Topic: How I Fell in Love with English (1) @枫下论坛 The Rolia Forum

工作学习 / 外语学习 / How I Fell in Love with English (1) -eric_2003(Wine Expert); 2012-1-22 {2353} (#7229027@0)
本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛I started to learn English at grade 5 in primary school. I did not know why we had to learn it and I did not want to know and I did not like it at all.

My English teacher was a middle-aged woman who had a strong local accent, but we had no idea what real English should sound like. Every other morning, we were forced to read along with her in a ridiculously dragged tone, like half-hearted singing of monks in a temple “Dis is a d...og, dat is a c...at...” However, that was not the worst part, due to my lack of interest in English, the morning reading exercise had never failed to put me into sleep. To look like I was reading, I stood my English book on the desk so I could hide my head behind it while I was dozing off- a little trick all slackers in school knew how to pull off. Then I quickly learned that was a bad idea. One day, without any warning, I was hit by something that shocked me out of my dream and followed by a boisterous laughter from the whole class. Then I realized I was just hit by a half chalk! My English teacher stared at me briefly and then resumed her rhythmic reading. The look on my face must be very funny, because it took a long time for the class to settle down.

I played this cat and rat game with my English teacher for the rest of summer. She had been getting better and better at throwing chalks. I never saw it coming, everything happened so fast, until one day, I was stunned by what I saw when she threw a chalk at another boy. Her move was so fluently and gracefully accomplished, all I saw was a barely discernable shake of her wrist. I couldn’t help laughing my lungs out in admiration. I thought I deserved a break once in a while. I remained to be her primary target for as long as I could remember. I knew it was useless to hide myself behind the book, a chalk from her never stopped in its trajectory; after knocking down my book, it would invariably and persistently find its way to my head. If I was lucky, I could dodge first one, but that would infuriate her more and invite more chalks heading my way.

As you have probably surmised, my English scores were pathetic. Like every tragic ending had its bright side, mine brought me an unexpected benefit. The girl who was sharing the table with me was asked to help me out. I will elaborate on her in another story. What a fun!更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

英语真棒。不过要有多大的怨恨，才能这样回忆描述几十年前教过自己的小学老师？peace. -coolmao(酷猫*Z-ha-dum); 2012-1-22 (#7229125@0)

Thanks, but there is something wrong with my writing, because rancor is the last thing I want to show in my story. -eric_2003(Wine Expert); 2012-1-22 (#7229394@0)

don't get me wrong, I've experienced far worse humiliations in my elementary school, both physically and mentally. But what's done is done. They just did what they were supposed to do. And I don't blame or hate them at all. -coolmao(酷猫*Z-ha-dum); 2012-1-22 (#7229603@0)

Most mainlanders who were born in late 60s or early 70s have experienced the same. However, not very many of them are like this person who would spend time on elaborating it (if not fabricating) 30 years later -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2012-1-22 {209} (#7229640@0)
in order to make fun out of a teacher who was just trying to teach some knowledge and skills in good faith. There is a lot of ways for one to show his/her sense of humor. I don't find this one funny at all.

有点像兵哥说的 defensive 心态 :-) -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2012-1-22 (#7229129@0)

Right, It would be nice if the boy in the story knew the word "defensive". Happy Defensive Chinese New Year. :) -eric_2003(Wine Expert); 2012-1-22 (#7229379@0)

Eric, you can always turn a tough situation into humor. To be honest, I think the teacher’s behaviour is totally disrespectful, not the child’s. Sigh… -slowdownforrose(放慢脚步); 2012-1-22 (#7229130@0)

I don't mean to upset your holiday, let's say, the half of story did not happen and the other half did not happen to me. Cheer up, enjoy Chinese New Year. :) -eric_2003(Wine Expert); 2012-1-22 (#7229375@0)

Thanks for sharing. Your English is really good. -sunny0056(sunny); 2012-1-22 {106} (#7229430@0)
You fell in love with English because of the girl who helped you out and ignited your interest in English?

You will know on the next Sunday morning. -eric_2003(Wine Expert); 2012-1-22 (#7229510@0)

just a lucky guess here: that girl is one of the targets of your crumpled-paper-made love letters -oiseau(不倦鸟); 2012-1-22 (#7229557@0)

I like your humor. -jesse_dd(紫飞鱼); 2012-1-22 (#7229469@0)
Very nice writing, much better than mine. But I've got a small question here: Would it be better to say "I started learning ..." than "I started to learn ..."? -taoyuan(天涯); 2012-1-22 (#7229474@0)

Wincity says yes but still fairly good writing. -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2012-1-22 (#7229493@0)

你好像龙年突然对我有仇了？eric 是我的英文偶像。 -wincity(红卫兵); 2012-1-22 (#7229700@0)

Yes, I know. Don't be defensive though :-) -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2012-1-22 (#7229777@0)
求兵哥高见 - started to do something, started doing something... Do they convey the same meaning or there is subtle difference? -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2012-1-22 (#7229818@0)

俺最大的优点就是不formal。那个让你comfortable就用哪个。 -wincity(红卫兵); 2012-1-22 (#7230000@0)

Cross reference is done. Thanks. -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2012-1-22 (#7230007@0)

俺俩在这事上有什么前嫌？不要吞吞吐吐的嘛。 -wincity(红卫兵); 2012-1-23 (#7231655@0)

Both are acceptable and have the same meaning. -eric_2003(Wine Expert); 2012-1-22 (#7229508@0)

Thank you both for your replies. Happy Dragon's Year! -taoyuan(天涯); 2012-1-22 (#7229549@0)

that " “Dis is a d...og, dat is a c...at...” is so hilarious and remind me of my own trick of learning how to remember to pronounce"good morning"==putting a note of"狗戴猫铃" underneath the word. -oiseau(不倦鸟); 2012-1-22 {250} (#7229569@0)
My English teacher is not a perfect chalk thrower, however, her"血滴子" is to pick up a hidden dozer and let the poor little one wear a halve of a peanut shell on his eyelid, so kind of feeling lucky here for you not having her as your teacher then
我觉得我们读书的时候那种英语教学模式其实是违背人类语言学习自然规律的，效果差，学生被引入歧途，而且经年累月的这种英语“学习”是我们很难再回到真实的英语环境之中。这有可能是大陆移民英语水平难以快速提高的原因。 -lmx(lmx); 2012-1-22 {82} (#7229581@0)
其实这种英语教育很可能一脉相承了苏联的教学体系，看看那些老毛子，英语也是一地鸡毛。

We focus on grammar a lot. I feel some mistakes we have made also apply to native speakers. -sunny0056(sunny); 2012-1-22 (#7229960@0)
我总是很羡慕现在互联网时代的青少年外语学习者，非常容易就可以访问到自己感兴趣的资源。想想当初我们自己，真是不堪回首。 -banruo(ILOVEWIKI); 2012-1-23 (#7231650@0)

Nice writing. A toastmaster writing style, also its humor style -halfjaie(halfjaie); 2012-1-27 (#7242502@0)

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