【推荐2】During the late 1960’s and the 1970’s, education, influenced by the social changes of the 60’s, went through a period when the teaching of grammar was thought to be limiting creativity. Often I was made to feel like a dinosaur for teaching grammar.

Strangely enough, much of the criticism came from colleagues who held master’s degrees. I remember saying on more than one occasion, “It is easy for you to say but you have already had grammar skills, or you wouldn’t have been able to write a master’s thesis. Now, you want to deny these same skills to present and future students. I am not against progress in education but, in the heat of the excitement of making changes, we must be very sure that what we consider to be progression is not regression.” I firmly continued to teach grammar.

In the fall of 1991, I decided that it was time to learn to use a computer. The instructor suggested that I would learn more quickly if I worked on a continuous project. I thought of my grammar course which was hand-written in an old broken folder. This became my computer project. I spent every opportunity available to me in the computer room, early mornings, lunchtimes, after school and in the evenings. It was during the lunchtime periods, particularly, that I noticed a pattern forming.

The younger teachers on staff, one by one, would sneak into the computer room and peer over my shoulder. At first they were puzzled, but then they became interested in my grammar project. Without exception each would whisper into my ear. “When you are finished, may I have a copy? I was never taught grammar and I am terrified to teach it.” At that moment, I realised that I was finally vindicated.

I promised to give them a copy and when they left I shook my head und thought to myself, “Another product of the 70’s, and the 80’s, and the 90’s and...”

【推荐3】Lucia was a bright-eyed girl of 12, born in a tiny village which is far less crowded than big cities. The village, even though filled with love, had no room for the world of arts. Lucia, however, possessed a passion for acting. While children played in fields, Lucia practiced lines from old plays she found in the attic. She visualized herself on grand stages, under bright lights. But for a girl from a distant village, this dream seemed more like a fantasy.

When Lucia heard about a national acting competition in the city, her heart raced with excitement. But she faced two big challenges: convincing her closed-minded parents and preparing for a competition with city-bred competitors.

Her parents, although loving, believed that the city was no place for their daughter. Lucia’s pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears until she decided to perform a touching scene for them. Tears flowed, not just from Lucia’s eyes but from her parents’ too. Witnessing her raw talent, they gave her their blessing.

Training was no easy feat. With no acting schools or instructors, Lucia had to be able to solve all the problems by herself. She practiced day and night, watching old films, and seeking feedback from village elders. Her dedication made a difference; she was molding herself into an acting wonder.

The day of the competition arrived. The city’s hall was filled with well-dressed participants and audiences. Lucia, in her modest clothes, felt like a fish out of water. Yet, when her turn came, the stage was her world. She performed so beautifully that she made the audience completely amazed. She showed the emotions so vividly; it touched souls.

When the results were announced, the underdog from a tiny village had finally won. The city, which seemed so vast, echoed with applause for Lucia.

She returned to her village not just as Lucia but as a symbol of hope and dreams. Her journey, from a quiet village girl to a national acting champion, was not just a proof of her talent but a shining example of passion and determination.

【推荐1】My family and I met the breeder at a dog show. We drove for four hours to her house where she showed us three puppies , two males and one female. They were all Welsh Corgis and were so cute with their little legs, long bodies and heads that looked too big for their bodies. It took me a long time to figure out which one I wanted, but I finally decided when the female came up to me and licked (舔) my face. I named her Dion.

It took a while for Dion to get used to our home. Every night, she cried in a way that made me burst into tears. She cried almost every second of the day. But after a couple of weeks, she got used to us. That's when we began to train her.

My mother and I took Dion to puppy kindergarten. It was funny to see all the disobedient (不温顺的) dogs. They all barked (吠叫) very loudly, making my ears hurt. The only one who didn't bark was Dion. She was very shy and hid from people. But she was very friendly with the other dogs. The trainer says that she is doing very well for a four-month-old puppy.

If you are thinking about getting a dog, consider all the time and effort you must put in. There are a lot of responsibilities . I walk Dion four to six times a day. I feed her, spend time with her and watch her when she is out of her doghouse. Even if my favourite TV programme is on, or a good part in a movie is coming up, I still have to take care of her. It is a lot of work to keep her clean. Sometimes when I brush her I end up with hair all over me.

However, it is all worth it. I have benefited in many ways from having Dion around. For one thing, she provides constant love. She is always there to lick me, lie on me and comfort me. I always have someone to keep me company. I enjoy playing with her. Dion is always there to talk to. Even though she doesn't talk back, I think she can tell when I am happy, sad, angry, confused or troubled.

