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		<title>零距离美国课堂</title>
		<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/</link>
		<description><![CDATA[王文带你认识真正的美国教育]]></description>
		<pubDate>Mon, 5 May 2008 22:58:56 +0800</pubDate>
		<generator>搜狐博客</generator>
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			<description>搜狐博客</description>
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			<title>生命中的五个球 Five Balls of Life (转贴）</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/86543368.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/86543368.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 5 May 2008 22:58:56 +0800</pubDate>
			<category>For English Whizzes </category>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/86543368.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<p><font size="4">In a university commencement address several years ago, Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola Ent-erprises, spoke of the relation of work to one&rsquo;s other commitments:<br /><br />　　Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit and you&rsquo;re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.<br /><br />　　But the other four balls family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as they would be your life, for without them, life is meaningless.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t shut love out of your life by saying it&rsquo;s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give it; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you&rsquo;ve been, but also where you are going.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t forget, a person&rsquo;s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.<br /><br />　　Don&rsquo;t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.<br /><br />　　Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.<br /><br />　　Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery and Today is a gift: that&rsquo;s why we call it &lsquo;The Present&rsquo;. </font></p>
<p><font size="4"><br />（译文）</font></p>
<p><font size="4">　　几年前，在一所大学的开幕典礼中,可口可乐的首席执行官布赖恩&middot;戴森讲到工作与其他义务的关系：<br /><br />　　想象生命是一场不停丢掷五个球于空中的游戏。这五个球分别为工作、家庭、健康、朋友和心灵，而且你很努力地掷着这五个球，不让它们落地。很快地你会了解工作是一个橡皮球。如果你不幸失手落下它，它还是会弹回来。<br /><br />　　但是家庭、健康、朋友和心灵这四个球是用玻璃做成的。一旦你失手落下，它们可能会少了一角，留下无法挽回的记号、刻痕、损坏甚至碎落一地。它们将永远不会跟以前一样。你必须了解这个道理，并且为平衡你的生命而努力。但要怎么才做得到呢？ <br /><br />　　别拿自己和他人比较，这只会降低了你原有的价值。因为我们都是独一无二的，因为我们每一个人都很特别。<br /><br />　　别人认为重要的事不一定是你的目标。只有你才知道什么最适合你。<br /><br />　　不要将贴近你的心的人、事物视为理所当然的存在。你必须将他们视为你的生命一般好好地抓牢他们。没有他们，生命将失去意义。<br /><br />　　别让你的生命总在依恋过去种种或是寄望未来中逝去。如果你活在每个当下，你就活出了生命中的每一天。 <br /><br />　　当你还能给予的时候别轻言放弃。只要你不放弃，就有无限延伸的可能。<br /><br />　　别害怕承认你并非完美。正因如此，我们才得以藉由这脆弱的细丝紧密地串绑在一起。 <br /><br />　　别害怕遇到危险。正因如此，我们才得以藉由这些机会学习勇敢。<br /><br />　　别以爱太难找到作为借口而紧闭你的心扉。最迅速找到爱的方法就是给予你的爱；最快速失去爱的方法就是紧紧地守着你的爱不放；维持爱的最好方式就是给爱一双翅膀。 <br /><br />　　莫要匆忙地度过你的一生，那匆忙让你忘了曾经到过哪里，也让你忘了你要去哪里。 　<br /><br />　　莫忘记，人类情感上最大的需要是感恩。 <br /><br />　　莫害怕学习。知识没有重量，它是可以随意携带的珍宝。<br /><br />　　莫漫不经心地蹉跎光阴或口无遮拦。时间与言词两者都是一放便收不回来。 <br /><br />　　生命不是一场赛跑, 而是一步一个脚印的旅程。 <br /><br />　　昨天已是历史,明天还是未知，而今天则是一个上天的礼物：那就是我们为什么称它为&ldquo;现在&rdquo;(Present)的原因。</font></p>]]></description>
