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MARTIN: |
May
I record? |
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PHILLIP: |
Sure. |
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ANGELA: |
Of
course. |
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MARTIN: |
Our
listeners on the Voice of America don't know American schools. May I
ask some questions about your school? |
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PHILLIP: |
Go
on. |
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MARTIN: |
How
many classes do you have? |
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ANGELA: |
Do
you mean grades? |
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MARTIN: |
What are grades? |
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ANGELA: |
First year of school is first grade. Second year is second grade.
And so on. |
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PHILLIP: |
We
have six grades. That is six years of schooling. Then the children- |
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ANGELA: |
May
I say something? There may be more than one group in each grade.
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MARTIN: |
What do you mean? |
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ANGELA: |
Second grade has three groups or classes. Sixth grade has two
classes. |
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PHILLIP: |
Excuse me. Sixth grade has three classes. |
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ANGELA: |
Does it? |
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PHILLIP: |
Yes, it does. |
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ANGELA: |
Fifth grade has two classes, doesn't it? |
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PHILLIP: |
That's right. But they are large classes. |
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。 |
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ANGELA: |
The
school is too big. There are too many children. |
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MARTIN: |
Why? |
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ANGELA: |
Young children are confused. |
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PHILLIP: |
I
don't agree. In the city, schools must be large. |
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ANGELA: |
No,
they should have two or three hundred children. |
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MARTIN: |
What do the children study in second grade, Angela? |
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ANGELA: |
They study math. They study science. And reading. Reading is the
most important. They must be good readers. |
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MARTIN: |
What do they study in sixth grade, Phillip? |
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PHILLIP: |
The
same. Math. Science. English and reading, of course. They study some
history and geography. All children have some physical activities.
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ANGELA: |
He
means sports. |
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PHILLIP: |
Excuse me. Let me tell this. Each child has some physical activity
during the day. Some are sports, some are just play or games. |
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MARTIN: |
Do
the children have music and art? |
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ANGELA: |
The
younger children do. The older children do too, don't they, Phillip?
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PHILLIP: |
All
children have some music and art. |
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MARTIN: |
Is
it enough? |
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PHILLIP: |
I
don't think so. |
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ANGELA: |
Some children take lessons privately. |
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MARTIN: |
Do
you mean outside of school? |
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ANGELA: |
Yes, they study at home. Especially music. They take piano lessons,
violin lessons, and so on. |
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PHILLIP: |
The
school teaches academic skills. |
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ANGELA: |
And
social skills. |
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MARTIN: |
What do you mean? |
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ANGELA: |
Getting along with each other. |
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MARTIN: |
I
see. |
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ANGELA: |
Social skills are the most important. Children must get along- |
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PHILLIP: |
Excuse me, but I don't agree. I think academic skills are the most
important. Children must- |
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ANGELA: |
Let
me finish. |
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MARTIN: |
May
I ask another question? |
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PHILLIP: |
Sure. |
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MARTIN: |
Do
the children eat lunch at school? |
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PHILLIP: |
Yes, they do. |
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ANGELA: |
Do
you want to eat lunch with them? |
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PHILLIP: |
It's a good lunch. |
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MARTIN: |
Yes, thanks. |
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PHILLIP: |
We
can talk more during lunch. |
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