Unit 1 科系的選擇
一、主題對話：
Michael Chen is talking to his girlfriend Judy Wang.
Michael Chen跟他的女朋友 Judy Wang聊到申請學校與科系。中標
Michael: I’d would like to major in Computer Science.
Michael: 我想主修資訊工程科學。
Judy: I am shooting for Stanford University. Are you considering it?
Judy: 我想進史丹佛大學，你要不要考慮一下史丹佛？
Michael: It’s going to be really tough for me to get into Master Program in Computer Science with Stanford University. I am applying UCLA and UCSD, since I have a better chance in getting in either one of them.
Michael:史丹佛的資訊訊碩士課程比較難進，我想申請UCLA 和 UCSD，因為機會比較大會大一些。
Judy: You can choose other programs with Stanford. Graduate school life is tough, so I’d like to have you around in case I need any comforting. Don’t you worry about the long distance relationship?
Judy: 你可以選其他的科系啊，研究生生活蠻困難難熬的，在我有需要時我想要有你隨時在我身邊，你難道不擔心遠距離戀愛情嗎？
Michael: I know I can get into less popular programs, but it would be tougher for me to get a job after getting my degree. To be able to get a well-compensated job would make our life much easier later on. Also, with Facebook, we can stay in touch constantly, and we can talk on Skype as often as we like. I don’t think it’s going to be long distance at all.
Michael:我是可以申請一些比較不熱門的科系，但是畢業後工作比較不好找，找到個薪水比較好的工作會讓我們未來的生活更容易好過多了。有了FB還有我們可以用FB隨時連絡保持聯繫，我們也可以隨時用Skype聊天，我相信這一點都不會像是遠長距離戀愛情。
Judy: I’d just like to have you around me if possible.
Judy: 我只想盡可能地跟你待在一起啊！
Michael: How about you applying for UCLA and UCSD? Both business schools are great, as good as the Stanford one from what I heard. In this case, I can study Computer Science and you can get a good degree education. More importantly, we can stay close together.
Michael: 你要不要試試看UCLA和 UCSD？就我所知這兩個商學院都很棒，不比史丹佛差，這樣一來我可以主修資訊訊，電腦你可以同樣也可以的拿到好學位接受良好的教育，更重要的是我們可以待在一起。
Judy: Good idea. I’ll check both schools and more than likely apply for them. It would be great for both of us.
Judy: 好主意。我去查看看，很可能會並申請這兩個學校，這對我們而言這是最棒的做法。
二、心情小語：
Choosing a major was not at all a problem for me. I got into Department of Electrical Engineering, National Sun, Yat-Sen University, after the College Entrance Exam., and thus, It naturally it became the major for my graduate study. To be honest with you, the fact that Electrical Engineering, especially Computer Engineering being a hot field, helps my decision too. That being said, it is a major decision for most of the students since it would more than likely impact the life later on.
選擇科系對我而言不是甚麼問題，大學聯考後，我上了中山大學電機系，很自然地在研究所就繼續主修電機。說實話，主要原因也是因為電機工程，尤其資訊電腦工程，是個個熱門領域科目，也是原因之一強化了我的決定。不過對於大多數的學生而言，選擇主修因為這會相對地影響你日後的生活，自然是個重要決定。
It’s better for you to list the options and their pros and cons against each one of them. Obviously, you could easily get torn apart between interest and career. One thing foris sure,is that there is no perfect solution. Look deep down inside your heart, and see if there is any interest, or better yet, passion, exists for the subjects you listed. Try to realize how strong the passion is. If you know that is whatknow what you want to do for the rest of your life, you may have found your answer. Besides passion, you need to consider the prospect career- wise. Is it easy to get a job? How much is the pay? Are you coming back or you are planning to stay in the US? Getting a degree could take two to, three, four years, or even longer. How is the job market two to four years from now? You need to look ahead at least that far away from now. I know trying to predict the future is often tough, but without even considering it would be a potential risk,. Ddon’t you think? Can you legally work in the US?, More importantly,especially if would you’d like to get a job there? If not, for sure, you have to choose a hot major, or a subject that is easy to get a job, for sure. an easy to get a job subject. Without the green card, it would not bebe not easy for you to get a job in US. Even if you are planning to come back after getting the degree, you still need to consider a major that is easy to get a job domestically. It may sounds like a cliché, but you have to think about life after graduation. Making enough money to support your future family, or at the very least yourself, is a must, right? Of course, if you are interested in a hot field, then congratulations, you have the best ends of the both worlds. Go for it, and work hard and study hard, knowing that you will enjoy a much better life later on.
