普通话正在纽约扎根

2021-12-06江苏章小梅

疯狂英语·新策略 2021年4期

江苏章小梅

在纽约，一些救援人员都要学习普通话，这是为什么呢？

First responders are the first emergency workers to arrive at a fire, traffic accident or other emergency.Some first responders are firefighters,while others can be emergency medical technicians.

In Brooklyn, New York, over 20 first responders are studying Mandarin Chinese for about two hours a week. The class is the first of its kind. It is offered by the New York City Fire Department Foundation.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that some New York neighborhoods are made up mostly of immigrants. Some people have predicted that the Chinese community is likely to become New York's largest immigrant group. They think the city will have the largest Chinese community outside of Asia.

The Census Bureau also found that almost 200 languages are spoken in the city. So, knowing different languages is important, especially if you are a first responder.

Lieutenant (中尉) Steve Lee is president of the Fire Department's Phoenix Society. He says that first responders must be able to communicate quickly and effectively when an emergency happens. He explains that first responders enter neighborhoods and communities to assist regardless of where they are from. Many times first responders do not speak the same language as the people they are called to help. He adds that it is vital, or very important, that first responders be able to communicate with the people calling for help.

Without help from homeowners and others, Lee adds, discovering exactly where a fire is burning can be a real problem. First responders need to ask questions such as “What building? What address?What aparment?” And the most important question, “Is there anybody left in the building and where?”