An Excellent Teacher with a Humble Mind

I have been influened by many teachers in my life. What they taught me regarding teaching materials actually has faded away. However, their personal qualities are something that will never vanish in my memories.
Dr. Wu, a Harvard ph.D graduate, is a new professor I just met last year. She impressed me with her smile and kindness on our first meeting when I was a testee on an oral interview trying to enter the ph.D program of NCCU. Feeling so tense to be questioned by six professors, I had been shaking, afraid I wouldn't be able to answer all. Surprisingly, I heard "Hello! How are you?" right after I entered the examination room. Suddenly, my tension seemed to release a lot. With her warm voice and excellent English, she appreciated the replies I gave to her questions. I noticed she did mean it from her sincere eyes. When I hesitated answering the others' questions, she elaborated theirs, trying to make clear to me. I, from the bottom of my heart, couldn't thank her any more. Until I got accepted to the program did I have the chance to speak to her face to face. From a distance, she looked proud and a little bit cool. To my surprise, I was truly touched when she encouraged and supported me for the loss I had during my first study in another ph.D program. I didn't detailedly describe what the director of the previous ph.D program did to me and why I decided to take another chance to get a brandnew start here after I had spent four or five years there. Instead, I told her I wouldn't be defeated and was willing to give my best shot here. As my class advisor, Dr. Wu accepted me in spite of knowing me little. Since then, I admire her and take her as my role model. The way she cares about her students, defending them in any faculty meetings to offer them a great place for learning.
On the first day of this semester, I went to her class, feeling excited to be indulged in her instruction. Being so well-organized and learnt, she gave us an explicit syllabus and brought copies of readings arranged by date. Signing our names for any topics each of us would like to present, we got a clear schedule of when each had to do a presentation. Everything was so clearcut. No one would feel panicked. Her sense of humor and smiles created a wonderful learning atomosphere. Whenever one of us was sharing his or her opinion about some issue, she showed her appreciation verbally and humbly said she learned a lot from us. It was so unbelievable how such a great teacher had such a humble mind. She never criticized us but responded positively. When I walked out the classroom, she thanked me again for sharing valuable remarks with the others and for being interested in her class. Everyone went home, feeling more confident than before She was so amazing. I learned a lot from her. In my mind, she is an outstanding teacher with a humble mind, the kind I would like to be to my students.

Courtesy is never too much

One foggy and chilly morning in Taipei, people with cold faces rushed to somewhere. Some were waiting at intersections to catch a bus or MRT; others were grasping breakfast at the stands along the street. Everything seemed like a flash. Though full of people, the city was quiet at this moment. On MRT, no one had energy to make a move on his face, not even to talk to each other. It was deadly silent. Off MRT, I tranferred to a bus. An old lady got in from the back door. All the seats were taken, but she preferred not to disturb any, standing behind those priority seats. After a few stops, a middle-aged woman sitting next to her stood up and was surprised to see the old lady standing next to her for a while. She cried, nodding her head in a row, " I am so sorry, ma'am. I hadn't noticed you." Taking her daughter's hand, the woman got off and still nodded her head, looking up to the old lady, feeling sorry. She really meant it. The old lady smiled, saying nothing. I felt warm and peace at the minute. I wonder how rarely it would be necessary for the mother to verbally "teach" her child good manners. It reminded me one time on MRT every seat was occupied. A mother and her son got on. The boy next to my friend said loudly, " how come I get no seat?" My friend instantly stood up and gave her seat to him. The mother said nothing at all, looking " why not?"
Taking is actually easy; giving takes love, understanding, and compassion. When parents work so hard to support their children to be "competitive" in the future, do they only train them to be capable of taking or giving? To be greedy to take as much as they want at any cost? To deprive others of what they have had to satisfy themselves? What kind of children do we expect in the future? Are you counting on this kind of generation to make this world a better place?