最好是將你的選項和每個選項的及其優劣點列出來，很明顯的，你很容易就可能會在興趣與職業生涯之間，陷入天人交戰難以抉擇。你要先明白這件事沒有所謂的完美答案！問問自己仔細的思考一下你的內心，你的興趣甚或至是熱誠在哪裡是否有落在你所列出的科目當中？思考一下那份熱誠的強度有多少？如果你知道日後你想做什麼這就是你日後的人生，你可能已經找到答案了！除了熱誠此之外，你還是需要考慮職業的未來遠景主修科目職場生涯，是否容易找到工作嗎？薪水多少？你會留在美國或是回國工作？拿個學位需要兩到、三、四年，甚至更久，兩到四年後的工作狀況又是如何？你需要盡可能地展望未來往前看。我知道試著要預測未來有點難度，但是完全不去考慮的話，會有它潛在的風險，不是嗎？你是否能留在美國合法的工作如果想留在美國的話，你能不能在那兒合法工作？更重要的是，能不能找到工作？如果不行的話，選個熱門又容易找到工作的主修比較保險。，沒有綠卡找工作真的不容易找工作，。就算你計畫在拿到學位後要回國，你還是要考慮一下國內的工作市場，這或許聽來是個陳腔濫調，但你卻時確實需要考慮畢業後的生活，你確實是需要考慮畢業後的生活，賺足夠的薪水來養日後的家庭，。最少也要能夠養活你自己，沒錯吧！當然如果你的興趣本就是個熱門領域主修，恭喜你，這是兩全其美，就往前衝。放手去做，努力工作，認真學習，我知道你為了日後將能享有更美好的生活而努力吧！
三、單字與例句
option n. 選擇
You need to check all options before making a decision.
在下決定前你需要檢驗所有的選擇。
Tear tear (tear, tore, torn) v. 撕開、扯破
She was torn apart by the death of her child.
她因為小孩的死去而心碎。
Potentialpotential adj. 潛在的、可能的
We need to evaluate the potential risk before investing.
投資前需要評估所有可能的風險。
legally adv. 合法地
Can we park the car legally here?
這裡可以合法停車嗎？
cliché n. 陳腐的說法、陳詞濫調
The advertising world is full of clichécliche phrases and images.
廣告世界充滿了陳腔濫調的語言與圖像。
四、知識備忘錄：
說到選擇科系，典型的中國一般家長都會希望小孩挑一個穩當、風險小、容易找工作的主修。但是如果真沒有興趣，那未來只為了錢而工作，其實也不會是好事！話說回來，如果你只追求興趣，卻不考慮未來出路，萬一真的是找不到麵包，那只會更可悲！在選擇科系上面，你多半要面對興趣與現實的考量。我認為以為如果你沒有特別的興趣，或許穩當容易找到工作的主修會是風險比較小的選擇。如果你針對某些科目有興趣，甚至或有熱情passion，那就需要仔細思考一下了。在許多勵志的書裡還有網路上有許多文章，要你不需要考慮風險而去追求理想，甚至舉出一些成功的例子來激勵人們。如果你就這麼毫不考慮地勇敢追夢，那你就是笨到了極點！說實話，如果摔慘了、夢碎了，這些所謂的勵志作家會幫你嗎？但是話說回來，我並不是要大家不去追求理想，只是先要仔細評估。例如你對文學有興趣想做個作家，那是不是先要評估一下，你是否真的有文學天分？就算是有，是不是真的每個有文學天份的人，就會變成個成功的作家？至少在追夢前至少追夢中，是不是先看看幾位成功的作家，看他們是具備了那些要件？又是如何補足自己的缺陷？又是如何成功的？看著前人的經驗更會增加自己成功的機會，不是嗎？在仔細分析過後才來跨步朝自己的理想前進，是不是會更穩當、更有機會？
一、主題對話：
Michael Chen is talking to his girlfriend Judy Wang.
