and this is my wife Kate.

這是我的妻子凱特。

- Hi!

- 嗨！

- Now we are back with another conversation

- 現在我們回來了 另一種說法

that will allow you to learn English

能讓你學習英語的

in a very natural way.

以一種非常自然的方式。

And in this conversation, we're going to talk about summer.

而在這次談話中，我們 要談的夏天。

But before we do, be sure to go to tofluency.com/summer

但在我們這樣做之前，一定要 前往tofluency.com/summer。

to get the transcripts,

以獲取成績單。

to find out how you can get the transcript

以瞭解如何獲得成績單。

and different words and phrases

和不同的詞句

that are taken from this lesson.

是取自本課的。

So yeah, we're going to talk about summer today.

所以，是的，我們要 今天說說夏天。

It was Kate's idea for the topic.

這是凱特對這個話題的想法。

So why don't you lead us off.

那你為什麼不帶領我們離開呢？

- Sure.

- 當然可以

So summer actually starts next week for us,

所以夏天其實 下週開始我們。

when we're making this video.

當我們在做這個視頻的時候。

So even though the weather's hot,

所以即使天氣很熱。

it's just about to be summer.

它只是即將是夏天。

So my question, if I can kick it off with a question,

所以我的問題是，如果我可以 以一個問題作為開場白。

is summer your favorite season?

夏天是你最喜歡的季節嗎？

- No. - Explain your answer.

- 不知道 - 解釋一下你的答案。

- Okay, my favorite season is spring.

- 好吧，我最喜歡的季節是春天。

It used to be summer.

以前是夏天。

When I was growing up in the UK.

當我在英國長大的時候。

And that's because that's when we, potentially,

那是因為那是 當我們，有可能。

had the best weather.

有最好的天氣。

Spring was always chilly,

春天總是很冷的。

it was never really that warm.

它從來沒有真正的溫暖。

But then summer also used to be the time

但夏天也曾經是

when you had the break from school.

當你從學校休息的時候。

You had the break from whatever you were doing at that time.

你有休息從什麼 你當時在做什麼。

Like university, college, well we call it college,

比如大學，學院。 我們稱它為大學。

and school.

和學校。

So I used to love the summer holidays.

所以我以前很喜歡暑假。

I used to love them.

我以前很喜歡他們。

We did so many fun things.

我們做了很多有趣的事情。

But now I think it's spring.

但現在我覺得是春天了。

Because it's a lot fresher, it's not as humid.

因為它是一個很大的 比較新鮮，沒有那麼潮溼。

And you have all the period of

你有所有的時期

warm weather ahead of you.

溫暖的天氣在你面前。

So you start and you say, "Okay, from now on

所以你開始，你 說："好，從現在開始

"we're going to have so many months,

"我們會有這麼幾個月的時間。

"where it's not gonna be cold.

"在那裡它不會是冷的，

"Where we can do things outside,

"我們可以在外面做事的地方。

"we can go swimming, et cetera."

"我們可以去游泳，等等。"

- So almost like the anticipation of summer

- 所以幾乎像 夏天的到來

is better than summer?

是比夏天好？

- Yes.

- 是的，我知道

Yeah because every week is another week where

是啊，因為每個星期 又是一個星期，在這裡

it's going to get darker earlier.

天色會更早的變暗。

Not really cooler, but you just have less time

雖然不是很酷，但 你只是沒有時間

of that season.

的那個季節。

And we're getting very close

我們已經非常接近了

to the summer solstice, aren't we?

到夏至，不是嗎？

- Mm-hmm, yeah absolutely.

- 嗯，嗯，是的，絕對的。

- It's gonna be in a week or so.

- 一個星期左右就會到了。

- Yeah, less than a week.

- 是啊，不到一週的時間。

- Yeah and this is the time when

- 是啊，這是時間，當

it's the longest day of the year.

這是一年中最長的一天。

What about you?

你呢？

- To be honest, it's the same.

- 說實話，這是一樣的。

Summer has been my favorite season.

夏天一直是我最喜歡的季節。

I would say right now, it's not my favorite season.

我想說，現在，它是 不是我最喜歡的季節。

Because again, it's just a little bit too hot

因為同樣，它只是 有點過熱

to enjoy the days outside.

