What is education 什么是教育
The Chinese government has placed priority on developing education, putting forward the strategy of revitalizing the country through science and education, making constant efforts to deepen the reform of educational system, and implementing the nine-year compulsory education. Governments at all levels are increasing investment in education and encourage people to run education through different channels and in different forms.
China's school education includes pre-school, primary school, secondary school, high school, university and college, as well as adult education.
(1) Pre-school education is for 3-5 year olds and takes place in kindergartens.
(2) Primary education is from 6-11. Primary schools are usually run by local educational authorities and over free tuition, although there are some private schools owned by enterprises and individuals.
(3) Secondary schooling is for children from 12-17 years of age. Education of this kind is run by local governments and various business authorities. State-run secondary schools include junior middle schools and senior middle schools, both with three grades or years. The first three years of secondary school are compulsory and tuition is free. Senior middle school is not compulsory and students must pay minimal tuition fees. Private secondary schools often offer specialized education and have a more vocational bent, but the qualifications they offer are considered to be on the same level as those of state-run middle schools. However, graduates from secondary professional schools are seen to have achieved a higher level in some ways akin to a university education. Students graduating from junior middle schools usually go to senior middle schools, although some others move to vocational high schools or secondary professional schools for 3-5 years of study.
(4) For higher education there are vocational courses as well as undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees. Higher education is offered in universities, colleges, institutes, and vocational colleges. These institutions conduct academic and scientific research and provide social services as well as offering courses to students. To enter a university or college, students have to take the national entrance examination, which takes place every June and is now open to people of all ages. Selection is based on each student's marks in this exam, and due to the number of people sitting the exam. Getting into university is highly competitive.
(5) The adult education category overlaps all four of the above categories. Adult primary education includes Workers' Primary Schools, Peasants' Primary Schools, and literacy classes. Adult secondary education includes radio/TV specialized secondary schools, specialized secondary school for cadres, specialized secondary schools for staff and workers, specialized secondary schools for peasants, in-service teacher training schools and correspondence specialized secondary schools. Adult higher education includes radio/TV universities, cadre institutes, workers'colleges, peasant colleges, correspondence colleges, and educational colleges. Most of the above offer both two- and threeyear short-cycle (or zhuanke) curricula; only a few also offer regular undergraduate curricula.
中國是個有悠久歷史的國家,也具有悠久的教育歷史。從孔子辦學(Confucius Institution),到私塾(private school)的廣泛化,到漢朝的官學(official school),到隋朝的科舉制度(imperial examination system)產(chǎn)生,再到科舉被廢除,西方的教育與思潮(ideological trend)到來。中國的教育走了很長的路,經(jīng)歷了很多的變革。但是中國的教育存在很多方面的問題。在教育基礎(chǔ)(educational foundations)方面,教育投入(educational input)的缺乏、國家的不夠重視以及教育觀念的錯誤等是問題的關(guān)鍵所在。
在教育本身上面,教育目的沒有完全達到,教育過程方法錯誤,各階段的教育沒有好的教育方針(educational policy)。在教育制度(educational system)上面,高考限制了智育以外的個人特長與愛好能力的發(fā)展。與其他國家相比較,我國的教育死板呆滯,除了高考以外缺乏全面的考察體系??平膛d國(develop the country through science and education)不應(yīng)該只是一個口號,而是當我們的教育夠好以后,其他國家的人一看我們的發(fā)展會說這是教育的功勞。
Education in any society is a mirror of that society.
教育是反映任何社會的一面鏡子。
China's higher education has been developing sluggishly over the years.
我國高等教育長期以來一直處于較為遲緩的發(fā)展水平。
Nine-year compulsory education is implemented in China.
中國實行九年義務(wù)教育。
On no account can we ignore the significance of education.
我們絕對不能忽略教育的重要性。
Education should be geared to the needs of modernization, the world and the future.
教育要面向現(xiàn)代化,面向世界,面向未來。
Education is the bedrock of China's development, and fairness in education is an important form of social fairness.
教育是國家發(fā)展的基石,教育公平是重要的社會公平。
Attending schools abroad has many advantages.
出國留學有很多好處。
In recent years, studying abroad has flourished.
近幾年來,出國留學的人數(shù)有不斷上升的趨勢。
Thousands of scholars and students have gone to foreign countries to study.
成千上萬的學者和學生選擇到國外深造。
Many people are sparing no effort in applying for going abroad.
很多人不遺余力地申請出國留學。
It is advisable to attend schools abroad.