Dion is a big responsibility but she is the most comforting friend because she is always there, with me.

【推荐2】I noticed some young students standing by the road. I could see they were sweating, which wasn’t surprising because of the 40-degree heat.

“Miss, do you have any water?” one boy asked.

“We don’t have any boxed water at home,” another explained.

My heart sank hearing this.

In Wilcannia, where I accepted a six-month contract as a primary school teacher, it hadn’t rain for a long time. A health warning had been issued, meaning you couldn’t drink the town water, which was filled with so much chlorine (氯) that you could feel dry from having a shower. What’s worse, not everyone could afford to buy supplies, so the local radio station distributed boxed water to the community.

“Let me check,” I told them.

Quickly searching my car, I pulled out a full bottle and gave it to the children before saying goodbye. It was moments like this that reminded me just how far I’d come from my old life as a teacher in Sydney.

The nearest shops were two hours away and the thought of not being able to feel quite warm at night was disturbing. But living in a small, two-bedroom house without the Internet or a phone connection also had its rewards. I enjoyed the silence and looked forward to each working day.

I taught Year Six, which consisted of just 10 students — a lot smaller than the classes of 30 I was used to. I also taught singing to the wider school community. Setting up my classroom with spaces — a bright-coloured tent with cushions for them to feel safe, sleep or have time away from conflict, I made a motto for our class: Mistakes are expected, respected, inspected and corrected.

The students and I bonded so well that I extended my contract to a full year!

【推荐1】Making it to 100 years old is a big achievement on its own, but being active at that age is absolutely worthy of praise and admiration. Jayne Burns, who just turned 101 years old, still has a part-time job at a craft store in Ohio, drives herself to work, and simply doesn’t see herself retiring anytime soon. Not only does she seem to love keeping busy, but she credits it as one of her secrets to living a long life.

Burns first caught the internet’s attention on TikTok. There, her coworker Maggie HusVar told her followers about her then 98-year-old friend. Maggie then asked Burns to share a piece of advice with her new fans, to whom Burns said, “Keep moving.”

The senior woman recently celebrated her 101st birthday, and she certainly hasn’t changed her mind about slowing down. Burns took the job in 1997 after her husband died, and has expressed that she enjoys what she does, so she wants to keep doing it. “I’ll work for as long as I can or as long as they’ll have me,” she said.

In celebration of her milestone birthday, Burns recently shared some more tips for a long life. “I was always active all my life doing things. So I think that has helped more than anything.” As a cancer survivor, she said she used to watch her sugar intake, but she doesn’t anymore, as she loves sweets. Despite her age, she still follows a beauty routine. “I use a moisturizer(保湿霜) and makeup. I figured I did it all my life, so I’m ‘not’ going to stop now,” she says.

Overall, her top secret for a long life is to make friends and find happiness in the company of others. “It’s important to find people who are friendly and kind.” she says. “I enjoy talking to everybody I work with, and meeting the customers who are very nice, even if some of them are surprised to see me at the cutting table.”

【推荐2】It’s May, which means that millions of students around the country have got or are getting ready to receive their college diplomas. Grace Bush is one of them. The only difference? Grace is just 16 years old. Yes, that’s right—at the age when most teenagers have not even completed high school, Grace has graduated from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in Spanish. What’s even more astonishing is that the brilliant girl received her high school diploma from Florida Atlantic University High School on May 9th, a week after she graduated from college!

Grace’s unique situation was made possible thanks to FAU’s policies that allow motivated students to take high school and college courses simultaneously.

Though this youngest FAU graduate in over a century has attracted national attention, for Grace, she has a different opinion. Her 19-year-old sister Gisela, who is now studying for a master’s degree in urban planning also graduated at 16, while her 17-year old sister Gabrielle will receive her master’s degree and graduate from FAU this summer.

Grace’s education began when she was just a baby. Though she was never formally taught how to read, she simply learned by watching her sisters. So her mother, a full-time homeschool teacher, decided to include Grace in all the school courses she had with her older sisters. By 13, the homeschooled girl was ready for high school and college!

And the young girl is far from done yet. She plans to return to FAU in the fall to pursue a master’s degree. Following that, the young girl wants to obtain a law degree and she hopes she will become a judge of the U. S. Supreme Court, where she plans to lead peace efforts!