Ms.Cheung神似欧美电影里偶尔出现的东方女性,小麦肤色,高挑眉,有一双会说话的大眼睛。她是海枫的加方美术老师,秋冬季节,喜欢佩戴各式的披肩和围巾,颇有几分巴黎街头年轻女艺术家的气质。这次采访让我有深入了解她的机会,原来她不仅幽默风趣,对中国文化也很感兴趣,相信之后我们会有更多的共同话题。
Ms.Cheung给人的第一印象是有趣又认真,很多学生对她充满了好奇。在好奇心的驱使下,我为这次采访做了充足的准备。也因为是Ms.Cheung的学生,我很快确定了时间,并带着问题和摄影师,一同前去美术教室“拜访”刚上完课的她,迫不及待的开始了采访。
关于她的家乡,我有过许多种猜测。“America?Canada?Or...”Ms.Cheung笑着告诉我,她来自加拿大的蒙特利尔。在她的描述中,我隐约能感受到她家乡的美丽以及她对家乡的喜爱。像发现新大陆的我,记录下一些词汇后,问到她的大学时光。她毕业于多伦多大学,专业是英语与心理学,那恰好是我的志愿大学,我感到意外且惊喜。希望通过努力学习,两年之后我们能成为校友!
硕士毕业之后,她决定出国,最终把目光投向了美丽而繁忙的上海,来到上海枫叶国际学校任教。她告诉我自己很喜欢这个城市,因为这儿生活十分便利且富于变化,几乎应有尽有。虽然刚开始会遇到一些语言障碍,但好吃的上海菜,支付宝和淘宝等便捷的消费途径,在学生的帮助下学习中文的经历,很快让日子变得轻快起来。
言语之间,我感受到她回答我的每一个问题都十分认真。之后我们又聊到了上课的情况,提到有几个学生比较顽皮,Ms.Cheung老师脸上闪过一丝哭笑不得的表情。然后她又笑容可掬地告诉我:“尽管有时他们中的一些人偶尔调皮,包括你。但是,学生整体上是非常非常可爱和勤奋。”
她的课气氛轻松,某些时候我们甚至像朋友一样。课上常常会遇到一些故事中的人物,为了帮我们加深对人物的印象,她会在黑板上画一些比较抽象的人物画像,往往非常滑稽,但人物的特征又生动地体现出来了。有时聊到了有趣的部分,同学们也会开个玩笑,这时Ms.Cheung立马心领神会地笑起来,而非处罚我们,她对我说她很享受与我们在一起的时光,这样的课堂是最轻松但又最有效率的一种。
之后我问她有哪些办法能更好地提升口语,她说最快方法是尽可能多地说英语:在BC课程中,甚至在午餐时,都要说英语。并告诫我们要走出误区,虽然中国学生往往觉得彼此之间说英语很不舒服,但如果想提高,就必须走出自己的舒适区。当然,看英文电影和听英文歌也是很有帮助的。
总而言之,这次采访Ms.Cheung的经历十分难忘,这让我看到了不一样的她。也让我体会到,老师与学生可以像朋友一样探讨交流学习和生活。十分期待着下次与她的深入交流。
采访时间:2019年1月8日
采访&编辑:1002刘嘉诚
摄影:Jack Gong
附采访实录
Q&A:
1.Q: Ms.Cheung, where is your hometown?(张老师,请问您的家乡是哪里?)
A:I was born in Montreal, Quebec. At a young age I moved to Toronto, Canada, and I have been there ever since.(我出生在魁北克的蒙特利尔。我很小的时候就搬到了加拿大的多伦多,从那时起我就一直在那里。)
2.Q:Which university did you graduate from and did you go to graduate school?(请问您毕业于哪所大学,并且你是否读过研究生?)
A: I graduated from the University of Toronto studying English and Psychology, and completed my graduate students with a Master of Teaching, also at the University of Toronto.(我毕业于多伦多大学,学习英语和心理学,并在多伦多大学完成了我的研究生的教学硕士学位。)
3.Q:Why do you become a teacher of Maple Leaf International School?(那又是什么原因让你成为一名枫叶国际的教师呢?)
A: I think Maple Leaf International School is an excellent international school. I know that the students here are very hardworking, kind, and overall lovely students. I enjoy working here because it has allowed me to focus on my teaching and to become a better teacher.(我认为枫叶国际学校是一所优秀的国际学校。我知道这里的学生非常勤奋、善良,而且整体上都很可爱。我喜欢在这里工作,因为它让我能够专注于教学,成为一名更好的老师。)
4.Q:As an English teacher, what’s your opinion on how to improve students oral ability?(作为一名英语老师,您对如何提高学生口语能力的看法是什么呢?)
A: The fastest way to improve is to speak English as much as you can. Speak it in your BC classes, and even during lunch! Students tend to not feel comfortable speaking English to each other, but we have to step outside of our comfort zones if we want to improve. And of course, watching English television and listening to English music is very helpful. Surround yourself with English!(提高的最快方法是尽可能多地说英语。在你的BC课程中,甚至在午餐时,都要说出来!学生们往往觉得彼此说英语不舒服,但如果我们想提高,就必须走出自己的舒适区。当然,看英语电视和听英语音乐是很有帮助的。用英语包围自己!)
5.Q:Did you enjoy the time with students, although sometimes they are naughty?(请问您享受与学生的时光吗,尽管他们有时候很调皮?)
A: Of course I enjoy having classes with my students, although sometimes some of them are trouble makers, including you, Jackson. Once again, I find the students here very sweet and hardworking. (当然,我喜欢和我的学生们一起上课,尽管有时他们中的一些人是麻烦制造者,包括你,刘嘉诚。但是,他们还是非常非常可爱和勤奋。)
6.Q:Chinese culture is broad and profound. So I want to ask you. Are there any inconveniences or interesting things when you live in China, such as food or cultural differences?(中国文化博大精深,所以我想问问您,在您住在中国的时间里,有没有什么不适应或者有趣的地方,比如食物或者文化差异?)
A: Coming to any foreign country will have its inconveniences, but you learn to adjust and adapt. The language barrier is a factor, but taking part in the Chinese Club at school has been helpful in helping me learn some basic Chinese. Also, making friends who are Chinese can be very helpful. In terms of the food, I love Chinese food and Shanghainese food. But if I am craving food from back home, I can find it easily in the city because Shanghai is so diverse. China is very convenient once you get the hang of how to use certain things. For example, Wechat pay is fantastic, and so is Taobao.(来到任何一个外国都会带来不便,但你要学会适应。语言障碍是一个因素,但是在学校参加汉语俱乐部有助于我学习一些基本的汉语。此外,交中国朋友也很有帮助。在食物方面,我喜欢中国菜和上海菜。但是如果我渴望从家里得到食物,我可以很容易地在城市里找到,因为上海是如此的多样化。一旦你掌握了使用某些东西的窍门,中国就非常方便了。例如,微信支付非常棒,淘宝也是如此。)
7.Q:So the last question is, are there any things that you expect in the future?(最后一个问题是,您对未来有什么期望?)
A: As a teacher, I certainly hope that my students can graduate successfully and enter into a good university. But most importantly, I want to see my students happy and achieve what they want in life. I also hope that I can continue to learn and improve speaking Mandarin.(作为一名教师,我当然希望我的学生能顺利毕业,进入一所好大学。但最重要的是,我希望看到我的学生快乐,并实现他们在生活中想要的。我也希望我能继续学习和提高普通话。)