《中英對照讀新聞》Yale University to post courses on Web for free 耶魯大學推出網路免費課程

◎鄭曉蘭

Yale University said it will offer digital videos of some courses on the Internet for free, along with transcripts in several languages, in an effort to make the elite private school more accessible.

耶魯大學指出，將免費在網路上提供部分課程的數位影片與數種語言的文字紀錄，以期讓這所精英私校更為可及。

While Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and others already offer course material online without charge, Yale is the first to focus on free video lectures, the New Haven, Connecticut-based school said.

這所位於康乃狄克州紐哈芬市的學府表示，雖然普林斯頓大學、麻省理工學院與其他學校也已經免費提供線上課程資料，耶魯則是第一所聚焦於免費影片教學的學校。

The 18-month pilot project will provide videos, syllabi and transcripts for seven courses beginning in the 2007 academic year. They include "Introduction to the Old Testament," "Fundamentals of Physics" and "Introduction to Political Philosophy." The courses cannot be counted toward a Yale degree, and educators say they are no substitute for actual teaching.

這項長達18個月的試驗計畫將從2007學年度開始，提供7個科目的錄影、課程大綱與文字紀錄。它們包括「舊約導論」、「物理學的基礎」與「政治哲學導論」。這些課程不能計入耶魯學位的學分，而且教師說，它們不能替代實際教學。

Students at Yale -- one of the nation's most exclusive schools and the alma mater of U.S. President George W. Bush -- can be expected to spend nearly $46,000 for this year's tuition, room and board.

耶魯是全美最高學府之一，也是現任美國總統布希的母校。耶魯的學生今年的學費與食宿費用合計近4萬6000美元。

新聞辭典

syllabi︰syllabus的複數，指教學大綱、課程大綱。

alma mater︰（片語）母校、校歌。

room and board︰（片語）食宿；board在這裡指伙食。We will provide room and board for them.我們將提供他們食宿。