來享受外面的日子。

Because we live in the south of the United States,

因為我們生活在 美國南部。

it gets up into the mid 80s and beyond.

它得到了到80年代中期和以後。

We have a lot of thunder showers in the afternoon.

我們有很多雷電 下午有陣雨。

So I think that it's not my favorite season,

所以我認為，這是 不是我最喜歡的季節。

but there's just something special about summer.

但就是有些 夏天的特別。

All of the light and the outdoor activities, and the food.

所有的燈光和戶外 活動，以及食物。

- Yeah, like what I enjoy about it,

- 是啊，喜歡我喜歡的東西。

and you have to try and make the most of it,

你必須嘗試和 充分利用它。

going swimming.

去游泳。

So to find an outdoor pool,

所以要找一個室外游泳池。

and just to feel really fresh and cool

只是為了讓自己感到新鮮和涼爽

when it's hot outside.

當外面很熱的時候。

I also like staying out late, like outdoors.

我也喜歡呆在外面 晚，像戶外。

So we don't get the opportunity to do this

所以我們沒有機會這樣做

as much these days, but just to sit on the porch,

這年頭 只是為了坐在門廊上。

have a cup of tea, or have a beer.

喝杯茶，或者喝杯啤酒。

Listen to the insects, the noises that they make

聽聽昆蟲的聲音。 嘩啦啦

and just relax, that's what I like about summer.

放鬆，那是 我喜歡夏天的原因。

- And around here, we also have lightning bugs.

- 而在這裡，我們 也有閃電蟲。

Do you have lightning bugs in the UK?

英國有閃電蟲嗎？

- It's very rare to see one.

- 很難得一見。

I remember one time when I saw one,

我記得有一次我看到一個。

but that might have been on holiday or something.

但那可能是 放假或什麼的。

But no we don't.

但不，我們沒有。

Lightning bugs, they're also called fireflies?

閃電蟲，他們是 也叫螢火蟲？

- Yes.

- 是的，我知道

- You can call them both.

- 你可以叫他們兩個。

And they're these little flies that,

他們是這些小蒼蠅，。

I guess, what category of insect?

我猜，是哪一類的昆蟲？

- I'm not sure. - Maybe a beetle?

- 我不確定 - 也許是甲蟲？

- Yeah, they look like beetles.

- 是啊，他們看起來像甲蟲。

- And they light up.

- 他們就會亮起來。

And I think about mid-July,

而我想大概在7月中旬。

it's incredible isn't it?

不可思議吧

- Yeah.

- 是啊。

- So they start in the ground, and then they move up

- 所以，他們開始在 地面，然後他們向上

into the trees.

到樹上。

And then they just flash don't they?

然後他們就閃了，不是嗎？

- Yeah, it's like a light show.

- 是啊，這就像一個燈光秀。

Not the most exciting light show,

不是最精彩的燈光秀。

but I think that it's still just incredible to me.

但我認為，它仍然是 對我來說只是不可思議。

Like even as an adult.

就像即使是成年後。

Just to watch, it's really exciting.

只是看，真的很刺激。

And that to me, sitting on a porch after dark,

而這對我來說，坐在 天黑後在門廊上。

watching the fireflies is like the ultimate summer activity.

看螢火蟲就像 夏天的終極活動。

- Yeah, and listening to the crickets at the same time.

- 是啊，聽了 蟋蟀在同一時間。

But then, what can happen is,

但後來，能發生的是。

that's when the mosquitoes come.

那是當蚊子來了。

- Yes.

- 是的，我知道

- So I think summer is one of those times when

- 所以我認為夏天是 屆時

a lot of things improve.

很多事情的改善。

You can do different things outside,

你可以在外面做不同的事情。

but they're also different problems,

但它們也是不同的問題。

with the heat and the mosquitoes.

炎熱的天氣和蚊子。

It's the same for every season.

每個季節都是一樣的。

There's always going to be advantages

總是會有優勢的

and disadvantages to it.

以及它的缺點。

- So I was thinking too that we could talk about

- 所以我也在想 我們可以談論

what are some activities for the summer

暑假有哪些活動

that are really unique to where we live

在我們生活的地方，真正獨特的

to Asheville, North Carolina?

