中學畢業空一年 英國正流行

中譯／陳怡君（中央社編譯）

近年來有愈來愈多英國家長和學生，一改過去認為中學一畢業得馬上銜接大學教育，而有不同的想法。根據一項研究，2012年超過250萬名學生選擇休息一年，其中超過兩成的父母還同意贊助孩子經費！

許多人會問：「急什麼呢？」有些人主張，空檔一年會使學生成績進步，也有助畢業生在經濟上充分準備，並能決定自己想從大學經驗得到什麼；而最重要的是，讓學生有個調適期來迎接大學生活的自由與獨立。

學生中學畢業後空檔一年的做法，在英國已行之數十年。主張這個概念的人認為，高中一畢業就立刻投入大學，會比休息一段時間再上大學的人更快「身心俱疲」，而體力和心力透支會導致成績低落與挫折感，也因此提高輟學率。

當然，若是認為休息一年就好比靠父母養一年好四處狂歡，這想法就錯了。空檔年計畫目前在英國愈來愈受歡迎，英國有數百間像是Gapforce或是 Year Out Group等組織，在這股「空檔年熱潮」中大發利市。

這類公司表示，空檔一年必須要有個目的，有收穫的空檔年有非常多的可能性，像是去海外教學、取得實習經驗或從事兼職工作等。學生也能在這一年針對他們有意攻讀的學位領域獲取實地經驗，同時賺取大學學費。

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無論在這空檔的一年從事什麼，許多英國父母主張，休息一年最好的理由是，它意味著隨著成年新階段到來，伴隨的生活型態將改變。對許多人來說，父母不會隨時在旁討論回家作業，時間與金錢管理瞬間變得很重要，而學校也不再只是規範約束的地方。

的確，許多大學生活會伴隨酒吧、派對、以及嘗試做盡各種事，就是不讀書！這並不是說高中畢業休息一年，就會遏阻浪費時間與金錢在跑趴和蹺課的渴望，但或許有可能會讓熱衷此道的人在開始過這種生活前，能有機會離開這個體系。

在上大學的機會來臨之前，其實大多數學生早就花了生命中美好的時光待在教室內。雖然直接展開大學生活不見得一定不好，但英國近來有愈來愈多畢業生與父母不再認為休息一年是浪費時間，而是一個盡可能讓這個重要過渡期有意義的契機。（完）

更多精彩內容請見《全球中央》2015年1月號，訂閱《全球中央數位雜誌》；本文由《全球中央》雜誌授權刊載，未經同意禁止轉載。

The ‘Gap Year’ in the UK撰文及考題設計 英國文化協會 Joel Finnestad

More and more these days, UK parents and students who think that a university education has to begin immediately after high school (or secondary school) are reconsidering. According to one study, in 2012 over 2.5 million students opted for a gap year, with over 20% of parents agreeing to fund it!

“What's the rush?”, many ask. Whilst others argue that students taking a year off will result in their getting better grades. Doing so can also help grads prepare financially, determine what they want out of the experience, and most importantly, allow for a period of adjustment to the freedom and independence that college life affords.

Taking a gap year has been common practice in the UK for decades. The idea is that students who barrel ahead right after high school end up ‘burned out’ sooner than those who take some time off. This burnout results in lower grades, disappointment, and consequently a higher dropout rate.

Of course, students who see a year off as an opportunity for a year-long party at their parents' expense have the wrong idea. In the UK, gap year programs are soaring in popularity. Companies like gapforce.org and yearoutgroup.org are among the hundreds of organisations cashing in on the ongoing gap year craze.

According to such companies, a gap year needs to serve a purpose. Teaching overseas, pursuing an internship, or taking a part-time job, are all possibilities for a productive year off. Students can gain experience in a field related to what they intend to study, and also earn money to pay for their education at the same time.

Regardless of the possibilities, many parents in the UK argue that the best reason for taking a gap year involves the change in lifestyle that comes with this new phase of adulthood. For many, mum and dad are no longer around to talk about homework. Budgeting time and money suddenly becomes important, and school is no longer only about rules.

Indeed, many universities come complete with pubs, fraternity parties, and endless opportunities to do anything except study! This is not to say that a year off after high school will kill the urge to waste time and money going to parties and skipping lectures. It might, however, give some people the chance to get some of the "party animal" out of the system before getting started.

By the time the opportunity for university arrives, most students have already been in a classroom for the good part of their lives. While it is not always bad to jump right into a postsecondary education, recent grads in the UK and their parents view the option of a gap year not as a waste of time, but as an opportunity to make this important transition as meaningful as possible.

Keywords/Phrases

1. 空檔年gap year - a year off, or a break before beginning formal university studies

2. 有什麼好趕的“What's the rush?” - same as asking “Why hurry?” 3. 提供，給予affords - to be the cause or source of something

4. 普遍做法 common practice - behaviour that happens often, or in large numbers

5. 沒有充分準備便投入某事barrel ahead - to proceed quickly with an activity without enough planning or preparation

6. 精神或體力透支burnout - a mental or physical condition of having no energy left to finish a task

7. 趁機利用……賺錢to ”cash in on” - to take advantage of a popular trend and earn as much money as possible from it

8. （通常不支薪的）實習internship - a job taken more to gain experience, and often unpaid

9. 遏阻衝動kill the urge - to stop oneself from proceeding with a strong desire to do something

10. 很愛參加派對的人party animal - a term to describe a person who really loves going to parties and having a good time on a more than regular basis - generally irresponsible

IELTS style questionsChoose the correct answer:

1. What does this essay suggest is a reason for higher dropout rates?

A. Year-long parties at the parents' expense.

B. Lower grades and disappointment caused by burnout.

C. Taking some time off, or a "gap year."

D. Studying in Australia or Europe.

2. According to the essay, why might taking a year off before university to save money for tuition not be a good reason to do so?

A. It is more important to focus on a job related to a student's field of study.B. It costs less to settle for the wrong field of study.

C. The price of an education over a one year period can be higher than money saved by working.

D. Gap years need to be productive.

3. Which of the following best summarizes what the writer suggests in Paragraph 5 as the difference between high school and university?

A. High school is restrictive; university allows for independence.

B. University has bars; high school does not.

C. High school requires homework; university has fraternities.

D. Rules apply in university; freedom is possible in high school.

4. Which of the following is the best title for this essay?

A. The Difference between High School and University

B. The Gap Year: A Worthy Consideration

C. Taking a Year Off: A Terrible Idea

D. The Ups and Downs of a Postsecondary Education

True/False/Not Given

5. In the UK in 2012, the majority of parents agreed to pay their children’s gap year expenses. (F)

6. In the UK, the number of students taking a gap year is on the decline. (F)

7. Companies like gapforce.org believe that students need make some money if they take a gap year. (NG)

8. According to the article, a gap year will not necessarily take away a student’s urge to waste time at university. (T)

9. According to the article, pubs and fraternity parties serve an important transition from gap year to university life. (F)

10. Starting a postsecondary education right after high school usually results in unhappy, unprepared students. (NG)

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