This is the VOA Learning English Education Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语教育报道。

The oil industry is growing fast in the American States of North Dakota and Montana. Removing oil from the ground has made a lot of money for the area and provided many jobs. The industry also has brought thousands of people to rural towns that once has small populations. Williston, North Dakota is a good example.

石油产业在美国的北达科他州和蒙大拿州得到了迅猛发展。从地下开采石油给该地区带来了大量财富，也提供了大量就业机会。该产业还给曾经人口稀少的偏远小镇带来了成千上万的人口。北达科他州的威利斯顿就是个很好的例子。

The United States Census Bureau says the Williston area was the fastest growing place of its size and description from July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2012. It said the population growth was 9.3 percent. Adding many people means increased demand for roads, emergency services and other systems, like electricity, heating and water. And more children attending schools can mean crowding in the community’s classrooms.

美国人口调查局表示，2011年7月1日到2012年7月1日的威利斯顿地区是规模和名声发展最快的地方。该局表示，该地区当时的人口增长率为9.3%。涌进大量人口意味着对道路、应急服务机构和供电、供热和供水等其它系统的需求增加。同时更多孩子上学意味着该社区的教室人满为患。

John Monger was born and raised in Williston. He is taught at the city’s Hagan elementary school for 24 years. For the last three years he is taught in a temporary structure called a trailer, the classrooms are smaller than usual. He started the year with 16 students. Now Mr. Monger has 18 in the small space.

约翰·蒙格（John Monger）在威利斯顿出生和长大。他在这座城市的哈根小学任教了24年。在最后的3年里，他在一所被称为工作室的临时性建筑里教学，这些教室都小于平常。最开始的一年他有16名学生。现在蒙格在这个小教室里有18名学生。

Viola LaFontaine is the leader of Williston public schools, that area of schools is the smallest in North Dakota, but it is also growing the fastest. She says the schools increased their population by more than 1000 students during the past four to five years. The majority are elementary school children. In addition, she says the students come from all over the world.

维尔拉·拉方丹（Viola LaFontaine）是威利斯顿公立学校的负责人。该学区在北达科他州最小，却发展最快。她说，在过去四、五年间，这些学校增加了1000多名学生。其中多数是小学生。此外她还表示，这些学生来自世界各地。

"I believe its seven different languages that we have spoken in school now. A majority are Spanish, but we have Cantonese, we have French," LaFontaine said.

拉方丹：“我觉得大家在学校里说7种不同的语言。主要是西班牙语，但也有人说广东话和法语。”

Ms LaFontaine says it’s difficult to deal with the continuing changes in student population.

拉方丹表示，应对学生人数不断变化非常难。

"The greatest challenge is the students coming in and out and throughout the entire school year, which something different as well as students leaving throughout the entire school year," LaFontaine said.

拉方丹：“最大的挑战是整个学年里，学生们一直在进进出出，这有点不同寻常。除此之外，整个学年都有学生离开。”

The official says it is also hard to hire qualified teachers and to pay for larger and more modern schools. She notes that the state is receiving a lot of money from oil. She has asked the North Dakota government for education assistance.

这位官员表示，聘请合格教师以及修建更大更现代的学校也很困难。她指出，该州从石油中获取了巨大财富，她已经要求北达科他州政府提供教育援助。

"North Dakota’s always been conservative. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. But now that you’ve got ample resources, let us have some of it. Whether it’s grants or loans or preferably grants that you could use to really support your schools," LaFontaine said.

拉方丹：“北达科他州一直很保守，我不认为这是一件坏事。但现在州政府有了充足的资源，就给我们一点吧。无论是捐赠或是贷款，当然最好是捐赠，都能用于支持我们的学校。”

Voters in Williston District 1 recently approved a measure to build a new high school. The measure will increase property taxes. But education activists say Williston’s taxes are less than those in similar North Dakota communities.

威利斯顿1号选区的选民最近通过一项措施以建立一所新的高中。该措施将提高房产税。但教育活动人士表示，威利斯顿的税负要低于北达科他州的同类社区。

And that’s the Education Report from VOA Learning English. You can listen to our reports at our website or download them. You can follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and on our YouTube Channel, all at VOA Learning English. I’m Jerilyn Watson.