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			<title>生命中重要和不重要的（转贴）</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/86542552.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/86542552.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 5 May 2008 22:55:09 +0800</pubDate>
			<category>For English Whizzes </category>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/86542552.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: SimSun"><font size="4">When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.<br /><br />A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded t o fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.<br /><br />The professor then picked up a box o f pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.<br /><br />The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything els e. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'<br /><br />The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed<br /><br />'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.<br /><br />The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.<br /><br />The sand is everything else--the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.<br /><br />'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'<br /><br />One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked.<br /><br />It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'</font></span>]]></description>
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			<title>陈冲谈奥运和西藏</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/84240545.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/84240545.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:10:47 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/84240545.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<p><font size="4">每天看CNN，听他们不懂装懂，瞎掰就生气，今天奥运圣火已到旧金山，旧金山上万的华人一早就准备迎接圣火了，自然还有藏独分子要去捣乱，待我回家看CNN是否还只报道他们想让公众听的。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">今天在网上看到陈冲刚发表在华盛顿邮报上的文章，非常为她骄傲，她一直是我崇拜的明星。我把她的文章转过来了。&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font size="4">I was born in Shanghai in 1961 and grew up during the Cultural Revolution. During my childhood, I saw my family lose our house. My grandfather, who studied medicine in England, committed suicide after he was wrongly accused of being a counterrevolutionary and a foreign spy.<br /><br />Those were the worst of times.<br /><br />Since the Cultural Revolution ended in the late 1970s, however, I have witnessed unimaginable progress in China. Changes that few ever thought possible have occurred in a single generation. A communist government that had no ties to the West has evolved into a more open government eager to join the international community.<br /><br />A state-controlled economy has morphed into a market economy, greatly raising people's standard of living. It's clear that the majority of the Chinese people enjoy much fuller, more abundant lives today than 30 years ago. Though much remains to be done, the Chinese government has made rapid progress in opening up and trying to be part of the international community.