耶鲁大学本周三宣布，为了让更多人享受这座精英大学所提供的服务，耶鲁将在互联网上免费提供一些课程的数字视频，以及几种语言的字幕。这是美国第一家提供免费视频课程的私立大学。从2007学年开始，为期18个月的先期项目将提供7种课程的视频、教学大纲以及字幕。其中包括“旧约导论”、“基本物理学”以及“政治哲学导论”等等。参加网上学习的人不能取得耶鲁颁发的学位。耶鲁大学的负责人表示：“这一计划将给那些无法亲临耶鲁的人们提供一个很好的学习机会。”

Yale University said on Wednesday 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.  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. 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. 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. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to share a vital and central part of the Yale experience with those who, for whatever reason, are not in a position to pursue a Yale education at first hand," Yale President Richard Levin said in a written statement. The project is funded by a $755,000 grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. (Agencies)

Vocabulary:

transcript: 录音带的文字本，报道中指“字幕” pilot project: 先期项目 syllabi: 教学大纲 alma mater: 母校 （英语点津陈蓓编辑）