Studio Classroom- September 5- [American Culture Corner] The American School Environment

【Grammar on the Go】

• 本日討論例句：
  That's what uncles are for!
• This kind of expression "that's what someone or something is for" is usually said after someone or something's duty or responsibility or function is mentioned or ...
• Such expression is most often found in informal spoken situations.
• ex:
  1. If your neighbor is thank you for watching his dog...
  You can say: That's what neighbors are for!
  2. Maybe you have classmate who is having some trouble at school and need someone to talk to.
  You can tell her: You should go talk to one of the teachers at the counseling center. That's what they're for!

【Chat Room】

• Today we're continuing our discussion about the typical day for an American student.
• Q：What students in the America do after school?
  A：There are a variety of extracurricular activities.
  A："Extracurricular" means outside the regular curriculum of a school. Students maybe involved in music, sports, drama or other extracurricular activities. Some make a home right after school to work on homework, and do chores around the house, and some high school student have job they must go to after school.
  - curriculum 課業，課程
  -- extracurricular 超越課業的
  --- extracurricular activities 放學後的課外活動
• Q：How do students get their homework done if they're working after school?
  A：Most students only work for a few hours after school and they only work a few days a week.
• Q：Do many students play sports?
  A：Yes, sports are really popular in America and a lot of students are involved in sports. If a high school student is really good at certain sports, he or she can try out for a varsity team.
  - try out 參加徵選
  - varsity team 校隊
  -- Varsity sports team are the principle... team representing in America, ... a high school or university.
• Q：Sounds like American students have a lot to keep they busy, what students do once they get home?
  A：Well, most students will need to do their homework and then maybe a few chores, then students may eat dinner, hang out with friends, relax, play video games, watch TV, or maybe even read a book.

【Language Tips】

1. volunteer v. 自願去作，擔任某種職務
   sentence pattern:
   1. volunteer for~ 自願參加某團體(例1)
   2. volunteer to V. 自願去作~(例2)
   ex:
   1. Carl volunteered for the army during World War II.
   2. Gina volunteered to accompany her classmate to the school nurse.
2. naturally adv. 自然地，天生地(例1.2)；(本文)當然地，不用說(例3)
   ex:
   1. Molly is naturally blonde. (天生金髮)
   2. Singing comes naturally for Jasmine.
   3. Naturally we want our employees to work in a comfortable environment.
3. locker n. 儲物櫃
   (lock 鎖)
   ex:
   1. We put our luggage in a locker at the train station before we started our city tour.
   2. locker room 體育館，游泳池，三溫暖中有locker的更衣室