On this page we provide a translation of the listening transcripts from New Practical Chinese Reader lesson 40. This lesson forms part of book 4 of the NPCR series.
New Practical Chinese Reader Lesson 40 – Track 1
0.26 Some people suggest that after a woman has got married, particularly after children, they should become a full time housewife. This is because they need to look after the children, and do the housework. Do you have any views regarding this question?
0.45 It was likely a man who came up with this idea? Women have gone through how many centuries of effort to get out of the home and gain the right to work. And we bringing the saying ‘women hold up half the sky’ into reality. This is social progress; should we go back to the kitchen?
1.13 This is not just one man’s perspective, there are plenty of housewives who also think in this way. They all understand that in practically all city families both the father and mother go out to work every day. They have no time to bring up their children. Therefore the mother won’t won’t know what’s in their child’s heart. But if the mother stays at home she will be able to resolve any problems well.
1.52 I think raising a child and housework aren’t only the duties of women. They are also men’s responsibilities. Men and women should be equal, if you want to stay at home and take care of the child then you should do it. If you want to go out to work you should do it.
2.10 What will we do if everyone wants to stay at home to look after the children and don’t want to go to work?
2.18 That is not possible. It can’t be that no one will want to go out to work.
2.25 There are still people who think China’s population is too high and finding a job is very difficult. But if women were too stay at home it would be easier to resolve this problem.
2.37 In order to solve the unemployment problem, women have to stay at home? That is not fair. I think first of all, before we solve the problem of unemployment, we need to resolve the issues of imbalance between men and women. For example, some jobs men and women can both do, but there are other places of employment that want men and don’t want women. I think that is completely wrong.
3.04 So you don’t think there are some jobs that are more suited to men?
3.06 Of course there are, but there are also jobs that women do better than men. The most important thing is that men and women compete for job opportunities on a level playing field.
3.20 Lastly, we can’t speak without discussing this question Chen laoshi: What will solve the problem of fairness for men and women?
3.30 When from every angle, men and women enjoy the same opportunities, men and women will then be equal.
3.40 Thank you for giving me the interview.
3.45 You’re welcome.
New Practical Chinese Reader lesson 40 Listening task 2
The second listening task in lesson 40 in book 4 of New Practical Chinese Reader takes the form of a lecture with the following title:
7.51 All of you teachers, all of you colleagues, I am delighted to have the opportunity to talk to you about the problem of Chinese women’s position in society. This is a very big problem, but I would like to keep it simple by talking about just four aspects of this problem.
Aspect 1
8.11 Firstly, I’d like to talk about women’s status in Chinese society. Chinese people often say that women hold up half of the sky. What is the meaning of ‘half the sky’? It is that women shoulder half the burden of work in society. Women have contributed as much as men towards the country’s progress and development. They make up about 40% of China’s total workforce. Currently China has a female vice-premier, female diplomats, female managers. It also has female scientists, female professors, female artists, poets.
9.02 It is commonly said that there is no work men can do that women can’t do. There are also jobs, for example textile worker and nurse, that are practically all done by women. Also more women than men do middle and elementary school teaching and foreign language teaching jobs at universities. Everyone knows