<br />Last month I went to China and spent four weeks visiting Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Chengdu. The people I met and spoke with are proud and excited about the Beijing Games. They believe that the Olympics are a wonderful opportunity to showcase modern China to the rest of the world. Like many Americans, most Chinese people are disturbed by the recent events in Tibet. But after watching the scenes of violence and arson by the rioters, the Chinese believe that the government is doing the right thing in cracking down to restore order.<br /><br />The Olympic torch is in California and is to be carried through San Francisco today. In a resolution criticizing China, Chris Daly, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said that demonstrating against the torch relay would &quot;provide the people of San Francisco with a lifetime opportunity to help 1.3 billion Chinese people gain more freedom and rights.&quot; To his credit, Mayor Gavin Newsom did not sign Daly's resolution.<br /><br />This statement could not be further from reality. For one thing, the Chinese are a proud people. They want freedom and greater rights, but they know they must fight for them from within. They know that no one can grant them freedom and rights from afar. The stigma of Western imperialism and the Opium Wars also remains a strong reminder of the past, and Chinese people do not want their domestic policies to be dictated by outside powers. They also do not want the United States to boycott the opening ceremonies of the Games. The U.S. boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow and the Soviet boycott of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles accomplished nothing. A U.S. boycott of the opening ceremonies in Beijing would be counterproductive for relations between the two countries.<br /><br />For decades, anti-China human rights groups in Washington have spent millions of dollars denouncing China. To many Chinese, it seems that this lobby is the only voice that's acceptable or newsworthy in the U.S. media and to the U.S. government. But times are changing. We need to be open-minded and farsighted. We need to make more friends than enemies. Remember what a little ping-pong game did for Sino-U.S. relations in the 1970s? Let's celebrate the Olympics for what the Games are meant to be -- a bridge for friendship, not a playground for politics.<br /><br />The writer is an actress and director. She became a U.S. citizen in 1989. <br /><br />http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/08/AR2008040802907_pf.html<br /></font></p>
<p><font size="4"></font>&nbsp;</p>]]></description>
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			<title>当悲剧发生的时候</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/83852832.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/83852832.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 5 Apr 2008 21:34:43 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/83852832.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<font size="4">春假过去了，想起去年春假的悲剧。</font>
