One afternoon I toured an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet view of the art works.
A young couple viewing the paintings ahead of me chatted nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided the wife was doing all the talking. I admired his patience for putting up with her continuous talk. Distracted by their noise, I moved on.
I met with them several times as I moved through the different rooms of art. Each time I heard her constant burst of words, I moved away quickly.
I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a purchase when the couple came near to the exit. Before they left, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He extended it into a long stick and then tapped his way into the coatroom to get his wife's jacket.
"He's a brave man.," the clerk at the counter said, "Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise that his life wouldn't change. So, as before, he and his wife come in whenever there's a new art show."
"But what does he get out of the art?" I asked. "He can't see."
"Can't see? You're wrong. He sees a lot. More than you or I do," the clerk said. "His wife describes each painting so he can see it in his head."
I learned something about patience, courage and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without sight and the courage of a husband who would not allow blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away.
These days having a best friend seems so important to girls. However I have learned that having one best friend is not the way to go. It's so much better to have many great friends.
As I was coming into Middle School, I was really excited because my friend Jennifer was going to be in the same Middle School! At first things were great, she introduced me to her friend Amy and we had lots of fun together. Then things started to change. Jennifer was very controlling: I couldn't make new friends, and pretty soon being Jennifer's friend was a struggle.
Jennifer wanted to be the "leader" of our little group. Amy and I were never partners with each other in class projects or gym; it was always, "Who gets the privilege（特权） of being Jennifer's partner." Amy and I both wanted to be Jennifer's number one.
I always waited for Jennifer and Amy after classes. They chatted by Jennifer's desk as Jennifer packed her books up and I waited by the door. Sometimes when they left, they'd walk right past me. No "Thanks for waiting." No "Sorry we took so long." It was as if they couldn't even see me.
After months of living through school this way, I had really changed. I was moody, depressed, lonely. I spent lots of days trying not to cry, I felt so left out.
Finally, near the very end of the school year, I was so incredibly sick of having to battle for friendship. I stopped sitting with Jennifer at lunch and stopped waiting for her after class.
It was tough at first, but now, I have tons of friends. We have fun and happy times together and I love them all to bits. It amazes me how easy our friendship is. There's no struggling to be on top. I wish Jennifer could understand. Maybe one day she'll look back at what happened and she'll change, but even though I lost a friend, I am a happier person.
Since his students began using Quizlet, English teacher Tristan Thorne has noticed an improvement in their ability to learn and use new words. Quizlet is a learning App, a computer program you use on your mobile phone. It can help users build and test their knowledge of English words. Quizlet has word sets for millions of subjects. And, it is quickly becoming a useful mobile tool for language learners.
Thorne teachers at Columbia University in New York City. Thanks to learning Apps, Jeff Strack, another English teacher, has also notice improvement in his students' ability to remember information. He teaches at Hostos Community College, also in New York. He and Thorne are part of a growing number of language educators adding mobile Apps to their classes.
Strack and Thorne seem to agree that the days when teachers would not permit the use of mobile phones are gone. When they use Apps, language learners communicate more differently than in a traditional classroom. Users act on or respond to something, instead of just listening to new information.
Thorne believes that Apps can help learners become more active in learning. For example, each week, his students are required to add vocabulary words into Quizlet for others to use. He says some Apps also make it easy for students to know their language strengths and weaknesses.
The biggest improvement Strack has seen in his students is that they are much more active inwhole-class or small-group discussions. “Apps let all students take part in the activity, whether it's a game, quiz or practice activity.” he says.
Many existing learning Apps are designed for students of all ages and levels. Some are designed for group activities. Some support independent learning. Still some are good for homework. Thorne says he especially likes Quizlet and three other Apps: QR Codes, Socrative and Evernote.
How did you learn how to ride your bike? Someone probably gave you a few lessons and then you practiced a lot. No one is born to know how to study. You need to learn a few study skills and then practice them.
Do you have trouble paying attention in class? Are you sitting next to a loud person? Is it hard to see the board? Make sure you're sitting in a good seat that lets you pay attention. Tell your teacher or parents about any problems that are preventing you from paying attention and taking good notes.
.Waiting until Thursday night to study for Friday's test will make a homework night no fun! It also makes it hard to do your best. We're all guilty of putting things off sometimes. One of the best ways to make sure that doesn't happen is to plan ahead.
Break it up! When there's a lot to study, it can help to break things into chunks(大块). Let's say you have a test on 20 spelling words. Instead of thinking about all of the words at once, try breaking them down into a five-word chunks and working on one or two different chunks each night.
Ask for help. You can't study effectively if you don't understand the material. You can check yourself by reading through your notes. Does it all make sense? If not, ask your teacher to go over it with you.
Get a good night's sleep. So the test is tomorrow and you've followed your study plan—but suddenly you can't remember anything, not even 2+2! Don't worry. Your brain needs time to digest(消化) all the information you've given it. Try to get a good night's sleep.
A. Plan ahead for tests and projects.
B. Study regularly instead of just the night before.
C. You can learn how to study in much the same way.
D. You'll be surprised by what comes back to you in the morning.
E. If you're studying math or science, do some practice problems.
F. Be sure to ask your teacher for help if you're confused about something.
G. Good studying starts in class.
I sat down at my desk and started writing a letter of thankfulness, but when it came to actually putting the letter into the mailbox... I 1 ...I couldn't do it. I suddenly felt a sense of 2and insecurity (不安).
The letter was to an old teacher with whom I kept in 3 on Facebook. For months, I read about what she 4 on her Facebook page, which helped me to live my life differently. Her volunteer (志愿者) work wasn't huge. 5, she was doing small, local good deeds.6 , she changed my views on the world and for some reason, I felt I should let her know how her example7 influenced me.
I could have easily sent her an email, but that seemed not enough for such an important thank-you. That's why I ended up8 the letter. But now here I was, standing before the mailbox, unable to put the envelope inside. What was stopping me? It suddenly hit me that I was 9 of being too nice. I guess I felt strange 10 it wasn't like she was my best friend or a relative. Maybe my 11 was too heartfelt. Thinking this over, I put the envelope in the mailbox 12.
Weeks later I received a message from her. It turned out she was 13 a hard time and my note 14 a lot to her. She said she had no idea she was playing such a big 15in others' life.
Not only did this letter make her happier, but her response to it brightened my world and 16my level of happiness as well. I was so 17 that it had such a great influence on her that I decided to write a(n) 18 letter to someone each month. Now it's easier for me to19 the goodness in others and be more20 for this beautiful life I'm living.
Voyages of people from England play important part in spreading English is frequently spoken as an official or common language in many countries. All based on British English, the English (speak) in those countries can be well understood by native English speakers. (actual) these Englishes have been gradually changing in accents, spellings, (express) and the usages of vocabulary. Because this fact, you can make use of the differences(tell) which country the foreigners of your block are from. For example, if a boss fluently (command) his driver, "Come up straight to my apartment by elevator and take some gas for my trucks and cabs", instead of (request), "Please come to my flat by lift and take some petrol for my lorries and taxis", you can recognize (he) American identity, while the latter suggests that he is British.
