市場調研機構 YouGov 替 BBC 體育電臺做了一份就男性是否跳舞的調查。在參加調查的一千名男性中，有超過三成的男性說他們幾乎從來沒有跳過舞。導致這一現象的原因到底是男性不會跳舞，還是他們不想跳舞？本集《隨身英語》探討男性不跳舞背后可能存在的原因及鼓勵男性重歸舞池的方法。

課文內容

Vocabulary: dancing 詞匯: 跳舞

Are men able to dance? Well, if I am an example, then no – I have two left feet and taking to the dance floor just fills me with dread. But of course, we know that most of us have the potential to throw some shapes, so what is it that's stopping us?

If you've ever watched glamorous and glitzy dance shows on TV, like the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, you'll know that there are men who have great dexterity and fancy footwork on the dancefloor. These professional dancers have spent years learning and performing ballroom dances such as the waltz, foxtrot and tango.

But for a majority of us men, we still prefer to spectate rather than participate. And according to a survey commissioned by BBC Radio 5 live, over three quarters of British men have never or rarely danced. It found that over a third of men surveyed wouldn't strut their stuff, let alone perform a paso doble, on the dancefloor because they were too embarrassed. And ten per cent said what put them off was fear of being the centre of attention, being made fun of, or being judged.

Women may say we have to get a grip, get on our feet and just let ourselves go! Easier said than done. But what helps is a crowded dancefloor where there is safety in numbers. And according to the survey, many men need a drink. One man questioned said, "I don't think I'm very good at it and therefore need some Dutch courage to get me on the floor."

One place where the alcohol is flowing is usually at a wedding, so, maybe unsurprisingly, the BBC survey found that 75% of men had previously danced at one. These are also the situations where partners of boyfriends and husbands can persuade them to move to the groove of the music! However, this is the time to witness some 'dad dancing' which is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as: "An awkward, unfashionable, or unrestrained style of dancing to pop music, as characteristically performed by middle-aged or older men." Surely that's not me!

So let's face it, us men just need help. We need training, we need to practise and we need to lose our inhibitions. One convert, Gareth Dew, who took part in the survey, says, "I think to be able to dance you need to be able to let loose, be aware of your body and generally be more comfortable in yourself." Would you agree?  

詞匯表

two left feet “兩只左腳”，跳舞時舞步笨拙
dance floor 舞池
throw some shapes 跳舞
glitzy 耀眼奪目的
dexterity 敏捷度，嫻熟性
footwork 步法，腳步動作
waltz 華爾茲舞
foxtrot 狐步舞
tango 探戈舞
spectate 觀看
strut one’s stuff（為引起他人注意）夸張、賣弄地跳舞
paso doble 斗牛舞
centre of attention 矚目的焦點
get a grip 放下負擔，試著去跳舞
safety in numbers 人多保險
Dutch courage 酒膽，酒后之勇
move to the groove 跳舞
dad dancing “爸爸式舞姿”（較笨拙、過時的舞步）
unrestrained 不受限制的
inhibition 拘束，顧慮
convert 行為已經轉變的人
let loose 放松

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What type of place are dances like the waltz and foxtrot often performed in?

2. According to the BBC survey, what is the biggest reason why men won't dance?

3. True or false? Men think dancing on a crowded dancefloor is dangerous.

4. What can help give men the courage to start dancing?

5. Which term used in the article refers to a period in your life when you are no longer young but are not yet old?

2. 請在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。

1. Claudette has a bad foot so couldn't take part in the swimming gala so she had to ______ instead.

get a grip       let loose       spectate       convert

2. My son is very shy at school and hates being the ______.

centre of attention       centre and attention       central attention       centred attention

3. After a couple of drinks she lost her ______ and started talking and laughing loudly.

Dutch courage       two left feet       dexterity       inhibitions

4. I was invited to a very ______ showbiz party, where I met loads of celebrities!

unrestrained       glitzy       convert       paso doble

5. I tried ballroom dancing lessons but to be honest I've got ______ so I gave up.

two right feet       two feet left       two left feet       feet and two                       

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What type of place are dances like the waltz and foxtrot often performed in?
A ballroom.

2. According to the BBC survey, what is the biggest reason why men won't dance?
A third of men surveyed said they were too embarrassed.

3. True or false? Men think dancing on a crowded dancefloor is dangerous.
False.  Men like to dance on a crowded dancefloor because their bad dancing cannot be seen as easily – it is 'safety in numbers'.

4. What can help give men the courage to start dancing?
An alcoholic drink – it gives them 'Dutch courage'.

5. Which term used in the article refers to a period in your life when you are no longer young but are not yet old?
Middle-aged.

2. 請在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。

1. Claudette has a bad foot so couldn't take part in the swimming gala so she had to spectate instead.

2. My son is very shy at school and hates being the centre of attention.

3. After a couple of drinks she lost her inhibitions and started talking and laughing loudly.

4. I was invited to a very glitzy showbiz party, where I met loads of celebrities!

5. I tried ballroom dancing lessons but to be honest I've got two left feet so I gave up.