Describe a (useful) skill you recently learned
-what the skill is/was
-where you learned it
-how you learned it
-and explain how you think this skill will be useful in the future.
今天给大家补充一个09年9月的新话题卡的素材，这个话题卡比较抽象—描述一项最近学的有用的技能。选材可以很灵活，比如：swimming, driving, cooking, speaking a foreign language等等。主要突出USEFUL就可以了。上面得照片是好友Sophia拍的，图文结合得很棒，给这篇日志做个搭配吧。
what the skill is/was: I recently learned how to drive. Driving is a useful skill because it allows me much greater mobility. I do not have to rely on public transportation or friends give me a lift to the places that I need to go. The bus is so crowded! Also, I am always fighting against the clock when I am on the bus—sometimes if there is a traffic jam I can be stuck on the bus for an hour. I am just not able to let that much time slip away.
give me a lift 搭顺风车
fighting against the clock 与时间赛跑 争分夺秒
be stuck on the bus 被困在公车上
let that much time slip away 让那么多时间溜走
where you learned it: I learned to drive a couple of months ago, so I am still a little bit green; I'm still a beginner. Learning to drive was not exactly a piece of cake. Sometimes I like to let my mind wander, so I have to really focus on keeping my eyes on the road. It was a good learning experience.
a little bit green 有点儿嫩
a piece of cake 小菜一碟
let my mind wander 走神儿
how you learned it: I learned to drive both by taking a class and by practicing with my parents in the car. The class was a bore but the practical training was fun. I always looked forward to getting behind the wheel to practice my driving. I practiced by often taking my mom's car for a spin. However, because I was still learning, my mom always insisted that she tag along. My mom was always a backseat driver on these trips so sometimes it was frustrating to always have her tell me exactly how to drive.
taking a class 参加培训班 上课
getting behind the wheel 开车
for a spin 兜一圈
tag along 陪伴 跟随
backseat driver 坐在汽车后座对驾驶员指手画脚的人; 干涉与自己职责无关的人
and explain how you think this skill will be useful in the future: This skill will be very useful in the future. It will allow me to be much more independent. I won't have to be at the mercy of my parents when I want to go somewhere the bus does not go to. I just have to make sure that I do not get a speeding ticket. My parents say that if I get a ticket I will have to pay for all of it and that my parents will take the keys away for a week. If you ask me, this is just a slap on the wrist. So, I flirt with the speed limit sometimes, but I usually drive under the limit—especially if there are traffic cops around. I know where all of the big speed traps are in my city so I can stay one up on the traffic patrolmen. All in all, I think this will be one of the most important skills for my future. I wouldn't trade my driving license for all the tea in China.
be at the mercy of sb 依赖某人 依靠某人
speeding ticket 超速罚单
If you ask me 在我看来
a slap on the wrist 在手腕上拍一下=很轻的处罚
traffic cops 交警
not for all the tea in China 给我中国所有的茶也不=无论怎样都不
