voa标准英语2008年-Ukraine Seeks Nationwide Linguistic Revival

The collapse¹ of the Soviet² Union left a complex mixture of ethnic³ groups in republics of the former empire. Their common language, Russian, expanded at the expense of native languages, which former Soviet republics are seeking to revive. Ukraine is demanding that students pass college entrance exams in Ukrainian, and the language is taught in all of the country's elementary and high schools. But as VOA Correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports, the effort involves practical obstacles, even outright⁴ hostility⁵ from some who are content to speak Russian.
　

Ukrainian literature class at Russian School #25 in Simferepol

A Ukrainian literature class in the Crimean city of Simferopol at School Number 25, where all other subjects are taught in Russian. Ukrainian is not the first language of these students, some of whom reveal greater proficiency⁶ than others. Eleventh grader Arthur Trotsky feels comfortable in both languages.
　

Arthur Trotsky

Arthur says there are people who do not like the Ukrainian language - basically grownups, because it is difficult for them to adapt. He says that children, however, are learning Ukrainian in school from grade one, and some even study it in depth. He adds that while older people are opposed, young ones support the Ukrainian language.

The vast majority of schools in Crimea use Russian for all subject matter, except Ukrainian. Raisa Masliuk, the principal of School #25, says if parents demanded that more courses be taught in Ukrainian, she would respond accordingly.
　

Raisa Masliuk - Principal of Russian School #25

Masliuk says if there was a need to introduce Ukrainian classes, she would already be involved in personnel decisions, but her school does not face that issue. She says there are no applications that indicate children want to study in Ukrainian.

Demand for all-Ukranian schools increasing

But demand for all-Ukrainian schools in Crimea is slowly increasing. The 842 students at the Ukrainian School (Gymnasium) on the outskirts⁷ of Simferopol exceed the building's capacity. Half of the pupils are ethnic Russians and many have been turned away for lack of space.

Principal Natalia Rudenko says Crimean colleges do not prepare teachers for specialized⁸ Ukrainian language instruction.
　

Natalia Rudenko - Principal of Ukrainian school in Simferopol

Rudenko says colleges prepare teachers of Ukrainian language and literature, but not subjects such as history, mathematics and physics, which makes it difficult for all concerned. The administrator⁹ says the school tries to get around the problem by searching for teachers and instructing them on the spot in the local Ukrainian language community.

Teacher shortage breeds resentment¹⁰

This teacher shortage breeds resentment among those who are otherwise favorably disposed to the Ukrainian language. Emine, a Crimean Tatar, is a student at the Ukrainian Publishing Academy in Simferopol.

Emine says teaching chemistry in Ukrainian, for example, is very difficult for the teacher and even more difficult for the student to understand. She notes that everything between Ukrainian and Russian is different - different words and different letters, which makes if difficult.

Older Russian speakers complain that Ukrainian is being forced upon the people of Ukraine. Magazines sold at newsstands, radio and television broadcasts, theater productions and virtually all conversations on the streets of eastern and southern Ukraine are in Russian.

Younger generation is comfortable speaking Russian
　

Alexander Kolomayets

Not surprisingly, Alexander Kolomayets, an elementary student at Simferopol's all-Ukrainian school, feels comfortable speaking Russian with friends.

Alexander says that when necessary, he and his friends speak Russian and switch into the language occasionally when they relax.

Some young people say speaking Ukrainian is cool or patriotic¹¹; those who grew up speaking Russian say their language is a fact of life and that they are no less patriotic Ukrainians. Ultimately, the resolution of Ukraine's linguistic¹² divide may depend upon the recognition that learning any language is a difficult task that requires dedication¹³ and patience.

1 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

5 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

6 proficiency   

n.精通，熟练，精练

参考例句：

• He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
• How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？

7 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

8 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

9 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。

10 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

11 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

12 linguistic   

adj.语言的，语言学的

参考例句：

• She is pursuing her linguistic researches.她在从事语言学的研究。
• The ability to write is a supreme test of linguistic competence.写作能力是对语言能力的最高形式的测试。

13 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。