Time Management

管理的概念在現在的社會裡幾乎是成功的關鍵，不僅是適用於個人、家庭以及職場上，甚至整個國家都是，從以前古人就說道「修身、齊家、治國、平天下」，今天我的身邊就出現了因管理的不當而讓我有所省思的事。我的好友宣宣一直是個樂善好施的人，對人親切友善，但她的管理概念真的需要加強。偶然的機會裡，她投入了直銷的行列，她的積極與交友廣闊使她有不錯的成績，加上她有營養學的背景，誠懇的態度使她的說服力大增，然而她的帳總是很混亂，為了方便他人，銷出的貨款常是積欠的狀態，他自己要掏腰包先訂貨，用信用卡訂貨還得利用老公教師的身份有較高的額度，家裡的貨很凌亂，都得靠老公有空的時候替她整理，收支的問題也是不清不楚，既使知道已賣出不少的貨，也不曉得賺了多少，好幾次我跟她買東西，都要自己打電話不斷向她催貨，總是會折騰好久才買到，甚至她會忘記我要的是什麼，也不先告訴我她何時寄貨給我，害我空等，她所賣的東西我一買便是好幾千元，不是小數目，更何況我是老客戶，身為她的好友，我還是會忍不住說她兩句，幾年了，好像也沒有進步，她知道自己的問題也說過會改進，但事實卻不是如此。良好的自我管理可以替自己和別人省了很多的時間和金錢，也是建立他人的信任的要素，修身是最切身也最能立即見效的生活之道。記得老公跟我說過王永慶會成功就是在於他懂得如何管理，日據時代，他為和當時的日本米行，（那時人民都是跟日本米行買米），他會詳細瞭解每一戶人家何時買米、買多少在顧客快要用完米之前，他便將米及時送到顧客家裡，顧客也省了叫米的麻煩，如此一來，一傳十，十傳百，他的米行生意昌隆。他的三太太之後仍繼續履行這個原則，王永慶常會帶客戶回家用餐，她會記下每個客人每次來家裡用餐時吃過什麼菜，確保他們不會重複吃到同樣的菜色，也會記下他們最喜歡的菜為何，這樣一來，客人感受到了主人的用心和貼心，也都能盡興而歸。明白自己的本質及所做的事所需要的條件及先機，這些都必須有規劃，靜下心來思考如何讓自己從別人的觀點、角度看事情，瞭解他們真正的需要，而不是自己覺得如何就是如何，更重要的是自己本身能透視事情的本質，掌握機會，有條理組織，更要細心，這樣的做事態度才會贏得長久的信任，管理自己何其的重要。