到北卡羅來納州的阿什維爾？

- Yeah, splashville? - Splashville.

- 是啊，Splashville？ - Splashville.

- Yeah, that's like these fountains downtown,

- 是啊，這就像 這些噴泉在市中心。

you can see it in movies, don't you?

你可以在電影中看到它，不是嗎？

They're not as spectacular as movies,

它們沒有電影那麼壯觀。

but you have like a flat area with these fountains

但你有像一個平 泉域

that spring water out.

那泉水出來。

Is that the right verb to you, spring water?

是這個動詞嗎？ 對你來說，泉水？

- Spring water, shoot water?

- 泉水、射水？

- Yeah, they shoot water out of the fountains.

- 是的，他們射水 出的噴泉。

And the kids and some adults as well,

還有孩子們和一些成年人也是如此。

they just go around and enjoy it.

他們只是到處去享受它。

And it's a really good way to take your kids somewhere

這是一個非常好的方法 帶你的孩子去一個地方

that isn't a pool, but they can still get that water.

這不是一個游泳池，但他們 還能喝到那種水。

What else is there around Asheville?

阿什維爾周圍還有什麼？

- So river, river activities.

- 所以河，河活動。

- Yeah river.

- 是啊，河。

- So you mentioned going out to an out door pool?

- 所以你說要去 出到門外游泳池？

I think what's even probably more typical around here

我想更可能的是 比較典型

is to find swimming holes.

是為了尋找游泳洞。

So if you go out into the woods,

所以如果你到樹林裡去。

and there are places where the river's a little bit deeper,

而有些地方 河水有點深。

because we're in the mountains

因為我們在山上

and there's a lot of mountain rivers,

而且有很多山河。

there's places where the river is deeper

水深火熱

and you can actually go swimming

你可以真正去游泳

and waterfalls to swim near too.

還有瀑布也可以在附近游泳。

So it's always very cold and refreshing.

所以總是很冷清，很清爽。

And it's just exciting to kind of be out there

而這只是令人興奮 某種程度上，在那裡

in the middle of nature

荒郊野嶺

and explore.

和探索。

- Yeah, no that's another one yeah,

- 是的，不，這是另一個是的。

the swimming holes.

泳洞。

So it's basically like why the river is very quiet

所以，它基本上像為什麼 水深火熱

it's kind of like a swimming pool within the river system.

宛如游泳 河系內的水池。

Yeah, they are god fun.

是啊，他們是神的樂趣。

And also tubing as well.

還有管子也是。

- Yes, tubing.

- 是的，管子。

- Which is where you float down the river.

- 也就是你在河裡漂流的地方。

Are you gonna talk about the last time you did it?

你要談的是 你最後一次做的時候？

- No, well we can just say in one sentence.

- 不，好吧，我們可以只是 一言以蔽之。

I got a terrible, terrible sun burn.

我被嚴重的，可怕的晒傷。

So always remember sun screen when you're tubing.

所以要永遠記住太陽 屏，當你在管。

All over.

遍地都是。

- Yeah, we were rushing and Kate missed a bit.

- 是啊，我們是衝著來的 和凱特錯過了一點。

It was really bad, wasn't it?

這真的很糟糕，不是嗎？

But, it was a lot of fun while we were on the river.

但是，這是很有趣的 當我們在河邊的時候

And my sister was here.

而我妹妹也在這裡。

And usually it's between two and five hours, I'd say.

而且通常是在 兩到五個小時，我想說。

You can get into the river at different points

你可以進入 各處

and you can use any kind of like flotation device,

而你可以使用任何類型的 的類似浮選裝置。

what's it called, a tube?

這叫什麼，管子？

- A tube, yeah.

- 一根管子，是的。

- But there were different kind of things you can have.

- 但也有不同的 樣的東西，你可以有。

But the most basic one is like a rubber ring

但最基本的一個 猶如橡皮圈

where it's like round, it's like a donut.

在那裡它像圓形，它像一個甜甜圈。

And you sit in it.

