Dialogue：

A: Hello, Henry. Say, how are your French lessons coming along?

你好，亨利。说说看，你的法语学得怎么样啦？

B: Well, to be honest, I still haven't made much progress. But the French test is approaching.

噢，老实说，我没有多大进步，可是法语就要考试了。

A: Don't be discouraged. Keep plugging away, and I think you'll eventually make a progress.

别泄气，不要灰心，我想你会有进步的。

B: I suppose I do.

我也应该这样想。

一， 词海拾贝

plug away

e.g. To continue trying or working diligently (at something). （坚持不懈，顽强地致力于）

usage：表述“坚持不懈做某事”“顽强地致力于某事”，在短语后面用介词at，即：pluck away at。它也可和keep连用，表示这个意思，即：keep plugging away。

e.g. I'm really not very good at math, but I've got to keep plugging away if I want to get into an engineering program.

我的数学真的很差劲，但是如果我想参与一个工程项目，我必须要坚持不懈地努力学好数学。

e.g. John's been plugging away at the new project, but I don't think he's enjoying it very much.

约翰一直在埋头苦干那个新项目，但我认为他不太喜欢。

e.g. John kept plugging away at the trumpet until he became pretty good at it.

约翰一直在孜孜不倦地吹喇叭，直到他吹得相当好为止。

二， 语汇积累

1. to be honest：说实话，老实说

e.g. Let me be honest with you——I don't think we have a chance of winning.

我和你说实话吧——我认为我没有获胜的可能。

e.g. To be honest, we used to spin our work out and try to kill time in the old society.

老实说，在过去的旧社会，我们做起事来是磨洋工。

2. make a progess：取得进步，取得进展

e.g. The government is making a big progess in keeping Beijing green.

北京政府在城市绿化中取得很大的进步。

e.g. I 'll expect to hear that you make a progress in your study .

我期望听到你学习取得进步的消息。

3. come along ：进展，进步

e.g. How are the preparations for the meeting coming along?

会议的准备工作进行得怎样了？

e.g. How are you coming along with the plans for your factory buildings?

你们厂房设计图搞得怎么样了？

e.g. How are the skirts coming along? You said that we'd have them next month.

裙子的情况如何呢？你说过我们下个月可取货。