我和老公

我和老公總是互相在學習中成長。從他身上我知道什麼是真愛。因為他，我又多了一個親人對我無怨無悔的付出。他在我生活上遇到困難時，善解人意地安慰我，他所說的小故事會適時使我思考，之後得到安慰，不需直接地碰痛傷處，也能有所領悟與豁達。當老師的我偶爾會因學生的不用功而生氣，尤其在考試完時才來求我不要當掉他，讓我很氣憤又苦惱，他告訴我一個故事，話說有一個人對觀世音菩薩很虔誠，每天吃齋唸佛從不間斷，這樣持續了半年，有一天觀世音菩薩真的顯靈了，他非常地興奮說道：「菩薩，真不敢相信我每天這樣求你，你真的出現我的眼前。你真是靈驗。不曉得可否請問菩薩您也拜佛嗎？」觀世音菩薩回答：「當然囉！」那人驚訝地問道：「那您是拜哪尊佛？」觀世音菩薩回答：「觀世音菩薩啊！」那人很納悶為何觀世音菩薩要拜自己呢？菩薩在我回答說：「求人不如求己。」老公說：「妳可以說這個故事給學生聽，他們應該覺得慚愧。」
沮喪的時候，我會習慣地對他說：「告訴我我的五個優點。」他會配合地帶著稱讚的口吻、輕輕的抱著我，告訴我他有多麼幸運認識我，甚至會驕傲地說：「還好我先追到了。」我做錯事時，會滿臉羞愧抱歉地訴說經過，他卻像是聽我說故事般，專注看著我，然後說道：「老婆乖乖，反正只有老公知道，沒關係的。」我的自信也是他一點一滴幫我建立的，他總是稱讚我，不管是外在或內在，在他的眼中，我是最美的，最好的，記得小時候就很在意自己是單眼皮，沒有水汪汪的大眼睛，他反而是第一個欣賞我的眼睛的人，他說我笑的時候眼睛也會笑，非常吸引人。我知道他不是為了奉承我才這樣說，因為很多以前的男友都不會稱讚的地方或者連自己都沒自信的地方，都變成吸引他的地方，剛開始我真的覺得他對我的觀察真是和別人大異其趣，久而久之，我自己也開始注意和喜歡這些地方了，所以現在的我，因為他不斷的鼓勵和讚賞，整個人更有信心和光采。
相對的是，他不會責備我的不是，記得有一次因為我的不小心，整疊碗盤從櫥櫃掉下來打到他，他的手也因此流血了，我看到血，嚇得楞在那兒，他不但沒有生氣，直說他的手沒關係，還幫忙收拾殘局，當時的我很難過及心疼，卻更是感動萬分。對我的家人亦是如此。因為我家都是女生，有些修繕或是粗重的工作，不是擱著就是麻煩別人來幫忙，有了他，家裡的好多東西都起死回生，媽媽以前很節儉捨不得裝第四台，天線又有問題，他們忍受了好一陣子只有兩台看得清楚的情況。後來老公的巧手使無線電視的四台變得好清楚，我們全家都好開心。到了外公家，他也是主動幫外公修電視，這樣一來看電視時，外公外婆的眼睛就不會那麼吃力了。
他對我是有耐心的。記得以前我在高雄修碩士班，為了省錢，我總是搭國光號，因此有時會因高速公路塞車而誤點，那時手機並不普遍，我在車上著急著，深怕他等太久心情會不好，當我匆忙下車，看到他悠哉地坐在機車上，看著他的書，看到我時，卻露出笑容迎接我，溫柔的問我累不累，剎時我好感動。還有他拖地的細心也讓我印象深刻。他總是仔細拖過每一個小地方，檢起我掉落的頭髮，戲謔般對我說：「擦了也是白擦。」不過他還是不厭其煩的替我拖了近十二年的地，因為他知道他拖的地比我拖的乾淨。通常陪女朋友逛街是男生最討厭的事，不過先喊累的都是我，倒是他無怨無悔的幫我提著東西，鼓勵我去看看別的種類。
他是有愛心的。從以前到現在，每當我們走在馬路上，他會堅持讓我走在安全的內側。睡覺時，他會細心地拍拍我的肩膀，要我放鬆，不要那麼緊繃。不只是對我，他的心地善良時有所見。記得有一次我們如往常般於黃昏時到公園運動和散步，那時剛好有個女學生腳踏車鍊條脫落，而只好牽著腳踏車步行回家。他看到後，馬上自告奮勇幫她修理，手上弄得滿是油污也無所謂。別人連忙道謝，他倒認為沒什麼大不了。曾經我想增添室內的綠意，剛好看到戶外的一大叢黃金葛，於是想摘幾株到室內種植，正當我在篩選時，挑到一株不錯的黃金葛，老公卻說它長得那麼好，就不要選它，讓它在原地繼續成長。
