一般英语学习者，在全面提高英语的前提下，要提高听、说能力，应首先注意以下三点：

１．注意区分和模仿正确的语音、语调

在英语里有不少读音相近，但意思却截然不同的词汇，象cure[kjue](医愈)和kill[kill](杀死),menu(菜单)和manure(肥料)等。设想如果有一个医生想说:"I'll cure you."(我要治好你的病。)却因发音不好,说成:"I'll kill you."(我要杀死你。)那病人会吓成什么样子。又比如,有人对你说:" I am thirty.My wife is thirty,too."而你听到的却是:" I am dirty. My wife is dirty,too."你一定会莫名其妙。实际上,所差之外就是一个音素。因此,我们从一开始就要注意区分和模仿正确的语音,语调。在这个基础上提高听、说，才能收到良好效果。

２．创造一定的听、说环境

听、说是一种语言交流，没有一个外语环境或一定的听、说条件，只靠单枪匹马很难收效。当然，现代科学为我们提供了录音机这一工具，我们可以把课文，对话和中外成品磁带录制下来反复听和模仿。还可以把自己的口头作文和复述录下来，仔细审听，发现问题，及时纠正。但是，在自然条件下，听与说是不能分的。一个人听的过程实际是另一个人说的过程。如果有条件的话，最好能把自学的伙伴组织起来，定期开展会话活动，或利用社会上，公园中提供的"外语之角"等条件，既练了说，又练了听，在实际的语言环境中练习，才能取得长足的进步。

３．要有不怕听错，说错，不断苦练的精神

练习听、说的学习者，特别是成年人，往往必听错、说错，不敢主支张口练习。然而，语言是一种习惯，没有反复的操练和实践难以产生熟练的技巧。会话重在达意，只要达到交流思想的目的，这种听、说实践就应该说是基本成功的。出了错，注意总结经验，自学改正就是了。

Are you getting ready to graduate from college or considering a career change? Do you need a little help in getting started?
你是否刚毕业或者正在考虑跳槽呢？在开始新工作之前你是否需要点帮助？

Use Your Career Office
利用你的职业指导办公室

If you are a college student or graduate the first step is to visit, call or email your institution's Career Office. The staff will be eager to help you through every step of the job search process. This will include deciding what you want to do, writing a resume and cover letter, and then finding the perfect job. Most career offices will afford you with personal career advising, job and internship listings, employment programs, career resources and other services available for both students and alumni. If you're not affiliated with a college or university you may find similar help offered by your state's Department of Labor.
如果你是个大学生或毕业生，你找工作的第一步应该是拜访，打电话或发电邮给你学校的职业指导办公室。那里的员工会很热心的指导你求职中的每个步骤。其中包括决定自己想从事什么样的职业，写简历，求职信，然后找到一份完美的工作。很多职业指导办公室会给大学毕业生提供个人职业建议，工作和实习工作列表，就业计划，职业资源，以及其他相关方面的服务。如果你不是大学生，你也可以在当地的劳务局得到相类似的帮助。

Top Employers for Grads
招聘毕业生的世界级雇主

As noted, the first step in the actual job search process is to discover what is you want to do. It's interesting to note that the top hundred employers projected to hire this year's graduating seniors, as surveyed by The Black Collegian, include The New England Center for Children and Eckerd Youth Alternatives in addition to the companies like Price Waterhouse Coopers, Accenture and Microsoft, you would expect to see on the list. The Peace Corps is still recruiting volunteers, well past their traditional hiring deadline and other international organizations like Hess Language School are still seeking candidates interested in spending some time abroad. There are plenty of online resources, like Vault.com and Wetfeet.com where you can research industries and companies. Be sure to consider all the options that even remotely interest you.
如前所述，在实际找工作的时候第一步都是要想好自己想要做什么样的工作。根据The Black Collegian的调查，有趣的是，世界100强公司的老板都预计可能会雇佣今年的毕业生，这些公司包括，新英格兰少年和儿童中心，普华大华会计师事务所，埃森哲咨询公司以及微软公司，不久你会看到这份调查名单。美国的和平志愿者团体仍在招募志愿者，招聘截止日期也远远超过了其过去的招聘期限。其他的国际集团比如Hess Language School仍然在招募对大部分时间去海外出差感兴趣的员工。有很多网站资源，你可以在那里搜索行业以及公司。一定要考虑所有的可能性，即使是那些你不是很感兴趣的工作也要考虑。

Start a Job Search
开始求职

The next step is to get going on a job search. According to a recent survey conducted by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) employers predict indicates that hiring of college graduates in this year will increase by 13.1 from last year. Employers canvassed in the survey stated they will be seeking candidates from a variety of majors including liberal arts in additional to the more technical academic majors. They will be looking for people with interpersonal communication skills and leadership potential. Employers will also be focusing on candidates with the ability to work and excel in a team-focused environment.
接下来就要开始找工作了。根据NACE最近的调查显示，预计今年雇佣的大学毕业生人数将比去年增长13.1%。参加调查的雇主说他们不仅要雇用更多的理科生，还要雇佣文科生。他们要找到擅长人际沟通以及有领导潜能的员工。另外，雇主还将重点招聘那些有能力将工作做好，以及能够在以团队合作为重点的工作环境中表现优秀的人。

Starting a New Career
开始一个新工作

Remember, too, that it is never too late to begin a new career. Many students will take a year or so off after college before looking for a "real" job. There are plenty of stay-at-home moms who wait to enter the workforce until their kids are grown. And don't forget mid-life career changers and retirees who start a second or third career in their later years!
记住，开始一个新的职业生涯永远都不迟。很多学生在找到真正适合自己的工作前都会花上一两年的时间。有很多的居家妈妈一直等到他们的孩子长大后才重新进入职场呢。并且，不要忘记了，也有很多中年跳槽职员或歇业者在他们的晚年又重新开始人生的第二、第三职业。