<p align="left"><font size="4">还记得去年春假的星期六下午,我出去买东西,回来老公告诉我,我们学校的一位副校长打来电话,我们学校有一名叫丹尼的学生当天早上自杀了,我脑子嗡的一下,出现了好几个丹尼的形象,我屈指数来,我教的学生中就有5个丹尼,天哪,不会是他们中的一个吧？！我问老公自杀的丹尼姓什么,他说没记清,搞得我一个周末都心神不定,将我5个丹尼在脑子里筛选来筛选去,实在想不出任何一个会有任何理由会自杀。</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="4">星期一早上一到学校,知道全校两百多位老师都接到了几个副校长的分头打的电话,一大早校长正式的电子邮件已在所有老师的信箱里了,一看名字,不管怎样也算松了一口气：不是我认识的任何一个丹尼。校长的电子邮件只简单告知在这个春假里,很不幸我们有位学生自杀了,要求老师不要告诉学生是自杀,只是说有个同学去世了。事实上在星期六上午这位学生星期六一早去社区公园里,在一棵树上套上绳索结束了自己仅十八岁的生命。</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="4">第一节上课,我还没来得及说什么,就有&ldquo;万事晓&rdquo;学生通告全班同学&rdquo;我们有个十二年级的学生自杀了,是吊死的,天哪,不知他为什么选择如此残酷的手段结束自己的生命&hellip;&hellip;&rdquo;其他学生自是议论了好一阵。</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="4">校长室又送来电邮,告知老师如有学生情绪波动,情绪失控的可以将其送至学生辅导中心,与学生辅导员或心理老师交谈,好在我的学生还都算情绪稳定,只有一位来自德国的交换学生同自杀的学生在同一个美术班上,心情特别沉痛 ,眼眶红红的,我问她是否需要和学生辅导员谈谈,她说不必，自己可以对付，我也就算了。</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="4">据说那两天确有许多学生和几位老师不能接受这突然的变故而情绪出现很大波动的,我可以想象如果是我的一个好端端的学生,过了一周春假，就永远消失了，看着空空的座位会是什么样的心情!</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="4">自杀的是位非常有艺术天分的学生,他的好几幅油画及雕塑作品都在州里获过奖,据认识他的学生介绍他性格也颇为开朗,爱和同学开玩笑,打打闹闹的,虽然学校从未公开过透露他的死因,但很可能与感情生活有关,据说他的女朋友比他高一级,在德州大学读一年级,春假回来两人之间不知发生何事, 其女朋友在当天一大早就报警说其有自杀企图,但警察显然没有来得及采取措施,终究酿成悲剧，据说手里还攥着写着诗的纸条。</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="4">葬礼前, 许多同学和老师前往告别,他的妈妈通过学校校长室给全校所有老师和同学发信说,很感谢大家的慰问,但请不要把钱花在买物品或鲜花上,要表示追悼之情的话将钱汇到统一的银行帐号上,她要用这笔钱设立一个小小的基金会,用于我们学校艺术学科的活动经费来纪念他, 因为他生前热爱美术,热爱我们的学校,他一定愿意我们这样做的。我看了这封信真是很感动, 家长用这种特别的方式来纪念自己的孩子, 并让他的心愿得以满足。</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="4">葬礼很隆重,校长及副校长们都去了,许多学生也自愿去了。在这次突然事件中,学校不渲染,不议论,不作判断,也没有呼吁大家热爱生命等等, 只是提供必要和合适的心理服务，帮助师生顺利渡过短暂的心理危机。</font></p>]]></description>
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			<title>英语口语可以这样炼成（转帖）</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/83140689.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/83140689.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 29 Mar 2008 04:07:12 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/83140689.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<p><font size="4">正准备更新博客，在网上看到这篇文章，恰好有网友问好的练口语的方法，就转过来了。我很赞赏这个方法，虽然在我学英语的过程中没有如此有计划按步骤的练过，但我曾记得当年有本叫做&ldquo;英文背诵文选&rdquo;的书，我印象很深，对我有帮助。背诵，重复，尤其是练经典，地道的句子，段落，美文对培养英语语感是绝对错不了的，不用说是针对我们将英语作外语的中国人，就是对美国学生练阅读，写作同样管用，我总推荐大儿子读经典的Speech，推敲体会其遣词造句之妙。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">最理想的练习口语的方法是有个说英语的外国人天天在你身边陪你说英语，但这个条件一般谁也不具备，那么怎么来练习口语呢，有一个好办法非常可行，就是自己和自己说练习英语口语（当然后期还要找一些外国人进行语言交流体验），请相信自己和自己练习口语这一办法很管用，新体系英语有一个方法，叫&ldquo;反述式口语练习法&rdquo;，推荐给你：<br /><br />拿出一篇英语文章来先看懂，反复看几遍，争取记住里面的内容（注意千万别背），然后把文章翻扣在桌上，对着墙用自己的英语将刚才读过的文章反说出来（注意是述说，不是背诵），一开始根本记不住，就打开文章再看一遍，然后再翻扣过来用英语述说，遇到卡壳的地方就翻过文章再看一看，看看人家原文怎么说，再翻扣过去述说&hellip;&hellip;直到把整个文章说完，反复练习多遍后，不仅可以流利地述说这篇文章，还可以改换说法，用各种各样的方法述说，如先说开头后说结尾、先说中间后说两头，长话短说、短话长说&hellip;&hellip;不用多，只需几篇文章，就可以练出流利的英语口语，而且保证地道正确，比外国人说的还标准，因为所有的句子和表达方法都来自书上，还能有错？这样练习口语，进步飞速。比和外国人面对面说英语进步还快，因为面对面听不懂还不好意思问人家，现在是自己说了算，有任何不懂的地方马上可以查字典，查一个小时也没人管你。想学医学的口语就拿医学文章来反述，想学军事的口语就用军事文章来反述，想说什么就说什么，直到学会。用&ldquo;反述式口语练习法&rdquo;学习英语口语，大学生几个月就可以讲一口流利的英语，信不信由你，请试试吧。<br /><br />需要注意的是，一开始一定要从简单的文章开始反述，千万别以为自己水平很高，急着先拿复杂的高级文章来反述。不管你的阅读水平有多高，在口语上一定要谦虚地把自己当成刚学说话的小婴儿，要甘心从头开始学习，要从第一个台阶开始迈起，不要以为一步跨上3个台阶才算进步快，我反复讲过，英语不难学，一共也就十个台阶，一个台阶一个台阶地上本来很容易，可大多数人心急，偏要一步迈上第十个台阶，结果把本来很简单的一件事搞得十分艰难。<br /><br />那么什么样的文章是你应该&ldquo;反述&rdquo;的第一篇文章呢，就是那种一看就懂，但看完了用英语却怎么也说不出来的最简单的文章，就从这篇文章开始吧！<br /><br />　　第一步：大量背诵原汁原味的单句、对话、生活习语。<br /><br />　　第二步：把每天背诵过的素材反复消化，借助想像力，身临其境把它们表演出来。　　<br /><br />　　第三步：写日记。这个习惯看上去练习的是写作，其实它更是练习口语的妙法。当你动笔的同时，你的大脑正在激烈地做着英文体操。用英文进行思维是高级的口语训练方法。<br /><br />　　第四步：大量阅读报刊、杂志及各种故事、杂文，之后将它们复述出来。(超级提示：是&quot;复述&quot;而非&quot;背诵&quot;。)同一篇文章的复述工作应该反复滚动。　<br /><br />　　第五步：一年左右逐渐过渡到用英文进行日常的思维活动。每当遇到不会的词、句就记录在本子上，集中解决，并定时更新、复习。<br /></font></p>]]></description>
