【News Takeaway】如今我們需要大學課程來教年輕人如何聊天

We Now Need College Courses to Teach Young Adults How to Make Small Talk

如今我們需要大學課程來教年輕人如何聊天

來源：The Wall Street Journal
難度：4.5
閱讀時間：5 mins

在競爭激烈的職場環境中，除了專業知識，溝通、談話等軟技能也越來越重要。全美越來越多不同領域的大學教授發現，面對面的交談對很多學生來說非常困難，因此開始為學生開設社交技能課，努力防止「職業聊天」成為一種失傳的語言。

By Tara Weiss

Jana Mathews, a professor of Medieval literature at Rollins College, checks the bathrooms to coax out students hiding from the big event in her Job Market Boot Camp class, a mixer with alumni to practice professional networking.
羅林斯學院(Rollins College)的中世紀文學教授珍娜·馬修斯(Jana Mathews)會在她的課上檢查洗手間，好把那些躲在里面的學生勸回課堂。她的這門課叫 「就業市場新兵訓練營」，正在舉辦一個校友聯誼活動，練習職業社交技能。

For many of her students, the face-to-face conversations with strangers are more nerve-racking than decoding Chaucer.
對很多她的學生來說，與陌生人進行面對面的談話，要比解析詩人喬叟的作品更讓人頭痛。

Everybody seems to have a theory about why many young adults have trouble with so- called soft skills, which include the art of persuasion and civil conversation. Blame smartphone addiction, Covid cocooning or helicopter parenting. Regardless of cause, a growing number of college professors in various disciplines around the U.S. are trying to keep professional chitchat from becoming a lost language.
每個人似乎都有自己的一套理論來解釋為什麽許多年輕人在所謂的軟技能方面有點問題，包括說服和禮貌溝通的藝術。這要歸咎於智能手機成癮、新冠病毒之下的封閉，或父母的過度保護。但不管成因是什麽，全美越來越多不同領域的大學教授都在努力防止職業聊天成為一種失傳的語言。

When teaching "The Canterbury Tales," Mathews holds a mixer where students pose as characters from the book while delivering an elevator pitch. Students learn the book, she said, and ease into networking "in a way that's not so personalized, so they don't feel like they’re on display."
在教授《坎特伯雷故事集》時，馬修斯舉辦了一個活動，學生們會以書中⻆色 的身份來進行「電梯遊說」。她說，學生們學習了這本書，然後以一種「不那麽個人化的方式輕鬆融入社交，這樣他們就不會覺得自己在被公開展示」。

In class, David S. Salisbury, a professor of geography, environment and sustainability at the University of Richmond, starts with the basics, stopping the class when a student refers to a peer by anything other than their name. "If a student says, 'I really enjoyed Brian's idea, but I think this might be something to add,' I say, 'I love how you mentioned Brian's name.' I give positive reinforcement to teach them these interpersonal skills," he said.
在課堂上，里奇蒙大學的地理、環境和永續發展學教授戴維·S·索爾茲伯里（David S. Salisbury）從最基本的教起，當學生用名字以外的稱呼提到其他同學的時候，他會把課停下。「如果一個學生說，『我真的很喜歡布萊恩的想法，但我認為可能需要補充一些東西，』我會說，『我喜歡你這樣提到了布萊恩的名字。』」 他說：「我給予他們積極的鼓勵，來教他們這些人際交往的技巧。」

1. small talk 簡短、輕松的談話

During the coffee break, we engaged in some small talk about the weather and weekend plans.
在咖啡休息時間，我們簡單聊了聊天氣和週末的計劃。

2. medieval 中世紀的

The castle's architecture reflects the medieval style prevalent during the 12th century.
城堡的建築反映了12世紀盛行的中世紀風格。

3. coax 哄勸

It took some effort to coax her into joining the team.
我花了一些功夫才哄勸她加入團隊。

4. boot camp 新手營，新兵訓練營

5. a mixer with alumni 校友聯誼會

6. networking （本文）社交行為、人際關係

Effective networking is essential for building professional relationships in your career.
在職業生涯中，有效的社交行為對於建立專業關係至關重要。

7. nerve-racking 使人緊張、傷神、傷腦筋

The job interview was nerve-racking, causing sleepless nights for the anxious candidate.
求職面試令人緊張，這位焦慮的應聘者徹夜難眠。

8. decode (本文)解讀，揣摩(戲劇、藝術作品和人物行為等);解碼

The art critic attempted to decode the symbolism hidden in the artist's abstract painting.
藝術評論家試圖解讀隱藏在藝術家抽象畫中的象徵意義。

9. have trouble with something 存在某些方面的問題

Sarah has been having trouble with the new software; she finds it challenging to navigate.
莎拉一直在使用新軟體方面遇到問題；她發現這很難操作。

10. soft skills 軟技能

In addition to technical expertise, employers value candidates with strong soft skills such as communication and teamwork.
除了技術專業知識外，雇主還重視具有良好軟技能，如溝通和團隊合作能力的候選人。

11. cocooning (本文)封閉的生活方式

After a long week, I enjoy cocooning at home, shutting out the outside world.
經過漫長的一周，我喜歡在家裡閉門不出，與外界隔絕。

12. helicopter parenting 直升機式的育兒方式(指過度保護或是干預子女生活的養育模式。)

13. regardless of something 不考慮，不管

The company promotes a culture of inclusion, welcoming employees regardless of their background or experience.
公司倡導一種包容的文化，歡迎任何背景或經驗的員工加入。

14. keep something from doing something 避免做某事，阻止某事的發生

Regular exercise helps keep stress from affecting your mental well-being.
定期運動有助於防止壓力影響你的心理健康。

15. chitchat 聊天，閒談 (small talk)

While waiting for the meeting to start, we engaged in some chitchat to pass the time.
在等待會議開始時，我們閒聊了幾句打發時間。

16. elevator pitch 電梯簡報，電梯演講

（簡短而有力的自我介紹或產品推銷，在搭電梯的短暫時間內，以清楚、引人入勝的陳述引起對方的興趣，進一步產生對話或合作的機會。）

In the elevator pitch, he succinctly presented the key features of the new product to potential investors.
在電梯簡報中，他簡潔地向潛在投資者介紹了新產品的主要特點。

17. ease into (doing) something 逐漸適應，緩慢適應(新的環境、工作、活動)

Instead of rushing, it's better to ease into the new project gradually for better understanding.
與其匆忙進行，不如循序漸進了解新的專案。

18. positive reinforcement 正增強(當別人做對事情的時候，給予表揚、肯定，以此提高這種行為的發生頻率)

Teachers use positive reinforcement to encourage students when they exhibit good behavior in the classroom.
老師使用正增強來鼓勵學生在課堂上表現良好的行為。

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