This is Bobby's family party!

Make sure your love is unconditional. Make sure you love people in all kinds of "weather". Or else what is the use if we love a person only when he is good or she is nice? When I need the people most thats when they leave me. All the time. So please, I hope you wont be like that. We always have to consider the other party, your companions situation and mood. Maybe hes in difficulty right now. Thats why his mood is not so sweet.

 

Maybe she has so much work to do and so many headaches, so she cannot be so darling like usual. That time is the time when we need to show our most noble quality, the way we want ourselves to be.

Its not that if you are sweet to that person then he will love you more. Maybe he will, maybe he wont. But that is not the point to be good and to be noble. To be good, to be noble is for ourselves because we choose to be that way, we want to keep being that way, and we feel good about it. Its not because, "Okay, now he needs me more. If I show more sympathy, then our love will be stronger"; Its not even to be considered.

But most of the time we fail the test. When people are in most difficulty, we just leave them, or we are cold and indifferent. "Oh, youre not nice to me. All right, all right.";"Youll come and need me soon."; Of course they will. When theyre in a better mood, when everything goes better, of course theyll come around. But then its too late. Then it is not love anymore. Its just a need for each other. Thats different, because you are used to each other and you need each other sometimes out of habit, out of convenience, out of financial security reasons -- anything. But its not true love.

True Love Always Prevails

True love is we stick together in "thick and thin";. Especially when its thin, when its troublesome. Then we should really bridge over the "troubled water". Thats what they say in English. But most of us fail the test, to ourselves, not to our partners. He might leave you, he might stay with you, because youre nice or not nice. But you fail yourself. You leave yourself. You leave the most noble being that you really are. So we should check up on this to our family members or whomever that is beloved and dear to us. Most of the time in critical situations, we just turn our backs and that is no good.

Of course we have our anger, our frustrations, because our partners are not as loving as usual, or whomever that is; but he or she is in a different situation. At that time, she or he is in mental suffering. Its just as bad or even worse than physical suffering. Physical suffering you can take a pill or you can have an injection and it stops or at least temporarily stops, and you feel the effect right away; or at least if people are in physical suffering, everyone sympathizes with them.

But when they are in mental anguish, and we pound them more on that, and we turn our backs and become cold and indifferent, that is even more cruel, even worse. That person will be swimming alone in suffering. And especially they trust us as the next of kin, the next person, the one that they think they can rely on in times of need; and then at that time, we just turn around and are snobbish, because they didnt treat us nice so we just want to revenge. Thats not the time. You can revenge later, when hes in better shape. Just slap him.

Actually, at that time, the person is not his usual self anymore. He was probably under very great pressure that he lost his own control. Its not really lost his own control, but for example, when you are in a hurry, your talk is different. Right? "Hand me that coat! Quick! Quick! Quick!" Things like that. But normally, you would say "Honey, please, can you give me that coat." Is that not so? (Audience: Yes.) Or when youre in pain -- for example stomach pain, heartache or whatever -- you scream loudly; and anyone who comes to talk to you, you dont talk in the usual way anymore, because youre in pain.

Similarly, when you are in a mental or psychological pain, you talk also in a very grouchy way, very cross. But that is understandable. So if we -- any so-called loving partner or family member -- do not understand even this very least, very basic concept, then were finished. Then we are really in a bad situation. Its not that the partner will do anything to us. Whether he does anything to us later or not, that is no problem. The problem is us. The problem is we degrade ourselves, that we make less of a being of ourselves than we should be, than we are supposed to be, or that we really are. So do not make less of a being of yourselves.

Bobbys words,

Love, to me, is as mysterious as poetry. What is love? love is a certain feeling.Love means pounding hearts and blushing faces. Love is devotion. Love is ...... This question seems to have no definite answers. Yet I think it is more important that we should learn to love. Everyone desires to love and be loved by others. We all hope that our life is full of love. That is the reason I share this passage with you. My brothers and sisters, let’s learn to love people in all kinds of weather.

 

翁帆和杨振宁的婚姻，在很多中国人眼中是不可思议的，两个人年龄相差太大，怎么可能产生爱情？难道是翁帆动机不纯，或是杨振宁太老了，昏了头。作为一个学外语的人，我觉得他们的结合很正常，促使他们在一起的真是那纯洁的爱情。很多人可能不同意我的观点。一个很偶然的机会我在网上看到了翁帆给杨振宁写的这封信，从字里行间中我们可以清晰地感受到翁帆那炙热的感情，在这里和大家来分享，不是想说服大家。不论你对他们的婚姻持什么态度，我们仅仅是把这封信当作一篇英文美文来欣赏吧。

    Cold here, icy cold there. You belong to neither, leaves have withered. Your face is pale and blue, a tearful smile. Something in your eyes, whispers words of last good-bye. My heart sinks down, tears surge out.
    Hot summer. Cheerful Cocktail. You took my hand. We fled into another world of band. You sat by my side, long hair tied behind, cool and killing. Smile floating on the lemonade, soft and smooth. How I was ?amazed. Your face looked like the cover of the magazine. My head spin. You led my hand, danced along the crazy theme.
    Light vied with wine, elegance mixed with fragrance, laughing covered by greetings, the crowed was busy at handshaking. You stood there, eyes on me. I trembled at the sparkles, brighter than the light. A masterpiece from God, I felt dizzy. We were not near, yet we were together. 
    Days ended. You said, you would wait for me at th e Alps side. We would ski against snowflakes dancing in the sky. I gave no answer but a good-bye to accompany your flight. Gone was the plane, I suddenly tasted my pain. I knew I had been silly and stupid, you were in my heart, I shouldn ’t have hidden in the dark. I tried to forget your disappointment. I made believe sometime someday, I would tell you, I feel all the same.