Michael Chen跟他的女朋友 Judy Wang聊到申請學校與科系。中標
Michael: I’d would like to major in Computer Science.
Michael: 我想主修資訊工程科學。
Judy: I am shooting for Stanford University. Are you considering it?
Judy: 我想進史丹佛大學，你要不要考慮一下史丹佛？
Michael: It’s going to be really tough for me to get into Master Program in Computer Science with Stanford University. I am applying UCLA and UCSD, since I have a better chance in getting in either one of them.
Michael:史丹佛的資訊訊碩士課程比較難進，我想申請UCLA 和 UCSD，因為機會比較大會大一些。
Judy: You can choose other programs with Stanford. Graduate school life is tough, so I’d like to have you around in case I need any comforting. Don’t you worry about the long distance relationship?
Judy: 你可以選其他的科系啊，研究生生活蠻困難難熬的，在我有需要時我想要有你隨時在我身邊，你難道不擔心遠距離戀愛情嗎？
Michael: I know I can get into less popular programs, but it would be tougher for me to get a job after getting my degree. To be able to get a well-compensated job would make our life much easier later on. Also, with Facebook, we can stay in touch constantly, and we can talk on Skype as often as we like. I don’t think it’s going to be long distance at all.
Michael:我是可以申請一些比較不熱門的科系，但是畢業後工作比較不好找，找到個薪水比較好的工作會讓我們未來的生活更容易好過多了。有了FB還有我們可以用FB隨時連絡保持聯繫，我們也可以隨時用Skype聊天，我相信這一點都不會像是遠長距離戀愛情。
Judy: I’d just like to have you around me if possible.
Judy: 我只想盡可能地跟你待在一起啊！
Michael: How about you applying for UCLA and UCSD? Both business schools are great, as good as the Stanford one from what I heard. In this case, I can study Computer Science and you can get a good degree education. More importantly, we can stay close together.
Michael: 你要不要試試看UCLA和 UCSD？就我所知這兩個商學院都很棒，不比史丹佛差，這樣一來我可以主修資訊訊，電腦你可以同樣也可以的拿到好學位接受良好的教育，更重要的是我們可以待在一起。
Judy: Good idea. I’ll check both schools and more than likely apply for them. It would be great for both of us.
Judy: 好主意。我去查看看，很可能會並申請這兩個學校，這對我們而言這是最棒的做法。
二、心情小語：
Choosing a major was not at all a problem for me. I got into Department of Electrical Engineering, National Sun, Yat-Sen University, after the College Entrance Exam., and thus, It naturally it became the major for my graduate study. To be honest with you, the fact that Electrical Engineering, especially Computer Engineering being a hot field, helps my decision too. That being said, it is a major decision for most of the students since it would more than likely impact the life later on.
選擇科系對我而言不是甚麼問題，大學聯考後，我上了中山大學電機系，很自然地在研究所就繼續主修電機。說實話，主要原因也是因為電機工程，尤其資訊電腦工程，是個個熱門領域科目，也是原因之一強化了我的決定。不過對於大多數的學生而言，選擇主修因為這會相對地影響你日後的生活，自然是個重要決定。
It’s better for you to list the options and their pros and cons against each one of them. Obviously, you could easily get torn apart between interest and career. One thing foris sure,is that there is no perfect solution. Look deep down inside your heart, and see if there is any interest, or better yet, passion, exists for the subjects you listed. Try to realize how strong the passion is. If you know that is whatknow what you want to do for the rest of your life, you may have found your answer. Besides passion, you need to consider the prospect career- wise. Is it easy to get a job? How much is the pay? Are you coming back or you are planning to stay in the US? Getting a degree could take two to, three, four years, or even longer. How is the job market two to four years from now? You need to look ahead at least that far away from now. I know trying to predict the future is often tough, but without even considering it would be a potential risk,. Ddon’t you think? Can you legally work in the US?, More importantly,especially if would you’d like to get a job there? If not, for sure, you have to choose a hot major, or a subject that is easy to get a job, for sure. an easy to get a job subject. Without the green card, it would not bebe not easy for you to get a job in US. Even if you are planning to come back after getting the degree, you still need to consider a major that is easy to get a job domestically. It may sounds like a cliché, but you have to think about life after graduation. Making enough money to support your future family, or at the very least yourself, is a must, right? Of course, if you are interested in a hot field, then congratulations, you have the best ends of the both worlds. Go for it, and work hard and study hard, knowing that you will enjoy a much better life later on.
