身为世范:英语之时尚在于成就人生

英语之时尚在于成就人生

 

I grew up with English and it proved to be an important part of my life, providing opportunity and allowing my career path to mature. Here is what I would love to share with all of you.

I was born and raised in the countryside where I lived until I graduated from middle school, at which point I left to pursue further studies in the field of medicine. I then found that I had more free time in the university and it was quite thrilling to make the most of it. I was advised by my friends to take up English, computers, and driving, which were regarded at that time to be the essential skills for the coming century. However, I was never really fond of computers, and I knew if I had any trouble in this area, my friend, a computer buff, could always prove to be a reliable resource. As for driving, that never really appealed to me. My brother on the other hand loved driving fast cars and always found great pleasure in overtaking other vehicles on the road. So, needless to say, I chose English since English and Chinese had always been my favorite subjects from the time when I was able to read and write.

Every day I spent at least 4 hours ruminating about English and soon it became a real passion of mine. As I slowly developed a reverence for life, I gradually entered into a spiritual relationship with the world. My adoration towards the complexity of civilizations challenged me to pick up more than seven languages, and it was fulfilling to compare different cultures with my own insight.

In 1997, after working in a hospital for 4 years, I had finally proven my mastery of the English language by earning the top score in the National Examination, which entitled me to work for the Foreign Ministry as a diplomat. I felt genuinely content to say goodbye to my medical career, and was very eager to enter a completely new atmosphere. As I was traveling by train from Manchester to Edinburgh, the beauty of the autumn countryside, as depicted by Keats in one of his poems, moved me to tears. Edinburgh was so stunningly beautiful that at any point in any direction of the city you could enjoy a perfect scene. Chinese cities in contrast are often sprawling with the eyesores of large structural governmental works rather than the grandeur of artistic creation. Moreover, in China, housing has lost its essential functions of accommodating people and beautifying the city, and now is manipulated by the Government to generate money in an indecent way.

Throughout all my diplomatic experience, I was enriched by the beauty of the English language and people. I have found these people not to be indifferent, but rather inspired with enthusiasm and the desire to help others. I once took a weekend course on Shakespeare at Oxford University, where the professors deeply impressed me with their views, points and diligence. After coming back to China in 2005, I came across a book in the bookstore and randomly read an article. It was Lu Xun's 藤野先生，which was to me a real tearjerker. I couldn't stop the tears from falling as I read. Yes, it is true, a real teacher should be unselfish and undaunted, just like what I found in Britain and many other countries. Was it because of their generosity, confidence, and civilized behavior, or merely a matter of ignorance and simple-mindedness that made them this way? When thinking of these last two negative words, ignorance and simple-mindedness, I suddenly discovered a narrowness of mind hidden within myself.

Now, I am devoted to teaching English. What I give is simple: to help students build their confidence and have fun learning the language. I have innovated some effective theories, tips and techniques to enlighten enthusiastic and energetic individuals. You are the only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling life and a successful career. Just be an active speaker and involve yourself in English activities as often as possible. Once equipped with a good mastery of it, you will be able to develop a new attitude for yourself, create a new path for your life, and open a new window to the world!