, in New York, the Walter G. O'Connell Copiague (Co-PAYG) High School has six computers in its Cyber Café. One student at the school says students can start their homework even before they leave school.

This VOA Special English Education report was written by Jerilyn Watson. This is Bob Doughty.

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 chase   

vt.追逐，追赶，追求；n.追赶

参考例句：

• The police grabbed the robbers after a long chase.警察经过长距离追赶后逮住了抢劫犯。
• Would you chase me if I did?如果我逃开了，你会来追吗？

3 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

4 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

5 restore   

vt.把…恢复原状；归还，交还

参考例句：

• A good rest will restore you to health.好好休息一下可使你恢复健康。
• His recent success has helped to restore his faith in his own ability.他最近取得的成功使他恢复了对自己能力的信任。

6 proposed   

被提议的

参考例句：

• There is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. 员工对改变工资和工作环境的建议普遍不满。
• an outcry over the proposed change 对拟议的改革所发出的强烈抗议

7 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

8 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

9 papers   

n.文件，纸币，论文

参考例句：

• I want to check with my secretary before I sign the papers.在签署这些文件前，我要与我的秘书商议。
• The lawyer read all the papers relating to the case.律师阅读了与该案有关的全部文件。

10 electronic   

adj.电子的；n.[-s]电子学，电子设备

参考例句：

• It is an electronic device with many uses.这是一部具有多种用途的电子仪器。
• Father needs a new electronic shaver.爸爸需要一个新的电子剃须刀。