Helen: Hello. This is Real English from BBC Learning¹ English. I’m Helen.

Liu Jia: 大家好，欢迎收听今天的地道英语，我是刘佳。

Helen: Today we’re going to look at words and phrases that have recently become part of the English language.

Liu Jia: Helen, 今天咱们要学的新词是什么呢？

Helen: Today’s expression is IT. That’s two letters, I and T.

Liu Jia: 我想这个词对我们来说并不陌生，Helen 先来告诉我们它的英文解释吧。

Helen: Well, IT is short for information technology. It means computers, systems, software etc.

Liu Jia: 没错， 这个词就是信息 information 和技术 technology 两个单词的缩写。能给我们举个例子来说说吗？Helen.

Helen: Well, you might say, "I studied IT at university, and then went to work for a big software house."

Liu Jia: 明白了。

Example

A: Bill, I hear that you are a director?

B: Yes, I’ve got my own IT company. We have a small team who help companies to set up and maintain² their computer systems.

Liu Jia: 听上去不错，这个人有一个自己的公司，而且做的都是电脑的生意。

Helen: So, do you really understand IT? You know what computers are all about?

Liu Jia: Not really.

Helen: Me neither. That’s why I’m talking to you today! If I had studied IT, I would probably be sitting in an office looking at a computer right now!

Liu Jia: Of course! But you could be making lots of money.

Helen: That’s true. IT consultants³ are paid a fortune to fix computers.

Liu Jia: Why?

Helen: Well, every company uses computers and however wonderful they are, they do break down.

Liu Jia: IT, 是个现在很时髦的词，就是信息技术。

Helen: I’m afraid that’s all we have time for. You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us again soon. Bye.

Liu Jia: 下次节目再见。