Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- brush up on (something) / brʌʃ ʌp ɒn / (idiom) – to review or practice something you learned before but haven't used in a while
Example:Josh is brushing up on his Spanish for his trip to Mexico.
- proficiently / prəˈfɪʃ ənt li / (adv.) – in a way that shows skill or ability from learning and practice
Example:After years of studying, she now speaks English proficiently and can join business meetings with confidence.
- instructional / ɪnˈstrʌk ʃən əl / (adj.) – giving information; teaching how to do something
Example:We watched an instructional film in class that showed how to stay safe during an earthquake.
- at the end of the day / æt ði ɛnd ʌv ðə deɪ / (idiom) – used to show the most important fact or final opinion of a situation after thinking about it carefully
Example:You can ask others for advice, but at the end of the day, the decision is yours.
- interpretation / ɪnˌtɜr prɪˈteɪ ʃən / (n.) – the way someone understands or explains the meaning of something
Example:Everyone had a different interpretation of the movie ending, so we talked about what it really meant.
Article
Read the text below.
Brushing up on English has taken on new urgency for future and current truck drivers after President Donald Trump issued an executive order saying truckers who don’t read and speak the language proficiently would be considered unfit for service.
“A driver who can’t understand English will not drive a commercial vehicle in this country. Period,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in May while announcing enforcement guidelines that took effect in June.
Updated U.S. Department of Transportation procedures call for enhanced inspections to determine if commercial motor vehicle operators can reply to questions and directions in English, as well as understand highway traffic signs and electronic message boards.
Truckers who learned English as a second language are concerned they may lose their jobs if they make a mistake or speak with a heavy accent while under questioning. Some have worked to improve their English fluency by taking classes, reciting scripts and watching instructional videos.
“If it’s not the language that you prefer to use daily, you may get a little nervous and you may feel, ‘What if I say the wrong thing?’” said Jerry Maldonado, chairman of the board of the Laredo Motor Carriers Association, a trade association in Laredo, Texas, that represents approximately 200 trucking companies. “It’s going to be, at the end of the day, the interpretation of the officer, so that makes people nervous.”
Requiring truck drivers to speak and read English isn’t new, but the penalty for not meeting the proficiency standard is becoming more severe.
To get a commercial driver’s license, applicants must pass a written test and be able to name the parts of a bus or truck in English as they check tire inflation, tread depth, lug nuts and coolants.
The revised policy reverses guidance issued nine years ago, near the end of then-President Barack Obama’s final term, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In 2016, the agency said drivers whose English skills were found lacking could receive a citation but not be prohibited from working. Before that, the penalty was getting placed on “out-of-service status.”
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- New rules in the U.S. say truck drivers must speak and read English well to do their job. Why do you think it’s important for drivers to be proficient in English? What might happen if they’re not? For what kinds of jobs do you think strong English skills are absolutely necessary? Why? Discuss.
- Some truck drivers who learned English as a second language worry they might lose their jobs if they make a mistake or have an accent. Do you think it’s fair for someone to lose a job because of their accent or small language mistakes? Why or why not? Do you think accents should be a factor when judging someone’s language ability for a job? Why do you say so? Discuss.
Discussion B
- The order says drivers must be “proficient” in English. What does “proficient” mean to you when it comes to speaking a language? In your opinion, is it more important to speak perfect English or is it enough to be understood clearly? Why? Discuss.
- Truckers are now taking English classes, practicing, and watching videos to improve their language skills for their jobs. What methods do you think are most effective for learning a language quickly for a specific purpose, like a job (ex. expose yourself to the environment, study language books)? As someone learning English, what advice would you give to other learners to help them speak more confidently and avoid feeling nervous? Discuss.
