2007年VOA标准英语-Youth Exchange Program Aims to Build Bridges of

By June Soh
Washington
26 June 2007
 

Youth exchange programs provide students with opportunities to learn and better understand different cultures and people outside their countries.   Several hundred-exchange students from Middle East, Africa and Asia recently returned home after a year-long stay in the United States.  A few of the students shared their experiences with VOA's June Soh before their departure.  Carol Pearson narrates¹ the story.

Student from 30 countries come to the U.S. to study as part of the Youth Exchange Program

Exchange students from about 30 countries spent their final days in the United States on field trips and workshops in the Washington, D.C. area.   They came to the U.S. through the Youth Exchange and Study Program, called "YES".

Leila Kabalan, from Lebanon, spoke² about what she has learned by participating in the exchange program. "I learned a lot of things.  People (Americans), if they want something, they don't consider it impossible. They just go out and try to do it, go to their senators³ and talk to their senators and to their representatives. So I learned that we as citizens, we shouldn't just sit around and complain. That's one of the most important things that I learned here."           

Leila was one of more than 300 students from countries with significant Muslim populations.  The students stayed with host families across the U.S., attended high schools and participated in various community activities. 

Leila stayed in Greenbelt, Maryland.   "In my English class when I asked, 'Does anybody know where Lebanon is?' there was only one person who actually knew where the country is. There were, like, more than a quarter of the class didn't even know there was a country out there called Lebanon. So I felt really such an accomplishment⁴ that now because of me some people know about my country."

Waleed Nasir

Waleed Nasir, from Pakistan, says it was an opportunity for him to experience a true America, that he says is far different from the negative images reflected in the media in his country.   He also says he did a pretty good job of portraying⁵ his own country as good and liberal.  "I think in my little host community I made a good impression about Pakistan. What people thought about Pakistan first was really different from what they think right now after I have left my host community I think. While in the program he stayed in Crystal Lake, Illinois.  

YES is operated by a consortium of private exchange organizations and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to provide scholarships.  Since the program was established in the aftermath of the terrorist’s attacks on the United States in 2001, about 2,000 mostly Muslim students have participated. 

Mary Karam

Mary Karam is an administrator⁶ of the YES program. "Change happens on a very personal and local level. And this program is one of those opportunities for change. People can interact⁷ one-on-one and really learn about one another, learn about one another's cultures and make a difference."

Many of the returning students expressed similar views. They say that they now feel it is their responsibility to make the world a better place to live, and they want to help promote understanding and tolerance⁸ among different cultures, religions and people.

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 senators   

n.参议员( senator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When the senators vote, the ayes will have it. 参议员投票时，投赞成票的人将占多数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The committee concluded that the senators had engaged in improper conduct. 委员会断定议员们从事了不正当活动。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

5 portraying   

v.画像( portray的现在分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The artist has succeeded in portraying my father to the life. 那位画家把我的父亲画得惟妙惟肖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ding Ling was good at portraying figures through careful and refined description of human psychology. 《莎菲女士的日记》是丁玲的成名作，曾引起强烈的社会反响。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

6 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

7 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。

8 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。