Unit1
? Inside View
Janet: Hi, it's me again, Janet Li. I'm still a student at the University of Oxford in England. But I'm not in Oxford right now. And I haven't gone back home to China either. It's the long vacation now, and believe it or not, it's the middle of summer. I'm spending my summer in one of the world's greatest cities. I'm in London, home to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Tower Bridge ... and the double-decker bus. I want to find out what it's like to live in this busy, lively city. So I'm working for London Time Off, a website about what's on in London. This is Joe ... he's my boss, and this is Andy, who is a reporter. And what's my job? Well, I don't know yet, because it's my first day. But I'm meant to be shadowing Andy. Oh, what I mean is, I'm going to be helping him. So can you tell me something about London, Andy? Andy: It's the greatest city in the world. Joe: Except for New York! Andy: New York? Don't make me laugh! Joe: And your point is? Andy: Look, if you want my opinion, London is greater than New York ... Joe: No, I don't want your opinion, thank you very much. It's a fact. Andy: A fact! Are you serious? Janet: And here we are in London, probably the greatest city in the world. Andy: What? Probably? Excuse me, I prefer to deal with this myself ... Joe: Ah, dream on, Andy ... Janet: So when did you start working at London Time Off? Andy: About a year ago. Janet: And I hope you don't mind my asking, but do you like working here? Andy: Yes, I love it. I mean, Joe and I get along quite well. He drives me crazy sometimes, because he's my boss, and I wish I earned a bit more money, but ... I think my job is really cool, because I get to see everything that's happening in London. And I didn't want to join the rat race. Janet: What do you mean by the rat race? Andy: You know, doing the same thing day in day out, and not doing anything creative, or having any time to enjoy life. It's the last thing I want to do. Janet: So do you mind telling me what you do exactly? Andy: Basically, we check out new events on the London music scene, you know, new clubs, the latest plays and films, as well as exhibitions in galleries and museums. Then we go and film interviews with the musicians or the actors, or anyone who has anything to do with the event. Janet: OK, then what happens? Andy: We edit the interviews, and then we upload it all onto the website. We get 200,000 hits a week. We're London's biggest listings site. Janet: Can I ask you something else? Andy: Fire away. Janet: What are we going to do now? Andy: I need to go back to my flat, and get my research. Then we've got an interview to do. Let's get the tube back to my place. Janet: And what about Joe? Andy: Well, he's supposed to be on his way to the National Theatre, to do an interview with the director of a new play. But I kind of hope he gets lost on the way. Then he'll discover what a great place London is. Janet: I don't understand. Andy: I'm joking! Come on, let's go! ? Outside view
Happiness is not what most students have in mind when they think of school. Yet a school in Germany has developed a novel way to raise the morale(斗志) of its students, by teaching happiness in classes. Students at Heidelberg’s Willy Hellpach School of Economics are learning how to achieve happiness as an official subject, alongside mathematics and languages. This is the first school in Germany to develop a happiness course, intended for 17- to 19-year-olds preparing for university entrance exams. Ernst Fritz-Schubert, the school’s principal, is on a mission to change things.
Ernst Fritz-Schubert: It was my idea-I’ve been at this school for 31 years,
and I feel that school and happiness have to be reunited. These are two terms which are not considered together, because one does not connect school with happiness. In some cases school comes behind the dentists on the popularity scale(规模) and we should try to push schools’ popularity a bit. It has been proved by science that a happy student can learn more than an unhappy one, Unhappy students can concentrate for a while but do not use all their potential. The happiness classes are intended to help students fulfill their potential. They will help the students live happy and prosperous lives.
The classes aim to help students in achieving a positive state of mind, by using all their own resources and boosting their self-esteem. In addition, they hope classes will increase self-awareness and physical comfort. Happiness classes are also intended to make students more aware about their environment and society as a whole. During classes students are encouraged to express themselves and observe their peers’ behavior. The classes are taught by Bjoern Bonn, an actor and visiting lecturer.
Bjoern Bonn: One of the exercises I do is to have one of the students walk
across the classroom, with the others copying his walk. Through this exercise, I hope they learn something about themselves. Why do I move like this? How do others see my way of walking? I hope that with a higher body awareness they ideally –of course it will take time-achieve a higher