疯狂英语拿手好戏十六：演讲专家超越自我

Well, I almost had a heart attack〖心脏病发作；心脏麻痹〗a few moments ago, when I was asked to speak in English. I guess I didn't have one, fortunately, because I am still standing¹ here firmly on my feet〖仍好端端地站在这里〗.

From childhood, I have been a poor student of foreign languages〖从小我的外语就不好〗. Throughout my education〖学生时代〗, I have been exposed to〖接触〗languages such as English, Spanish, and French, but I flunked³ all these classes. But through my experience in business at home and abroad〖国内外〗I have learned the most important language by meeting a wide range of people from different cultures. It's the language of human relationship that is based on trust, openness, and under standing〖这就是基于信任、开放和理解的人际关系的语言〗. This universal language〖这种世界性的语言〗has always brought people of different cultures close together〖将不同文化的人们紧密地结合在一起〗. And I believe it is through this language of human relationship that our company has grown into what it is today〖达到它今日的成长/发展到今日的规模〗.

I want to thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak to you. And next time, please ask me in advance to make a speech. (我要感谢大家给我一个机会向各位讲话/和各位交流。不过，下一次请事先通知我一声要作演讲喔/下一次可别再给我来个突然袭击喔！)

1. be exposed to: 暴露；(比喻)遇到；接触

2. flunk²: 失败；(使)不及格

She flunked her English examination.

The teacher flunked him in geography. (老师给他的地理打不及格。)

下面是一段非常实用的"表示谦虚"的开场白：

It is generally believed that Chinese are poor public speakers, especially when it comes to speaking in English, and fortunately or unfortunately, I am no exception to that rule.

一般人认为中国人是不擅长公众演讲，特别是要用英文来演说。不知是有幸还是不幸，对于这项通则我也不例外。