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			<title>美国的公立图书馆（下）</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/81406191.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/81406191.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:16:27 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/81406191.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<font size="4">&nbsp;</font><font size="4">图书馆更是文化活动中心，信息交流的场所，在这里会看到许多自己社区的一些生活，文化信息，比如运动会，球赛，野营等等活动，图书馆也不断将图书出版发行的信息传给读者，比如最近畅销书排名，最新获奖小说，少年男生推荐阅读书目，少年女生推荐阅读书目，2&mdash;5岁儿童阅读书目，暑假阅读书目，儿童获奖书目（全美的，德州的）等等，还都做成很好保存查阅的小单张或书签，这些资讯更新很快，临近某个特别日子或节日，都有有关推荐书目单或推荐书目陈列，比如快到万圣节了，图书馆少儿部一定都已装饰成满有万圣节的气氛，并陈列许多供孩子阅读的有关万圣节的图书。</font>
<p><font size="4">美国公立图书馆资源雄厚，资金来源也很多，其中有很多来自社区大企业的赞助，美国公众也对社区的图书馆也偏爱有加，经常将家里的图书音像资料无偿捐给图书馆，图书馆或收藏或卖给读者。每年图书馆都有图书销售活动，将淘汰的旧版本图书，过期杂志以很便宜的价格卖给社区读者，运气好的话能花很少钱买到自己喜欢的书。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">美国公立图书馆与学校联系很紧密，一般学校阅读计划或阅读课程需要的书籍图书馆都专门有配备，向图书管理员询问都会得到解答。尤其是暑假，图书馆更是假期中孩子的天堂，图书馆都专门安排有暑假学生活动，我家附近的图书馆暑假周一到周六从早上到晚上每个时间段都安排得满满的。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">美国的图书馆提供的服务多，需要的人手也多，所以图书馆也是大量需要志愿者服务的地方，许多爱清静的中学生纷纷选择到图书馆作义工，帮忙登记书籍，整理书架，作图书管理员助手，常看到这些中学生志愿者在图书馆推着小车，忙得不亦乐乎。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">美国公立图书馆的质量如公立学校一样与 所在社区很有关系，我曾经常去一家藏书非常丰富的图书馆，规模很大，尤其是三楼还有该图书馆所在小城的历史博物馆，非常好，但该图书馆附近是个贫民区，我去的次数多了，不难发现有在图书馆无所事事闲逛的人，更有人在椅子上睡觉。有次我正埋头读书，对面一家伙翻翻报纸竟打起呼噜来，我正讨厌着呢，图书管理员过来，毫不客气地推醒他，&ldquo;醒醒，这是图书馆，不是睡觉的地方。&rdquo;这家伙只好悻悻地走了，图书管理员对我说这是个酒鬼，常跑来这纳凉睡觉。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">美国公立图书馆的活动都是免费的，许多活动还提供奖品，甚至购物卡，尤其是针对孩子们的活动。社区图书馆的功效如何，使用程度如何，折射出一个国家的文化教育发达程度，政府对教育普及程度的重视，美国许多图书馆建筑都优于当地地方政府。我回中国看到许多街边公园，路边健身场所提供居民散步，锻炼身体，非常好，但是感叹为何没有让图书馆也成为中国的路边一景呢？中国公众需要健壯锻炼身体，但同样需要精神文化上的营养富足。如果上至行政领导，下至社区百姓都能关注这个问题，中国的社区图书馆也会逐渐起步完善的，关键是公众在这方面的意识如何。等到有一天去图书馆比去KTV更成为时尚时，素质教育会见成效，精神荒芜，文化沙漠也会荡然无存了。</font></p>]]></description>
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			<title>美国的公立图书馆（上）</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/80879801.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/80879801.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 5 Mar 2008 05:49:25 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/80879801.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<font size="4">美国人爱看书，如果说是因为重视阅读的美国文化和教育养成了他们博览群书的习惯，那么星罗棋布的公立图书馆为美国公众提供了读书的去处和读书的资源。</font>
<p><font size="4">美国一般每个城市或郡（county）都有好几个图书馆，比如在我家附近四周不超过十五，二十五钟车程就有五六个图书馆，图书馆规模有所不同，但藏书都很丰富，办理图书馆借书证非常方便，提供家庭住址，填写申请表就行，是无年龄限制的，家长可以为还在吃奶的婴孩办理借书证，每次借阅的图书或音像资料也无限制，所以许多人都是一借一 大堆，借书期限一般都是两周或三周，以后可以再续借两到三次。 一个人可以拥有多个不同图书馆的借书证，没有地域限制，还书非常方便，所有图书馆都有drive-through供开车经过的还书&ldquo;窗口&rdquo;，扔进去即可，每天二十四小时服务。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">美国图书馆服务到家的另一点是：属于同一个市，同一个郡的图书馆都互相流通的，读者要借的资料这家图书馆如果没有，图书馆管理员马上会通过网络到同一郡的其他图书馆查询，有的话进行预约request,两三天后就会送达到你所在图书馆。读者自己也可登陆图书馆，查询图书馆目录，预约所要的资料。图书馆有现成的，或许从其他图书馆转，都会以电话或电邮形式通知你，到时去图书馆去取即得。另一方面，读者还书时不方便的话不必跑去同一家图书馆还书，可以drop off在其互通的任何一家图书馆，这些图书馆每天都有流通车往返交流图书资源。比如我大儿子原来每周去离家很远的钢琴老师家学琴，为打发时间我通常带小儿子去钢琴老师家附近的图书馆消磨这一小时，常常看看书，玩玩游戏，再借回一些书，到期要还时，有时候就顺路扔进我家附近的图书馆就行了。