最好是將你的選項和每個選項的及其優劣點列出來，很明顯的，你很容易就可能會在興趣與職業生涯之間，陷入天人交戰難以抉擇。你要先明白這件事沒有所謂的完美答案！問問自己仔細的思考一下你的內心，你的興趣甚或至是熱誠在哪裡是否有落在你所列出的科目當中？思考一下那份熱誠的強度有多少？如果你知道日後你想做什麼這就是你日後的人生，你可能已經找到答案了！除了熱誠此之外，你還是需要考慮職業的未來遠景主修科目職場生涯，是否容易找到工作嗎？薪水多少？你會留在美國或是回國工作？拿個學位需要兩到、三、四年，甚至更久，兩到四年後的工作狀況又是如何？你需要盡可能地展望未來往前看。我知道試著要預測未來有點難度，但是完全不去考慮的話，會有它潛在的風險，不是嗎？你是否能留在美國合法的工作如果想留在美國的話，你能不能在那兒合法工作？更重要的是，能不能找到工作？如果不行的話，選個熱門又容易找到工作的主修比較保險。，沒有綠卡找工作真的不容易找工作，。就算你計畫在拿到學位後要回國，你還是要考慮一下國內的工作市場，這或許聽來是個陳腔濫調，但你卻時確實需要考慮畢業後的生活，你確實是需要考慮畢業後的生活，賺足夠的薪水來養日後的家庭，。最少也要能夠養活你自己，沒錯吧！當然如果你的興趣本就是個熱門領域主修，恭喜你，這是兩全其美，就往前衝。放手去做，努力工作，認真學習，我知道你為了日後將能享有更美好的生活而努力吧！
三、單字與例句
option n. 選擇
You need to check all options before making a decision.
在下決定前你需要檢驗所有的選擇。
Tear tear (tear, tore, torn) v. 撕開、扯破
She was torn apart by the death of her child.
她因為小孩的死去而心碎。
Potentialpotential adj. 潛在的、可能的
We need to evaluate the potential risk before investing.
投資前需要評估所有可能的風險。
legally adv. 合法地
Can we park the car legally here?
這裡可以合法停車嗎？
cliché n. 陳腐的說法、陳詞濫調
The advertising world is full of clichécliche phrases and images.
廣告世界充滿了陳腔濫調的語言與圖像。
四、知識備忘錄：
說到選擇科系，典型的中國一般家長都會希望小孩挑一個穩當、風險小、容易找工作的主修。但是如果真沒有興趣，那未來只為了錢而工作，其實也不會是好事！話說回來，如果你只追求興趣，卻不考慮未來出路，萬一真的是找不到麵包，那只會更可悲！在選擇科系上面，你多半要面對興趣與現實的考量。我認為以為如果你沒有特別的興趣，或許穩當容易找到工作的主修會是風險比較小的選擇。如果你針對某些科目有興趣，甚至或有熱情passion，那就需要仔細思考一下了。在許多勵志的書裡還有網路上有許多文章，要你不需要考慮風險而去追求理想，甚至舉出一些成功的例子來激勵人們。如果你就這麼毫不考慮地勇敢追夢，那你就是笨到了極點！說實話，如果摔慘了、夢碎了，這些所謂的勵志作家會幫你嗎？但是話說回來，我並不是要大家不去追求理想，只是先要仔細評估。例如你對文學有興趣想做個作家，那是不是先要評估一下，你是否真的有文學天分？就算是有，是不是真的每個有文學天份的人，就會變成個成功的作家？至少在追夢前至少追夢中，是不是先看看幾位成功的作家，看他們是具備了那些要件？又是如何補足自己的缺陷？又是如何成功的？看著前人的經驗更會增加自己成功的機會，不是嗎？在仔細分析過後才來跨步朝自己的理想前進，是不是會更穩當、更有機會？