而你坐在裡面。

But then they realized I think that,

但後來他們意識到，我認為。

"Hey let's make this more comfortable."

"嘿，讓我們讓這個更舒服。"

So they'll put something at the bottom, so you can sit on.

所以他們會把東西放在 底部，所以你可以坐在。

Like a back support as well.

像背靠背一樣。

And then usually people will take another tube

然後通常人們 再拿一管

and fill it with things to drink and eat

並裝滿了喝的和吃的東西

while you're floating down the river.

當你在河上漂流的時候。

And then there are these different bars and restaurants

還有這些 不同的酒吧和餐廳

that you can stop at, get out the river and just go there.

你可以停在那裡，下車 河，就去那裡。

And it creates a very

而且它創造了一個非常

like a really fun atmosphere, doesn't it?

像一個非常有趣的氣氛，不是嗎？

Because people, they've been on the river for hours,

因為人們，他們已經 已經在河上呆了幾個小時了。

then they come into a bar and they're happy.

然後他們就進入 吧，他們很高興。

They're really happy.

他們真的很高興。

- And there's other sports too.

- 而且還有其他的運動項目。

Like paddle boarding is really popular now.

就像划船一樣 現在真的很流行。

Kayaking, and people going canoes.

皮划艇，還有人去劃獨木舟。

So it's just nice, it always has a little bit of

所以它只是很好，它 總有一點

that festive atmosphere

喜氣洋洋

of people really enjoying getting out

的人真的很喜歡出去玩

in the sun on the river.

在河邊的陽光下。

- Another thing that people do as well

- 另一件事，人們也在做

is they go on hikes to higher altitudes

是他們去徒步到更高的海拔。

so that you can escape the heat a little bit.

好讓你逃脫 熱一點點。

So there is one, Mount Mitchell,

所以有一個，米切爾山。

which I think is the highest peak

嶠

in the eastern United States.

在美國東部。

Did you know that?

你知道嗎？

- I didn't know that.

- 我不知道這一點。

I'm sorry, I didn't hide my surprise very well.

對不起，我沒有隱瞞。 我的驚喜非常好。

- So you can go there and it's a lot cooler.

- 所以你可以去那裡 而且還涼快多了。

You also got incredible views too.

你也得到了令人難以置信的觀點了。

- Oh yeah, there's some really beautiful views.

- 哦，是的，有一些 真的很美麗的景色。

So there's a road called The Parkway

所以有一條路叫百匯路

that goes through our town

穿城而過

and you can take it up really far into the mountains

你可以把它 深山老林

and just see these incredible vistas

看到這些不可思議的景色

of mountains all the way around.

的山脈，一路走來。

- And there are different stop off points where you can

- 而且有不同的 停靠點

go and take in the view.

去欣賞一下風景。

What are they called?

它們叫什麼？

Like they call them observation?

就像他們所說的觀察？

A look out. - look outs, yeah.

一個看出來。 - 瞭望，是的。

- Yeah, look outs.

- 是啊，看外面。

Which just means that you look out

這只是意味著，你看出來

at everything that you see.

在你看到的一切。

But that's a lot of fun to do as well.

但這也是一個很有趣的事情。

- And in some of our favorite look outs

- 而在我們最喜歡的一些外觀

and places to stop, there are wild blueberries

和停靠的地方，有 野生藍莓

that grow in the summer.

長在夏天的。

So I think also going out and getting to eat wild berries,

所以我覺得也要出去 得到吃野生漿果。

there's blueberries and black berries.

有藍莓和黑莓。

It's just that extra little bit of fun.

就是多了那麼一點樂趣。

So we can't wait.

所以我們不能再等了。

We've only been on one big hike

我們只參加過一次大的徒步旅行而已

with our son since he was born.

自從我們的兒子出生後，和他在一起。

But that's something that's on my summer bucket list.

但這是的東西，是 在我的夏季清單上。

What's on your summer bucket list?

你的夏季清單上有什麼？

- I mean just to try and take advantage of things

- 我的意思是，只是為了嘗試和 佔便宜

and to get out earlier.

並早些離開。

Because if you wait until 11,

因為如果你等到11點。

it's usually a little bit too hot then.

它通常是一個有點太熱了，然後。