A:I don't know what I'm going to do.I need to find a job. If I don't, I won't be able to stay here next semester. 我不知道如何是好。我需要找一个工作。如果我找不到,下个学期就没有办法留在这里。
B:Have you tried university part-time jobs? 你试过大学的兼职工作吗?
A:What do you mean? 你的意思是?
B:I mean in the library, or in some information center.Often the university hires foreign students for part-time positions. 我的意思是图书馆或者一些资讯中心。通常大学都会雇用外国的学生来做兼职的工作。
A:Yes, I know. I tried that.They don't have anything now. So what can I do? 是,我知道。我试过。他们现在没有任何工作。所以,我该怎么办呢?
B:Well, since you're a foreign student, it's hard.That's because it's actually illegal for you to work in America. 嗯,你身为一个外国学生,是蛮难的。那是因为你在美国工作是非法的。
A:I know that. You don't have to tell me that. That's my problem.I know I have the right to work for the university. That's legal.But they don't have a job for me. And it's illegal for me to get a job elsewhere. 我知道。你不必告诉我那些,那是我的问题。我知道我有权利在大学里工作,那是合法的。但是他们没有工作给我。对我来说在别的地方工作又是非法的。
B:Anyway, there must be some solution.You know there are many people working illegally in New York. 无论如何,那一定有一个解决之道。你知道有很多人非法在纽约工作。
A:But I need a pretty decent job.I need to make enough to pay my rent at least. 但我需要一个比较正式的工作。我需要赚足够的钱,至少能付我的房租。
B:I have an idea. 我有一个主意。
A:What? 是什么?
B:Since you're Chinese, maybe you can find part-time work in Chinatown. 你身为一个中国人,或许你可以在中国城找到一个兼职工作。
A:I already had that idea. 我已经想过了。
B:Well, why don't you go and look down there? 嗯,你为什么不去看看呢?
A:But I don't know what I would do. 但我不知道我能做些什么。
B:It may be part-time work as a waitress or something.It would be illegal, but sometimes waitresses make a good salary. 或许有兼职的工作像是服务生或其他的机会。虽然是非法,但有些时候服务生可以拿到不错的薪水。
A:Maybe. I don't know. 或许吧。我不知道。
B:I will ask my friends for you.Maybe someone knows a company that needs part-time people.That's another thing you should do. Ask all your friends to ask around for you.You might find something. 我会替你问我的朋友。或许会有人知道哪一家公司需要兼职的人员。你还需要做一件事。请你的朋友帮你打听。你或许会找到事情做。
A:I have to find something.Otherwise I have to go back to Taiwan. I'll be broke in two months. 我一定要找工作做。不然我就必须要回台湾。我会在两个月内破产。
注释:
part-time 短时间的,兼职的
position 位置,方位
illegal 非法的,不合法的
更多情景口语