     My thought struggled at confessing, somehow hesitation ended in flinching. I continued my role of a fool, clinched to my maiden pride, yet secretly indulged in your promise of the white land -- snow measuring down to us, in your arms I am lifted up. The chiming of Christmas bell! 
     The bell died in the patter of rain, from hell came the laughing of Satan at my brain. Tearful smile, swallowed by the darkness. How could I trace your hair to wipe your tears? My hands reached out, catching nothing but a raindrop, on a leaf that had withered. Snowflakes have melted into water, we are no more together.

英语专四听力备考技巧浅谈

 英语专业四级听写的选材广泛而不生辟，体裁可以为叙述性，描写性，或说明性，难度适中，不超出与听力理解部分的同等难度，词汇以大纲要求的前四级为主，也有一些五�p六级词汇，但不会出现太偏僻的人名�p地名等专有名词或词汇，背景知识要求不会太复杂，不会超出大部分学生应该掌握的常识。听写部分占时共约15分种，原始分为15分，比重占全部的15%。
听写，顾名思义，既听又写，它渗透在各种形式的语言活动中，是最常用到的基本功之一。听写测试要求考生把听到的内容准确无误地以笔头的形式表达出来，虽无需考生自己遣词造句，但由于牵涉到语言（听力�p单词拼写�p篇章结构等）与非语言能力（如记忆力�p速记等）也决非易事。提高听写能力，关键就是加强各种相关知识和技能的训练。以下英语专四听力备考技巧浅谈：

1． 语言知识方面：
首先，必须提高听力水平，熟悉英美国家的说话发音的不同方式，语音语调；其次对于大纲中所列单词和短语，不仅要认知，而且会熟练拼写；由于朗读中没有念出分段或标点，因此考生听后，要根据对篇章的理解来判断选择。另外考生可以利用二读三读时的停顿，一般地说，二读时，某个意群如有停顿，接下去是另一意群，那么两者之间可能有符号，如逗号，也可能没有，要看两者的关系，若是回读（三读）该意群，那么这之后肯定是表示完整的一句结束了，因此最有可能是句号。此外，要充分利用语法知识进行分析，如单复数是否一致�p上下文时态是否相配�p大小写是否恰当�p介词搭配或词语用法是否合乎规范�p前后语意内容是否通顺等。

2． 非语言能力方面：
加强记忆和速记能力。有时候，听的内容都懂了，但由于记忆的问题或时间的问题没写下来，因此在平时的训练中，有意识地不是以单个的词而是以意群为单位进行理解和记忆；在短暂的停顿空间，如果时间来不及，可以选用自己熟悉的缩写形式或符号记录，等以后有时间时再复原。这种速记能力也要靠平时的多练，才能获得。

充分利用听写的朗读方式，选用相应的书写技巧。如：在听第一遍时，重点听主题思想，重点词，掌握全局概念，不要一听录音就写，否则也许能写出前边的单词或句子，却有可能不知全文的大意；第二遍和第三遍是以句子为单位重复的，以意群为单位停顿的，在听第二遍录音时，因时间关系，不可能一字一字地全部写下，所以要分清主次信息，重点抓句型结构和关键词等，在听第三遍时，再把其它次要信息如修饰语�p定冠词等遗漏内容补上；在听最后一遍（四遍）时最后仔细核对。

根据评分方式，学会取舍。因为听写的评分不是根据写出的单词个数多少而是以是否表达清楚原文的主要意思为依据，然后以是否有小的错误，如单复数�p大小写�p定冠词等分层次扣分，也就是说，扣分有主要和次要信息之分，因此听的时候也要分清重点和非重点；另外听写的全部内容根据意群分成15分，每个意群最多扣一分，如果在听的过程中有个别词或词组一下反应不出来，就不要苦苦纠缠单个的词，要跟着录音进行下一意群的听写，避免个别词或句的错漏影响对其它内容的听音。

 

中国学生为什么难写出好英语作文?

中国同学为什么很难写出好的英语作文？

这是一个困扰大家很久的问题。从小学开始学习英文直到初中毕业，我们掌握了一定量的单词和句型，但是在运用这些单词和句型的时候，我们往往会先在脑海中构造一个中文的句式，然后把它翻译成中文。

比如这个句子：

他的笑话把我给逗死了。绝大多数同学都这样写：His joke made me laugh to death.