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">美国的图书馆环境非常好，图书分类很多，很细，设施也好，很是读书怡神的地方，美国人常常喜欢全家一起来图书馆，有走路蹒跚的老人，坐在轮椅上，拄着拐杖的残疾人，有坐在童车上，抱在手里的的孩子。图书馆平时都开放到晚上九点或十点，周末关门会早些。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">美国图书馆服务的对象没有年龄限制，所以安排的活动也是适合各个年龄层的需要，我们附近的图书馆有每周一次为婴儿服务的读书活动story time on laps,十八个月以上的幼儿每周有两次读书讲故事活动，针对小学生的读书阅读活动就更丰富多彩了，少儿部的图书管理员都经过很好的阅读教育训练，读书，讲故事绘声绘色，往往还配上音乐和形体动作，手工制作等等，让孩子从小熏陶出爱书爱听故事的习惯。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">图书馆设计提供的活动名目种类非常多，可以说你能想像出的他们都会有提供，除了各类读书讲故事的阅读活动外，图书馆更是提供义务服务于社区，满足社区多个群体的文化生活需要。比如初级电脑知识培训，（我刚来美国时对电脑一窍不通，微软的文字软件，作图软件，数据库软件及简单初级的html都是在图书馆学的），如何使用数码相机，烹饪讲座，某作家作品俱乐部读书会，某画家作品欣赏交流，天文知识讲座，什么是风水，如何做妈妈，如何教育叛逆的teenagers, 魔术表演，趣味科学实验，乡村歌曲回顾，等等，等等。图书馆有详尽的每月活动表提供给读者，特殊的活动也有宣传单发放，到了节假日，图书馆更有各种配合节日的活动。图书馆还定期有family night，安排一些或高雅或有趣逗乐的节目供大家全家一起享受。</font></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://121.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/3/5/5/13/119199290d3.jpg" border="0" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 我几乎每周都带小儿子去的图书馆。</p>
<p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://119.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/3/5/5/29/119199d8e18.jpg" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://122.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/3/5/5/21/11919a0ca8a.jpg" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://119.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/3/5/5/16/1191991bbcd.jpg" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://121.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/3/5/5/2/11919a3a6ef.jpg" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://122.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/3/5/5/8/11919b00d7a.jpg" border="0" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 儿子总是先找书自己看看，或让我讲给他听，然后拿一大堆书check out回家读。</p>
<p><font size="4"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://121.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/3/5/5/17/11919b10559.jpg" border="0" /></font></p>&nbsp;（待续）]]></description>
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			<title>美国学生领略韩式中国新年</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/80222393.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/80222393.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:23:22 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/80222393.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<font size="4">新年至今也没更新博客，自己给自己好好放了下假。</font>
<p><font size="4">我们春节照常上班，巧的是年前我的好友，我们学校的International Academy的ESL 老师Elizabeth告诉我有两个韩国来的老师会给她ESL的学生讲讲韩国过中国新年的习俗，问我要不要带我的学生过去听听，我说可以啊。韩国同德州有个教师交流项目，每年有两位韩国老师来观摩我们的ESL课程，去年Elizabeth还让我开了堂中文课让他们听。我和Elizabeth常有些互动合作，有时还一起带学生去Field Trip，私下我们很谈得来，她有位伊朗裔的丈夫，他们相识相爱在大学校园，他是来自伊朗的留学生，当时她的父母激烈反对，但他们还是结婚了，二十多年感情依旧如故，她的父母也接纳了他，因为&rdquo;He is a wonderful man!&rdquo;，他们有三个漂亮的女儿，她常自豪地夸她的老公，有时给我电邮也不忘吹捧他。对不起，跑题了。&nbsp;<img alt="害羞" src="http://img3.pp.sohu.com/ppp/blog/images/emotion/4.gif" border="0" />&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font size="4">带我的一个班学生去听韩国老师presentation是中国的大年三十，两位韩国年轻的英语老师讲的很生动很有趣，还有韩国food招待，我对她们不吝赞美之词，在她们对我不停说谢谢谢谢，感觉良好之余，我乘机邀请她们索性明天再过来给我中文一级的学生讲讲吧，&nbsp;<img alt="调皮" src="http://img3.pp.sohu.com/ppp/blog/images/emotion/5.gif" border="0" />&nbsp;（第二天她们有大学午餐会）她们爽快的答应了，Elizabeth也乘机说我也带学生过去听听，（我们借机又可以凑在一起聊聊，这学期我们俩教室离好远，难得碰面）。