留学英语口语-兼职工作

NATASHA: I don't know what I'm going to do.I need to find a job. If I don't, I won't be able to stay here next semester¹.
ERIC: Have you tried university part-time jobs?
NATASHA: What do you mean?
ERIC: I mean in the library, or in some information center.Often the university hires foreign students for part-time positions.
NATASHA: Yes, I know. I tried that.They don't have anything now. So what can I do?
ERIC: Well, since you're a foreign student, it's hard.That's because it's actually illegal² for you to work in America.
NATASHA: I know that. You don't have to tell me that. That's my problem.I know I have the right to work for the university. That's legal³.But they don't have a job for me. And it's illegal for me to get a job elsewhere⁴.
ERIC: Anyway, there must be some solution.You know there are many people working illegally⁵ in New York.
NATASHA: But I need a pretty decent⁶ job.I need to make enough to pay my rent at least.
ERIC: I have an idea.
NATASHA: What?
ERIC: Since you're Chinese, maybe you can find part-time work in Chinatown.
NATASHA: I already had that idea.
ERIC: Well, why don't you go and look down there?
NATASHA: But I don't know what I would do.
ERIC: It may be part-time work as a waitress or something.It would be illegal, but sometimes waitresses make a good salary.
NATASHA: Maybe. I don't know.
ERIC: I will ask my friends for you.Maybe someone knows a company that needs part-time people.That's another thing you should do. Ask all your friends to ask around for you.You might find something.
NATASHA: I have to find something.Otherwise I have to go back to Taiwan. I'll be broke in two months.
娜塔莎：我不知道如何是好。我需要找一个工作。如果我找不到，下个学期就没有办法留在这里。
艾瑞克：你试过大学的兼职工作吗？
娜塔莎：你的意思是？
艾瑞克：我的意思是图书馆或者一些资讯中心。通常大学都会雇用外国的学生来做兼职的工作。
娜塔莎：是，我知道。我试过。他们现在没有任何工作。所以，我该怎么办呢？
艾瑞克：嗯，你身为一个外国学生，是蛮难的。那是因为你在美国工作是非法的。
娜塔莎：我知道。你不必告诉我那些，那是我的问题。我知道我有权利在大学里工作，那是合法的。但是他们没有工作给我。对我来说在别的地方工作又是非法的。
艾瑞克：无论如何，那一定有一个解决之道。你知道有很多人非法在纽约工作。
娜塔莎：但我需要一个比较正式的工作。我需要赚足够的钱，至少能付我的房租。
艾瑞克：我有一个主意。
娜塔莎：是什么？
艾瑞克：你身为一个中国人，或许你可以在中国城找到一个兼职工作。
娜塔莎：我已经想过了。
艾瑞克：嗯，你为什么不去看看呢？
娜塔莎：但我不知道我能做些什么。
艾瑞克：或许有兼职的工作像是服务生或其他的机会。虽然是非法，但有些时候服务生可以拿到不错的薪水。
娜塔莎：或许吧。我不知道。
艾瑞克：我会替你问我的朋友。或许会有人知道哪一家公司需要兼职的人员。你还需要做一件事。请你的朋友帮你打听。你或许会找到事情做。
娜塔莎：我一定要找工作做。不然我就必须要回台湾。我会在两个月内破产。

1 semester   

n.一学期，半学年，六个月的时间

参考例句：

• A student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester.每个学生一学期可能要修四五门课程。
• I had an especially rough time during my first semester.我第一个学期的日子难受极了。

2 illegal   

adj.不合法的，非法的，犯法的

参考例句：

• I don't want to get mixed up with any illegal organization.我不想与任何非法组织有牵连。
• It's illegal for people under 17 to drive a car in Britain.在英国，不满17岁的人驾驶车辆是违法的。

3 legal   

adj.法律的，依照法律的，合法的，法定的，正当的

参考例句：

• He is my legal adviser.他是我的法律顾问。
• This is partly a political and partly a legal question.这个问题部分是政治问题，部分是法律问题。

4 elsewhere   

adv.在别处，到别处

参考例句：

• Our favourite restaurant was full so we had to go elsewhere.我们最喜欢去的那家饭店客满了，因此不得不改去别处。
• I have half a mind to move elsewhere.我有点想搬到别处去。

5 illegally   

adv.不法地

参考例句：

• We were alleged to have brought goods into the country illegally. 我们被指控非法携带货物入境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The landlady found they had been illegally subletting the flat. 女房东发现他们一直在违法转租公寓。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 decent   

adj.象样的，不错的，体面的，正派的，恰当的

参考例句：

• We want to raise our children to be decent men and women.我们盼望把孩子们培养成优秀人才。
• There isn't even a decent table in this room.这屋里连张像样的桌子也没有。