他是有智慧的。念博士班的功課壓力常讓我莫名地憂鬱。一向好強的我，也因此常常鬱鬱寡歡。他會安慰我告訴我：「妳在老公心目中永遠都是最好的，他們不懂的欣賞。妳知道嗎，人會不快樂都是因為想得到的卻得不到。慾望太多，想擁有更多的貪心是沈重的，更會忽略已經擁有的東西。妳那麼努力積極，你目前的成就已經是很多人想求也求不到的，對自己好一點，妳還有老公呀！我會疼妳一輩子的。」還有幾次我面臨人生的一些抉擇，做了決定後又懷疑是否做錯了決定，比如當初我必須選擇念博士班或薪水優渥的高中老師職務，他問我我不是因為不想一直重複教授一樣的東西，想要在較有挑戰性與變化的大學教書才報考博士班的嗎？既然如此，考上了當然就去念，以當下的情況去做選擇，就一定是當時最好的決定。不用擔心也沒辦法擔心以後會不會後悔。我們有能力掌握的是現在，這樣也就夠了，以後也不應該責怪自己，因為那是當初最好的考量與決定。還有幾次因為父親的善心被友人利用欠下幾筆債務，我盡全力幫忙償還，自己的經濟狀況一直都有點吃緊，不只沒什麼積蓄，生活費有時會不夠，有時還得把每個戶頭幾百元的餘額領出來應急，免不了要難過自己為何要替爸爸的朋友還錢，他卻告訴我你是在幫爸爸的忙，讓他不用為了這件事擔心無助。要不是老公和我同甘共苦、省吃儉用，我真的不知道怎麼辦。他從來不會跟我計較金錢的事，我要的東西他從不會說不行，他知道我不是個浪費的女生，對我的家人也一樣好，他會教我如何理財，開源節流，如何跟銀行商量利息的調降，盡快並且合理的還錢，而且強迫自己以投資基金、股票快速存錢，雙管齊下，他的眼光一向很準，且不投機，他會先收集相關的書籍雜誌瞭解目前的情勢，不道聽途說，穩重踏實的理財觀念和他的個性完全一致。
他強烈的求知慾望，讓他對很多的知識領域都有所涉獵，因此隨時隨地這些知識替我解決了生活上的很多問題，也美化了我們的生活，我常覺得這樣的學習使我成長很多，他會謙虛的說我改變他更多，因為我的生活體驗豐富與對人際關係的掌握比他好，從我身上他看到更多書本上學不到的道理，其實我發覺他的觀察力越來越好，應該是說他開始注意他身邊的人事物了，不再只是閉門造車，對人冷漠與被動，他有時會告訴我他在火車上看到形形色色的人，他們言行如何，他有何感觸等等。從我們認識到現在十二年來，回想起生活的起起伏伏、喜怒哀樂，對他，我充滿了感激與感動。我累的時候，只要暗示他哪裡好酸痛，他就會幫我按摩，甚至有時不用開口，只要把腳伸到他身上，他就會自動按摩了。記得我每次生理痛時，他會拿個塑膠帶裝熱水，反覆幫我熱敷腹部，想盡辦法減輕我的痛苦，哄我睡覺。以前犯氣喘時，我無法躺著睡覺，他會坐著睡覺，以便讓我依靠著他。只要是我想吃的東西，再遠也會帶我去吃。記得以前花四十分鐘從東海大學到豐原吃排骨麵。我們以前沒有汽車，有好幾年都是兩個人騎著機車，從東海到我家，五十分鐘的舟車勞頓，忍受太陽或強風，有時下雨，還把鞋子脫了，赤腳騎車。冷的時候，他居然還會拿雨衣禦寒。這是他認識我之後才會做的事。在台中工作時，傍晚時分，我們一起到健康公園散步、運動。夏天晚上熱得睡不著時，他會騎車帶我到外面吹風，在公園聊天談心。當然現在的他改變很多，以前剛認識他的時候，有一次因為手上拿著東西不方便，恰巧被他的大學同學看到，想請他幫忙，他當時覺得很丟臉，但也勉為其難地做了，但因此也吵了一架，因為他覺得我自己可以做，況且他不喜歡這種被指使而做的事。但現在他會先注意到我的鞋帶是否鬆了，也會主動幫忙我綁鞋帶，就算在大馬路上也無所謂了。我們兩個因為多年的相處，使我們不僅有默契，連長相和感覺都十分神似。記得第一次到他家拜訪，吃晚飯時剛好他的媽媽坐在我們對面，她看了我們一眼，不禁笑了出來，她對他說：「你真厲害，連女朋友都找長得一樣的。」更有一次我們都感冒了，一起去看醫生，掛號時，護士好奇地看看我們兩個，問道：「你們是姊弟還是男女朋友啊？」連逛街時，老闆因覺得我們怎麼會都長得這麼像而笑著答應更便宜地把一件衣服賣給我。我們常常想同時到同一件事，說同一句話，經歷各種事件後會發出同樣的懷疑，會有一樣的反應及感受，連我們自己都會驚訝彼此的心有靈犀。不勝枚舉的生活點滴累積成美麗的回憶，從一開始的一見如故，到現在的默契十足，雖然我們也曾爭吵，我們也有缺點，當讚美替代責怪，感激勝過理所當然，我們是心靈的伴侶，我們要當十輩子的夫妻，想到自己是如此的幸運擁有這樣的好男人，除了感激上帝外，我更感謝老公，當然就如老公曾說：「有了你，我才是完整的。」

