1.
　

特別な技能や熟練の技などに、賞賛の気持ちを表す方法を学びます。マーティンは時計職人の工房を訪ねインタビューをします。

This is English USA, on the Voice of America. Now, Lesson 96, Part 1.

HERMANN:

Isn't that a beautiful sound?

MARTIN:

Yes, it is. It's not a common sound.

HERMANN:

Sadly, it isn't. People don't have clocks anymore.

MARTIN:

Surely they have clocks. I agree, they don't have clocks like yours.

HERMANN:

I don't call those modern things clocks.

MARTIN:

Well, let's talk about your clocks. How did you get started as a clockmaker?

HERMANN:

I came from Switzerland when I was a young boy. Of course, I wasn't a clockmaker then.

MARTIN:

Did any of your family make clocks?

HERMANN:

No. They were merchants. My father came here to open a store. But I knew about clocks and watches. I was very interested in them.

MARTIN:

Why?

HERMANN:

I don't know exactly. I admired the skill, I think. I loved the beauty of the large clocks. I liked the sound.

MARTIN:

So how did you get started, Mr. Hermann?

HERMANN:

It was just a hobby at first. I worked in my father's store. In my free time I made a clock. Then I made another. And another. Finally, I stopped working in the store and only made clocks.

MARTIN:

You're very skillful. This one is very beautiful.

HERMANN:

Yes, listen to it chime.

MARTIN:

I like it.

HERMANN:

I'm very proud of that clock.

MARTIN:

Can you make watches?

HERMANN:

I'm not very interested. They're too small.

MARTIN:

You have many large clocks. Tell me about these.

HERMANN:

These are called grandfather clocks. Grandfather clocks were very popular in the past. They're very large for most homes today.

MARTIN:

And very expensive.

HERMANN:

This is the largest one I have made. It's seven feet tall. I made it for the bank.

MARTIN:

There are so many skills involved. Tell me how you begin. Do you make the inside first, or the outside first?

HERMANN:

Sometimes one, sometimes the other. Usually, I start with the inside. The clock itself. The working part.

MARTIN:

That must take a lot of work and skill.

HERMANN:

It does. I don't make the parts, of course. I buy the parts from Switzerland.

MARTIN:

But you put them all together to make the clock.

HERMANN:

Right. Then when the clock is working, I make the outside, the case.

MARTIN:

I admire your skill. Can you earn a living making clocks?

HERMANN:

I make clocks, and I repair clocks. I can make a living. I'm not rich, of course.

MARTIN:

But you're doing what you want to do.

HERMANN:

Yes. I want you to see this clock.

HERMANN:

I didn't make this one.

MARTIN:

It's very interesting. Where did it come from?

HERMANN:

It's from an old school in the city. I think it was made in America, but it doesn't say on the clock.

MARTIN:

Is that unusual?

HERMANN:

Very. It's very skillfully made.

2.



　

優れた技能を賞賛する場合、いろいろな肯定的な意味合いのことばを使って表現することができます。たとえば"That's wonderful." "That's very good."のようにです。また、"skill" "skillful" "skillfully"などを使ってもっと直接的に技能をほめることもできます。これらの例を聴いてください。

MARTIN:

You're very skillful.

HERMANN:

It's very skillfully made.

MARTIN:

I admire your skill.

3.
　

時計職人ハーマンがマーティンに時計を見せた際にマーティンが時計の出来映えをほめる様子を聴いてください。

HERMANN:

This is a very old clock.

MARTIN:

It's very beautiful.

HERMANN:

I made this clock.

MARTIN:

I admire your skill.

4.
　

これからマーティンがあなたに美しく出来のよい時計を見せます。あなたは今聴いた例を参考にその時計をほめてください。

MARTIN:

This clock is from an old school.

YOU:

[--------------------?]

MARTIN:

I like this grandfather clock.

YOU:

[--------------------?]