两个韩国老师很顶真，询问我希望她们讲什么，我告诉她们我中文一级的学生正在做一个中国新年的Project，要探索的论题之一就是&ldquo;除了中国还有哪些国家过中国新年？习俗有何异同？&rdquo;让他们第一手了解韩国人过新年的习俗很有意义，有时间多可以聊聊韩国学校，这两位老师都是高中老师。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">第二天就是大年初一，一位韩国老师着传统韩服给我的学生用Powerpoint演示了韩国新年的习俗，提到许多习俗来自古老的中国，特别是大年初一孩子都要跪拜领受父母长辈的祝福，还让我们学生实习操练了，学生们踊跃积极参与，我冒充了一回长辈，有许多孩子，说了一大堆祝福的话，学生们拿到崭新的韩国票票很开心。还介绍他们玩韩国家庭传统的游戏。两位老师英语都很棒，学生们问了他们很多问题，谈到韩国学校听起来比中国学校还厉害，学生压力无比，竞争残酷，学习时间超长，还体罚，把我们孩子听的惊讶得嘴都合不拢，吓坏了。&nbsp;<img alt="发呆" src="http://img3.pp.sohu.com/ppp/blog/images/emotion/16.gif" border="0" />&nbsp;</font></p>
<p><font size="4">去年春节我让我们学生看了春节联欢晚会录像，还写了篇文章一直耽搁了没发上来，过几天找出来看看合不合用。这周我答应他们有一节课have fun，让他们看看今年的春节联欢晚会。</font></p>
<p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://120.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/2/27/0/18/118f45664c2.jpg" border="0" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 我和Elizabeth都借韩服穿了一下。</p>
<p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://119.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/2/27/0/20/118f45812c4.jpg" border="0" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 和韩国老师合影。</p>
<p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://121.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2008/2/27/0/21/118f45cbb1f.jpg" border="0" /><font size="4"></font></p>]]></description>
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			<title>Food For Thought</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/78515372.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/78515372.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 5 Feb 2008 21:39:37 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/78515372.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<p><font size="4">祝大家新春快乐，新年万事如意！</font></p>
<p><font size="4">过节难免会吃多点，看看这篇幽默对话，吃起来就更无所顾忌了，哈哈。</font></p>
<p><font size="4">祝大家越吃越健康，越吃越长寿！</font></p>
<p><font size="4">&nbsp; </font></p>
<p><font size="4">Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong&nbsp;life; is this true?<br />A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't&nbsp;waste them&nbsp;on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart&nbsp;will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of&nbsp;your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.<br /><br />Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and&nbsp;vegetables?<br />A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay&nbsp;and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an&nbsp;efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat&nbsp;chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a&nbsp;pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable&nbsp;products.<br /><br />Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?<br />A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine,&nbsp;that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the&nbsp;goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!<br /><br />Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?<br />A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to&nbsp;one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.<br /><br />Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a&nbsp;regular exercise program?