Is Correct English the only criterion of a Good English Teacher?

As an English teacher, I have to demonstrate the correct and incorrect ways to pronounce the English language to students. It is my responsibility to teach them what I know about English to achieve an academic or communicative aim. However, to me, “correctness” sometimes becomes a hurdle of instruction. For instance, when writing, students are afraid to make mistakes, so they write to avoid errors instead of writing to communicate or think on paper. Furthermore, they often keep silent when an oral response is needed. Under this kind of situations, using English to communicate becomes less important. In fact, appropriateness and organization of the content in speech or writing should not be ignored in addition to correctness.
We read articles, stories, poems written in Standard English, and listen to an accurate accent on TV, or in the radio. The chief goal of doing so is to communicate with people from other countries in a way they can easily understand. Consequently, it is essential for EFL students to understand that English is an international language but has dialectal or cultural differences. People should not have bias against the dialect different from theirs. After all, people are supposed to respect others’ home language.

It is true that people feel most comfortable when using their home language or listening to it. Especially when they are angry or upset, they prefer their home language to the language that they have to speak for some certain purpose such as the demand of business. This kind of function is irreplaceable in that sense. On the other hand, one’s accent can be intentionally changed owing to various reasons. For example, a girl from Texas to New York will probably change her accent after marrying a New Yorker. Another example is that in a classic movie “My Fair Lady,” a girl deliberately learns the accent of the upper class at that time to take place of her Virginian one, which may expose her origin of a low working class. However, it is the hardest change, compared to those of clothing, manner and so forth.

To sum up, every language, including English, has dialects thanks to geographical or cultural differences. Dialects of the same language are mutually intelligible to people who speak them in spite of differences of accents or expression of some words. Moreover, mutual respect between people who speak different dialects is essential in our society. No language can be devalued. Therefore, “Standard English” can no longer be defined as the criterion of correctness but one desirable type of English that is widely used.

Is There Good English?

Teaching entails more than the word itself. It's an attitude of the teacher him- or herself towards life and others. I remember some student came to me bothered with how an English native colleague questioned her ability of being an English teacher. She sounded frustrated and even became afraid to teach her students any longer. Enthusiasm, passion and constant learning are the foundations to be a teacher. Due to cultural differences, the qualities of a good teacher also differ. However, there is not such things as "correct " English pronunciation. Correctness is questionable. As an English teacher, we should demand ourselves to pronounce comprehensibly to our students. We are their models. But there is no need to take one person or a group of people as the only example of correct English. There is no one whose English is world-wide recognized. Our purpose of learning English is not the same as that before. Language use is what we concern with. In particular, do not overestimate the English native speakers around us. They are not all " English teachers." You can do better than them since you know Taiwanese students. You are going to stay here longer than they are. Trust yourself and keep learning. Being a good English teacher is something you can reach. Remember, what you teach doesn't matter much more than how you do it. In the following is how I comment on it:

People change and so do dialects. In the United States, dialects vary from one place to another in terms of accents and expressions of some certain words. Even though people in the United States all speak the same language, the way of one’s talk further represents not only one’s home language but the social class one may belong to. Among a variety of dialectal differences, one dialect that may sound funny to one person is music to another. Under this circumstance, whether there is one correct way to pronounce English gives rise to heated debates: whether “Standard English” is the best and most correct to be spoken.

What is so-called “Standard English? ” The type of English favored by TV news broadcast, newspapers and so on is the answer. The reason is it is the language everybody can understand. However, the phrase “Standard English” may mislead people to a false stereotype that there must be “non-standard English.” In fact, no language is superior to another. Those who speak English “correctly” are not smarter than those who don’t. Dialectal differences are just regional or cultural distinctions between people of a language, but cannot be indication of which group of people is more desirable or acceptable in society.