课文翻译 课后翻译在最后
the extremely demanding system puts enormous psychological pressure on students, and is
considered a primary factor in the high suicide rate among Japanese school-age children. 日本教育制度的优点是那儿的学生能学到合作的社交技能。 另一个优点是他们学的数学和自然科学比大多数美国学生多得多。 他们每天学习的时数和每年学习的天数也比北美的学生多。这种制度要求高，但它却使孩子们能为进入一个重视纪律和自制的社会作好准备。然而，它也有缺点。首先，很多学生说考试之后，他们就会忘记许多曾经记熟的信息。其次，这个要求极高的制度给学生们带来巨大的心理压力，并被认为是日本学龄儿童自杀率高的一个主要因素。
7.The advantage of the education system in North America, on the other
hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. They learn to take the initiative—to make decisions and take action without someone telling them what to do. The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas and individual responsibility. There are drawbacks, however. Among other things, American high school graduates haven't studied as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have.
And many social critics attribute the high crime rate in the US at least partially to a lack of
discipline in the schools. 另一方面，北美教育制度的优点是，学生们学习独立思考。他们学习采取主动--做决定和采取行动都无须别人告诉他们做什么。这种制度使他们能为进入一个重视创造性的思想和个人责任的社会作好准备。不过，它也有弊端：除了别的以外，美国高中毕业生学的基本规则和事实就不如其他国家的学生学的多。而许多社会评论家认为美国的高犯罪率至少部分地应归咎于学校的纪律涣散。
第三单元 Text A、The Tale of a Cultural Translator一个文化翻译的故事
Joint ventures involving Western and Japanese companies often run into conflicts — a multitude of little things that escalate into big emotional battles in which all the parties keep exclaiming: "What's wrong with them!? Can they understand that ...?!" But because the conflicts are mainly due to cultural differences, neither side can understand—unless they have a "cultural translator". 西方和日本公司的合资企业经常会发生冲突----许多无关紧要的琐事会扩大为情绪激动的交战 各方不停地叫嚷“他们是怎么了!?他们能不能理解 ?!” 但是因为冲突主要是由文化差异引起的所以没有一方能够理解----除非他们有一名“文化翻译”。
The first cultural translator I ever met was an installation engineer, George by name, who worked for an American company where I was the director of international operations. The company had just started a joint venture with a Japanese firm, and the American management needed someone to train the Japanese employees in its unique technology. George's solid understanding of the equipment, its installation and use made him the best-qualified employee for the job, so everyone was happy when George accepted a two-year contract for temporary transfer to Japan.
我遇到的第一位文化翻译是一位设备安装工程师名叫乔治他在一家我担任国际业务部主任的美国公司里工作。 这家公司刚同一家日本商社开办了一家合资企业美方管理部门需要有人在它的独特技术方面培训日本雇员。乔治对设备及其安装和使用的透彻了解使他成为最能胜任这项工作的雇员 所以当乔治接受了暂时调往日本的一份两年期合同时大家都很高兴。
From the start, George was well accepted by all the Japanese employees. Japanese managers often distrust anyone sent to represent US owners, but George was so naturally nonassertive that no one could see him as a threat to their careers. So they felt comfortable asking his advice on a wide range of matters, including the odd behavior of their partners across the ocean. Engineers
throughout the company appreciated George's expertise and his friendly and capable help, and they got into the habit of turning to him whenever they had a problem — any problem. And the secretaries in the office were eager to help this nice bachelor learn Japanese.