<br />A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No&nbsp;Pain...Good!<br /><br />Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?<br />A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in&nbsp;vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be&nbsp;bad for you?<br /><br />Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft&nbsp;around the middle?<br />&nbsp;A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">Q: Is chocolate bad for me?<br />A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the&nbsp;best feel-good food around!<br /><br />Q: Is swimming good for your figure?<br />A: &nbsp;If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.<br /><br />Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?<br />A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!</font></p>
<p><font size="4">Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had&nbsp;about food and diets.</font></p>
<p><font size="4">And remember:<br />'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention&nbsp;of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid&nbsp;in sideways- Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly&nbsp;used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ri </font></p>
<p><tt><font size="4">AND.....</font></tt></p>
<p><font size="4"><tt>For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on&nbsp;nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting&nbsp;nutritional studies.</tt><br /><br /><tt>1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.</tt><br /><br /><tt>2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.</tt><br /><br /><tt>3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.</tt><br /><br /><tt>4. The Italians drink a lot o f red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.</tt><br /><br /><tt>5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats&nbsp;and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.</tt><br /><br /><u><strong><tt>CONCLUSION</tt><br /><br /><tt>Eat and drink what you like.&nbsp;Speaking English is apparently what kills you.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="大笑" src="http://img3.pp.sohu.com/ppp/blog/images/emotion/3.gif" border="0" />&nbsp;</tt></strong></u></font></p>
<p><font size="4">&nbsp;</font></p>]]></description>
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			<title>采访上帝（视频）</title>
			<link>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/77592484.html</link>
			<comments>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/77592484.html#comment</comments>
			<dc:creator>零距离美国课堂</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:15:00 +0800</pubDate>
			<category>For English Whizzes </category>
			<guid>http://usteacher.blog.sohu.com/77592484.html</guid>
			<description><![CDATA[<font size="4">我已好几次在邮箱里收到朋友们发过来的这个视频，每次看都很有感触。放松一下忙碌疲惫了一年的心情，细细品味一下生活的意义吧。</font> 
<p><font size="4">点击链接 ， 然后点击&ldquo;View presentation, 慢慢欣赏吧。欢迎翻译！</font></p>
<p><font size="4">&nbsp;</font><a href="http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/"><font size="4">http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/</font></a></p>]]></description>
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