On Studying谈论学习
Pool: You seem to be doing all right, Meng.
波尔：孟，你看上去进展不错。
Meng: I am, but l still have to do a lot of reading.
孟：是的，不过我得读很多书。
Pool: There's a lot of reading. but I think that's pretty normal for postgraduate work. I imagine a big part of the problem is that it's all in your second language.
波尔：阅读量是很大，不过我觉得这对研究生的功课来说是正常的。我想你的问题大部分在于你得用外语来阅读。
Meng: I suppose I'll just have to leam to read faster.
孟：看来我得想办法提高阅读速度了。
Pool: How about the seminars? Can you follow the discussions?
波尔：那讨论课怎么样啊?你能理解大家的讨论吗?
Meng: Well. I can usually follow what the others say, but I'm not used to being in a seminar and I never know what to say.
孟：嗯，一般别人的发言我都能听懂，不过我不太习惯参加讨论课，我不知道该说什么。
Pool: Don't be shy, speak out. Seminars are very important in postgraduate work. As I see it, most of the benefit of the seminars comes from the exchange of ideas.
波尔：不要害羞嘛，大胆地说出来。讨论课在研究生的功课中是很重要的。在我看来，讨论课的好处来自于思想的交流。
Meng: Yes. I'm beginning to agree with you. I've gained some very valuable insights from the others in my class.
孟：对，我开始同意你的看法了。我从班上其他人那里长了不少有用的见识呢。
Pool: But you should share your insights with us. I'm sure you have a lot to offer, just as the others do.
波尔：但你也应该让大家分享一下你的见解呀。我敢肯定你和别人一样，也有很多好的见解要讲呢。
详细解说
1.“be/get used to”意为“习惯于”，“to”的后面要接名词或动词ing形式。
2.“speak out”的意思是“大胆地说出来”，常用于“speak out about/against”的结构，例如：Five students who had spoken out against the regime were arrested.(大胆声讨这个政权的五名学生被捕了。)注意，“speak up”表示“大点儿声”，例如：Could you speak up，please?(您能大点儿声吗?)另外，“speak up”还可表示“说了点儿什么，发言(尤其是发表自己的观点)”，例知：There was a brief silence, then George spoke up.(一阵短暂的沉默后乔治发了言。)“speak up for sb.”表示“发言支持某人，为某人辩护”，例如：He is willing to speak up for the women.(他愿意为妇女辩护。)
文化洗礼
美国大学的奖学金种类
从严格意义上讲，海外学生有资格申请的所谓的美国大学“奖学金”应称为“经济资助”。其主要包括以下5类：
1.助学金(FELLOWSHIP)：金额、竞争最激烈的非服务性奖学金，一般是指全奖;
2.奖学金(SCHOLARSHIP)：这是一种荣誉性的奖励，颁发给成绩优异的学生，但金额较少;
3.学费减免(TUITION-WAIVER)：金额较少;
4.助研金 (RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP AND TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP)：多针对研究生以上级别，属于工资类型;
5.校内打工(ON-CAMPUS JOB)：美国移民局规定，国际学生可在校内每周工作20小时，假期可工作40小时，每小时不得低于5美金，因此学生1年中可挣到4000至6000美金或更高。工作岗位一般安排在：图书馆、计算机房、学生餐厅、办公室、学校书店等。
