Paul & Annette: This week, Paul (from Brisbane, Australia) and Annette (from Toulouse, France) tell us about their friendship on different sides of the world.
本周，来自澳大利亚布里斯班的保罗和来自法国图卢兹的安妮特向我们讲述了他们身处世界两端的友谊。
When and how did your friendship start?
Paul: Fifteen years ago! We were both fourteen. My school in Australia and her school in France started a virtual exchange programme for people to write to each other over the internet.
Annette: I wanted to improve my English and he wanted to improve his French, so we contacted each other.
Paul: Fifteen years ago! We were both fourteen. My school in Australia and her school in France started a virtual exchange programme for people to write to each other over the internet.
Annette: I wanted to improve my English and he wanted to improve his French, so we contacted each other.
你们的友谊是什么时候以及如何开始的？
保罗：十五年前！我们都十四岁。我在澳大利亚的学校和她在法国的学校启动了一个虚拟交换项目，让人们通过互联网互相写信。
安妮特：我想提高我的英语，他想提高他的法语，所以我们联系了对方。
保罗：十五年前！我们都十四岁。我在澳大利亚的学校和她在法国的学校启动了一个虚拟交换项目，让人们通过互联网互相写信。
安妮特：我想提高我的英语，他想提高他的法语，所以我们联系了对方。
Did you become friends immediately?
Annette: Not really. I thought he was OK but not special. He made lots of mistakes in his French! Haha.
Paul: We corrected each other’s mistakes. But I made more than her! She corrected everything, too!
Annette: Paul always helped me to improve my English, but you know, after a few months, we stopped worrying about writing in perfect English or French and just wrote to each other and talked about ourselves. I began to see that he was a very nice guy, easy-going and cheerful.
Annette: Not really. I thought he was OK but not special. He made lots of mistakes in his French! Haha.
Paul: We corrected each other’s mistakes. But I made more than her! She corrected everything, too!
Annette: Paul always helped me to improve my English, but you know, after a few months, we stopped worrying about writing in perfect English or French and just wrote to each other and talked about ourselves. I began to see that he was a very nice guy, easy-going and cheerful.
你们立刻就成为朋友了吗？
安妮特：其实没有。我觉得他还行，但并不特别。他的法语错误百出！哈哈。
保罗：我们互相纠正错误。但我犯的错比她多！她也纠正了一切！
安妮特：保罗总是帮我提高英语，但你知道，几个月后，我们不再担心用完美的英语或法语写作，只是互相写信，聊聊自己。我开始发现他是个很好的人，随和又开朗。
安妮特：其实没有。我觉得他还行，但并不特别。他的法语错误百出！哈哈。
保罗：我们互相纠正错误。但我犯的错比她多！她也纠正了一切！
安妮特：保罗总是帮我提高英语，但你知道，几个月后，我们不再担心用完美的英语或法语写作，只是互相写信，聊聊自己。我开始发现他是个很好的人，随和又开朗。
Did you feel the same way, Paul?
Paul: Yes, I did. She often made jokes that made me laugh. She’s really funny.
Annette: And we saw that we had a lot of things in common – books we liked, films we liked, things like that. He’s also very intelligent.
Paul: Yes, I did. She often made jokes that made me laugh. She’s really funny.
Annette: And we saw that we had a lot of things in common – books we liked, films we liked, things like that. He’s also very intelligent.
保罗，你也有同感吗？
保罗：是的。她经常讲笑话逗我笑。她真的很有趣。
安妮特：而且我们发现我们有很多共同点——喜欢的书，喜欢的电影等等。他也非常聪明。
保罗：是的。她经常讲笑话逗我笑。她真的很有趣。
安妮特：而且我们发现我们有很多共同点——喜欢的书，喜欢的电影等等。他也非常聪明。
So, when did you actually meet face-to-face?
Annette: Last year. We met in Singapore.
Paul: That’s right. We wanted to meet up, but it’s a long way and the plane tickets are expensive. So we decided to meet halfway. We had a really great time together for about five days.
Annette: Last year. We met in Singapore.
Paul: That’s right. We wanted to meet up, but it’s a long way and the plane tickets are expensive. So we decided to meet halfway. We had a really great time together for about five days.
那么，你们实际见面是什么时候？
安妮特：去年。我们在新加坡见面。
保罗：没错。我们想见面，但距离遥远，机票昂贵。所以我们决定在中间地点见面。我们一起度过了大约五天非常美好的时光。
安妮特：去年。我们在新加坡见面。
保罗：没错。我们想见面，但距离遥远，机票昂贵。所以我们决定在中间地点见面。我们一起度过了大约五天非常美好的时光。
Which language did you speak?
Paul: Haha! Good question. English, almost all the time. Her English is really good!
Annette: He’s just being kind! But yes, we had a great time. I think we’re going to be friends for life. I hope we can meet up again soon.
Paul: Haha! Good question. English, almost all the time. Her English is really good!
Annette: He’s just being kind! But yes, we had a great time. I think we’re going to be friends for life. I hope we can meet up again soon.
你们说什么语言？
保罗：哈哈！好问题。几乎全程英语。她的英语非常好！
安妮特：他太客气了！但没错，我们玩得很开心。我想我们会是一生的朋友。希望我们能很快再见面。
保罗：哈哈！好问题。几乎全程英语。她的英语非常好！
安妮特：他太客气了！但没错，我们玩得很开心。我想我们会是一生的朋友。希望我们能很快再见面。
课文原声录音 (Pen-pals-for-years.mp3)
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