Larry和李華在談李華教中文的事。李華會學到兩個常用語：dumb down和win-win。

LL: So, when you teach first year Chinese you must really have to dumb down the material for the students.

LH: 什么？Dumb down? 這是什么意思呀？

LL: Yeah. To dumb down is to take something difficult and make it easy.

LH：噢，To dumb down就是把難學的教材簡化，讓學生容易學一點。是啊， 一年級的學生都剛開始學中文， 我必須用簡單一些的教材。Larry，dumb就是苯；down就是下降，dumb down這說法是不是有貶義呀？

LL: Well, sometimes you dumb something down because it is really hard, and in those cases, to dumb down doesn't really have a negative sense to it.

LH: 那倒是。把過分復雜的內(nèi)容簡化一些是好的，所以在這種情況下，dumb down確實不應(yīng)該屬于貶義。

LL: Sometimes the person you are trying to teach isn't very smart - and you have to dumb it down so they can begin to understand. In that case, it does have a negative meaning.

LH: 這我太清楚了。有的學生就是教不會，腦子不太聰明，遇到這種情況你也只好一點一點教，從最簡單的開始。

LL: Of course - and at work, when I explain the software to people who have never used it, I generally dumb down my instructions so they don't get confused.

LH: 那我跟你辦公室的同事差不多。你要教我用新的電腦軟件，你非得講得簡單易懂，否則我會糊涂的。就像我教那些腦子不太快的學生一樣。

LL: So, you don't have to dumb it down for those bright students?

LH: 教聰敏的學生當然就不需要dumb down我的教材咯！有的學生可真聰敏，一教就會，而且還不需要我每次重復。

LL: That is amazing! If you didn't have to dumb it down, you must be a really good teacher.

LH: 那還用說呀！當然是教導有方了，嚴師出高徒嘛。 Larry, 我想請你幫個忙， 不知道你能不能教我使用剛買的繪畫軟件。

LL: Sure, Li Hua, I'd be happy to.

LH: 我剛才說了，我對電腦不太精通。 你可要用簡單的詞匯來講解 - You are really going to have to dumb it down for me!

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LL: Hey, Li Hua. Speaking of teaching Chinese, I've got a proposal for you - and I think it is a real win-win situation.

LH: 我知道，win-win situation就是雙贏。也就是對雙方都有好處。Win就是贏或輸?shù)内A。對了，Larry，你要給我提什么建議呀？

LL: Oh, I met someone who studied Chinese years ago and wants to practice their Chinese. I thought you would be a perfect choice to help her out.

LH: 你認識的這個人以前學過中文， 現(xiàn)在想練習中文， 我當然可以幫助她了。不過，如果只是我?guī)椭@好像并不是雙贏的局面呦。

LL: Well, she is an editor for a magazine, and I thought she could help you by editing your dissertation - and you could help her practice her Chinese. It's a win-win situation for both of you.

LH: 原來如此，她是一個雜志的編輯，可以幫我修改博士論文。 這樣，我?guī)退毩曋形模龓臀腋恼撐模@真是一個win-win situation。 謝謝你，Larry， 你知道花錢請人修改論文是很貴的。

LL: As can hiring a Chinese tutor. I am sure my friend will think it's win-win as well.

LH: 當然，請人輔導中文也不便宜。 你把她的電話給我，我和她聯(lián)系一下。Larry, 我也有一個雙贏的建議給你。

LL: Okay, just what is your win-win proposition?

LH: 我剛才不是請你教我使用剛買的繪畫軟件嗎？這個周末給你做頓中國飯怎么樣？

LL: Well, I like the idea! You are a great cook and I'm happy to buy the food, and you'll learn how to use the software. A perfect win-win partnership!

LH: 你也是個很棒的雙贏夥伴。可是，Larry， 吃完飯后別忘了洗碗。

LL: Me do the dishes, too? That seems a little less win-win to me!

LH：But it's a win-win to me!

今天李華學到了兩個常用語。一個是dumb down，意思是把教材、講解等簡化，讓學的人更容易懂。還有一個常用語是win-win，意思是雙贏。