IstillremembervividlythedaywhenIfirstmetmyEnglishteacher.Shewasnotprettybutimpressive,notyoungbutenergetic.Moreover,herdispositionwasveryelegant.Whensheturnedtome,smilingandsaying,Hello,whatsyourname?Ibegantolikeheralmostatonce.
ShewasverydifferentfromotherEnglishteachersinourschool.WhenIaskedheraquestionof,forexample,thedifferencebetweentwosimilarprepositions,shewouldopenanEnglishbookandsay,withherusualsmile,Letsreadthesesentencestogether,shallwe?Thenagainandagain,shereadtheminadelicatetoneandlittlebylittle,Ifelttherewassomethingreallydifferentbetweenthosetwoprepositions.Nowyousee,shecontinued,EnglishisakindoflanguagejustlikeChinese.Wemustfeelit,notonlytorecitetherulesortocopythewords.Youunderstand?Shewentonlikethat.EvenourhomeworkonvacationwastoreadfamousChinesenovels.Shesaidthatifonecouldnotmasterhismotherlanguage,hecouldnotlearnaforeignlanguagewell.Itseemedthatlanguagewasakindofartinhereyes.
ShespokeEnglishexactlyandperfectlyandalsoaskedustofollowher.Weturnedeverytextintoaplayandlearnedfromitinacting.Ourclassroomwasalwaysfilledwithlaughterandnoise.Comeon,boysandgirls!Louderandmore!Sheoftenencourageduslikethis.Shegaveusthebestgift–confidence.Eachtimeyouvolunteeredtosaysomething,shewouldbethefirstonethatcheeredforyou,evenyouhadmadealotofmistakes.Shehadsuchagentlewayofcorrectingyourmistakesthatyouwouldbegladtoacceptheradviceandevencriticism.ItwasshewholedmeintotheworldofEnglish.Itwasshewhohelpedmefeelthebeautyofthelanguage.
ShewasnotonlyateacherofEnglishbutalsoateacheroflife.Sheletushavesomethingofourown,whichmadeourclassthemostspecialoneinourschool.
LastsummerIspentatwo-weekvacationatmyaunts.Myauntlivedaloneinamountainvillage.
OnemorningIwentfishingintheriver,wheretwowomenweredoingsomewashing.Ifoundamostfavorablepoint,castoutmylineandwaitedanxiouslyforabite.Suddenlytherecameacry:Help!Help!Ilookedinthedirectionofthecallandsawaboystrugglingintheriver.WithouthesitationIdashedoverlikeanarrow,jumpedintotheriverandswamtowardstheboyasquicklyasIcould.WithinafewminutesIpushedtheboytothebankoftheriver.TogetherwithhismotherIcarriedtheboytothenearbyhospital.Theboywassaved!Hismotherthankedmetimeandagain.ThisiswhatIshoulddoasaleaguemember.Ianswered.
Backtomyfishingplace,Ifoundmyfishingpolefloatingonthewater.Imanagedtogetit.Whatanicesurprise!Therewasabigfishonthehook.