正如一句从英文翻译过来的中文会显露出它原本的英式结构和用词一样，这样一句汉语转换成的英语也会暴露它深刻的中文血统，甚至因为强求对某个局部进行中文对译而导致最后写成的句子贻笑大方。所以在动笔练习写作之前，我们首先要明白一点：虽然思维转换成语言是瞬间的事情，但是思维本身不是语言。中国同学的问题在于，我们的思维转变成中文的速度太快了，快到你自己意识不到这种转换完成了，所以脑海中永远都是成型的中文句子，地道的中文句子。于是在写作的时候，同学们总是面对中文句子，从第一个词开始动笔翻译，最后呈现的是一篇生硬的英语译文，而非英语作文。大家稍微注意一下就会发现：

他的笑话把我给逗死了。

His joke made me laugh to death.

这两个句子的一一对应关系和生搬硬套的文字处理。

思维�D�D中文�D�D英文写作模式最大的危害在于它不允许同学从整个句子的高度来把握句式结构的组织和词汇选择，把同学套牢在和自己的中文斗争，和一个个中文单词斗争的局部战场上。所以说，在进行英文写作的时候，切断思维和中文的连接，让思维，而不是表述思维的中文留在脑海中，是进行英语写作的第一步。

说白了，就是你脑海中有那个意思，没那个句子。

正因为没有，才能够创造，佛经中说的真空妙有也是这个意思，因为茶杯是空的，才能倒进水去，一个被塞满的茶杯貌似充实，其实是最没用。

现在同学们可以尝试用英文对整个句子进行表述，这时候，绝大多数的同学会感到有点儿痛苦。因为你的复杂的思维，丰富的感请，美好的想法要用一种陌生的语言表达出来，是很吃力的。这是正常而且真实的情况，因为这是你第一次甩掉中文的拐杖独立用英语写作。

让我们一起来试试。还是那个句子：他的笑话把我给逗死了。我们放弃对“逗死”这个词汇的对译，感觉一下，其实就是他的笑话很精彩，我很愉快。因为一种娱乐活动而感到快乐，我们就能找到amuse这个词汇了。还有一个词是entertain，也接近这个意思，但那是综合的被娱乐而满足的意思，没有哈哈大笑的传神感觉，所以我们还是用amuse这个词。Amuse是一个动词，它的分词形式是同学们非常熟悉的，一个是amused，一个是amusing。在这里两个词都可以用。然后再来看看逗死的死怎么说。按照字面就是die，一个笑话，字字见血，这太可怕了。其实死在这里无非表示一种很深的程度而已。这个意思我们掌握有quite，rather等一系列词汇。

现在难点解决了，让我们用amused写这个句子：

I was quite amused by the joke he just told.

同学们注意到这是一个比His joke made me laugh to death这种人鬼情未了式的句子正常多了的一个表达。为什么我们一开始写不出来呢？让我们把它字字对译到中文：

我是很被逗乐被那个笑话他刚告诉。

这的确是中文，但不是人话。所以同学们永远也不可能在脑海中形成这么一句中文句子，没有“我是很被逗乐被那个笑话他刚告诉”这样的中文句子，对译型同学就无法写出“I was quite amused by the joke he just told”这样的被动句子。

事实上，绝大多数英文的被动表达在中文中都特别奇怪。比如常见的“sb"s son was born”，这是一个被动语态，用中文的被动来表达就是“某人的儿子被生了”，这几乎会让同学们忍不住产生“是谁干的”这样的问题。

同学们之所以不太能够在写作中自如地使用被动句子，思维�D�D中文�D�D英文的错误写作习惯就是主要的原因之一。

纠正这个习惯就要随时在英语写作训练上注意克服对中文的依赖。习惯是由于重复而产生的，也只能通过更多次的重复去消除掉。你练习中文，使用中文已经很长时间了，中文对你来说是一种强势的语言，思维到中文最轻松，最快捷，最不假思索。而我们就是要把这个不假思索的过程停止，重新去审视，阻断和剥离掉中文的影响，才能让写出的英文句子地道，纯净，优美。

同学们如果使用amusing来重写上述的例句，就能发现，其实不习惯使用形式主语也是因为类似的原因。

如何动手写英文，是一个宏大的问题，以上所及的只是其中一点。还有学会使用高级表达，学会选用合适表达，阅读积累，对比写作等一系列问题，篇幅所限，不能一一提到。

写作是纸上的行走，是用笔在纸上和读者们交流，和读者们说话，好的写作是用心的，好的写作其实就是“有话好好说”。

 

 

What Is English?  

English is an international language.

English is a powerful weapon.

English is a beautiful companion.

English is a useful tool.

English is not a headache.

English is not a burden.

  English is not a torture.

English is not a boring subject

English is exciting, charming, and challenging.

English is energizing, stimulating, and fascinating.

English is a piece of cake.

I can totally conquer English.

I will use English.

I will love English.

 I will live in English.

I am no longer a slave to English.

I am its master.

I believe English will become my faithful servant and lifelong friend.

I believe speaking good English will definitely change my life.

So from now on,

I will treat English as a friend.

I will enjoy every minute of mastering English.

I will look for every chance to speak English.

I will practice English as crazily as possible every day!

                                                                                                      (转自李阳的blog)