出國留學是一種明智的選擇。
Studying abroad can widen our vision and broaden our minds.
出國留學可以開闊我們的視野和思路。
Studying abroad is a very useful way to enhance one's educational experience.
出國留學是豐富一個人教育經(jīng)歷的非常有效的途徑。
The brain drain is a very serious problem in China.
中國人才外流現(xiàn)象嚴重。
Attracting them by favorable policies is an important tool.
給予他們優(yōu)惠政策是一個很重要的方法。
Now, the returnees seem to have lost some of their luster.
如今海歸們似乎已經(jīng)失去了他們身上的那層光環(huán)。
Many students have expensive foreign educations paid for by their families.
許多學生是由家庭支付國外昂貴的學費的。
The returnees' biggest impact may be in opening up China to a flow of new ideas.
留學生回國最大的影響可能在于加快中國的開放步伐,引入更多的新思想。
For those Chinese who study in America, going back to China is one of the most difficult choices.
對于那些留美學生而言,是否回國發(fā)展是他們最困難的抉擇。
Nowadays as more and more people study abroad, the returnees are not as popular as before.
現(xiàn)如今,隨著留學的人數(shù)不斷增多,海歸也不像以前那么受歡迎了。
For those students who had financed their own education abroad, less than 3.9% of them return.
對于那些自費的留學生,回國比例不足3.9%。
John: What is your name?
約翰:你叫什么名字?
Matt: My name is Matt.
馬特:我叫馬特。
John: Where are you from?
約翰:你從哪里來?
Matt: I come from Beijing.
馬特:我來自北京。
John: Why do you want to study in the US?
約翰:為什么要去美國讀書?
Matt: Because American education is the best of the world and American computer technology is very developed. There are so many famous computer companies, such as Microsoft, Apple and Dell. So I want to study in the US.
馬特:因為美國的教育是全世界最好的,美國的計算機技術(shù)非常發(fā)達,有很多著名的公司,像微軟,蘋果和戴爾等。所以我想到美國學習。
John: Where are you studying now?
約翰:你目前在哪個學校上學?
Matt: Beijing No.4 Middle School.
馬特:北京四中。
John: How many universities have you applied for? How many of them admitted you?Why do you want to study in this school?
約翰:你申請了多少個大學?有多少個錄取了你? 為什么要選擇這個學校?
Matt: I have applied three universities and one of them accepted me. I choose this university because I think the University of Maine is an excellent university in the US and its computer education is also very good.
馬特:我申請了3所大學,其中一所錄取了我。因為緬因大學是美國一所非常好的大學,并且它的計算機教育也非常優(yōu)秀,所以我選擇了這所學校。
John: How many of them give you financial aids?
約翰:他們中有多少給了你財政援助?
Matt: I didn't apply financial aids.
馬特:我沒有申請財政援助。
John: How long will you study in USA?
約翰:在美國要學習多長時間?
Matt: About four years.
馬特:大約四年。
John: Have you been to USA before? Have you been to any other country before?
約翰:你以前去過美國嗎?你以前去過其他國家嗎?
Matt: I have been to the San Francisco and Los Angeles, to visit some universities with my classmates.
馬特:我曾經(jīng)去過舊金山和洛杉磯,和我的同學參觀了一些大學。
John: What's your major?
約翰:你要學習什么專業(yè)?
Matt: Computer Engineering.
馬特:計算機工程。
John: Why do you choose this major?
約翰:為什么要學習這個專業(yè)?
Matt: Because I like computer knowledge and I have studied computer at my junior high school so I want to continue to study Computer science.
馬特:因為我喜歡計算機,并且在學校學過這個專業(yè)。所以我想繼續(xù)學這個專業(yè)。
John: Who will support you to study in the US? Who will be your sponsor?
約翰:誰會資助你到美國讀書?誰是你的擔保人?
Matt: My parents.
馬特:我父母。
John: How about your parents'annual income or monthly salary?
約翰:你父母的年收入或月收入是多少?
Matt: My parents' annual income is about 300,000 RMB.
馬特:我父母的年收入大約是300,000元人民幣。
John: What do you plan to do in the future? What is your plan for your future?
約翰:你將來打算做什么?你對未來有什么計劃?
Matt: I will study hard first and I will come back to China when I finish my study in the US because China become more and more stronger and there are a lot of chances in China.
馬特:我首先會努力學習,等我完成學業(yè)后,我會回到中國。因為中國現(xiàn)在越來越強大,機會比較多。