【推荐1】

Nowadays, a lot of mothers in China are afraid that their children will fall behind their classmates, so they are becoming “tiger mothers”. They believe that if their children work hard, they will have a bright future. Is it true? Lulu and her sister Sophia may have something to say.

Lulu and Sophia have a “tiger mother”. She pushed the two daughters a lot when they were young. For example, they were not allowed to get grades lower than A’s. They had to practice the piano or violin for several hours a day. There were no games or TV.

This tiger mother, Amy, is a Chinese-American professor at Yale Law School in the USA. Several years ago, she wrote a book named Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and shared her strict parenting style (育儿方式) in it.

Many people don’t like Amy’s style of parenting. They once worried about her daughters would not be happy. However, the two girls have grown up and they are thankful to their mother. Sophia has just graduated from Yale University. She is hard-working, friendly and helpful. Not long ago, she shared some useful studying tips online. Lulu is also a warm, smart and popular girl in her friends’ eyes. She said their tiger mother believed that a child could succeed by being pushed to go all out.

Still, not everyone agrees with the tiger mother’s parenting style. In fact, there isn’t a parenting style that fits everyone. What’s the best style for you? Maybe you should work it out together with your parents.

【推荐1】

When you hear the word “volunteering”, what do you think of it? You may think volunteering is to help others without money.     1    

A few months ago, I learned that the City Charity needed some volunteers.     2     So I sent letters to ten friends. I would like to set up a group that would volunteer to serve dinner to the disabled people. I wanted to invite my friends to be part of the group.     3    

One day, several of my friends brought some food and helped prepare the meal. “I felt happy when I saw the disabled people get the food!” said one friend. Another friend suggested that we should do that every month.     4     Now each month there are new hands that join the group. One woman even invites another group of her friends to join us.

    5     At first, I just wanted to be an organizer (组织者). Now, I have changed my idea. I have fallen in love with working as a volunteer because I can get more joy from the happy faces of other people.

【推荐3】Do you want to spend your summer holiday in a meaningful way? Do you want to make a difference to the lives of children? Join us now and become a volunteer(志愿者) teacher of English!

We are a charity and we help children in poor areas in India. We need volunteers to join us and teach English to these children, and help make their lives better.

Volunteer teachers will work with children aged 6 to15 and teach classes up to 30 children.

We welcome volunteers with or without teaching experience. We will organize(组织)a two-week training before you go to India.

This is a special chance to gain important life experience. You will meet other young people from all over the world, and learn more about Indian culture. Most importantly, you will make a difference to a community（团体）in need. Education can change a child’s life forever. Help us make that change today.

What our volunteers say:

“This has been a wonderful experience. I loved teaching my class and India is a beautiful country. I’ll never forget the three months I spent here!”       —Jane

“After my 2-month volunteering experience there, I realize how lucky I’m at home. Some children in India live in very poor conditions, but they’re very hard-working. They want to improve the lives of their families in the future. I’m very happy to be able to help them in some small ways.”       — Mike

To join us, you can email us at teachervolunteers@yahoo.com or call us at 60998979. Come and be a member of the big family!

【推荐1】Do you believe in green living? Read the following blog (博客) and replies about a fun, easy and creative way to make your lifestyle greener.

Posted by Gina at 8: 32 a.m. on 11th February 2022 New uses for old clothing

Nowadays, we’re more wasteful than ever—buying, using and throwing things away without thinking about the costs. We need to start living more responsibly—but how? One answer is to upcycle (再生利用).

What do you think of the “new” hat I made for my sister? It used to be my mum’s sweater.

If you’re like me, you might already make soil (土壤) for gardening from food waste and use empty paper boxes. Did you know you can apply (应用) the same way to old clothing? You just need imagination! I started upcycling clothing. Making new things out of old clothes is the best way to mix my talent and my interest. Do you upcycle? If so, what new things have you made? If not, why not give it a try?

Terry Posted at 9:08 a.m. on 11th February 2022 Why don’t you give your old clothes to people in need? I even give away the most expensive things I don’t wear anymore. So I can help the environment while giving something useful to people in need. Gina Posted at 9:28 a.m. on 11th February 2022 early Good point! I’m talking about only the oldest clothing in your room—the clothes that are too old to be worn by others. The same idea goes for food waste at restaurants and supermarkets. Before upcycling food that can still be eaten, for example, using it to make soil, we should give it to those in need.

【推荐2】“There’s nothing to discuss,” barked my husband when I told him that Rosie, our 17-year-old daughter, had asked whether she could go to Kavos, Greece (希腊), for a holiday with her friends. “Of course she can’t. She’s too young to travel without any adult around. It’s completely out of the question.”

But how come I found myself standing, two weeks later, at Gatwick Airport? Tearfully, I watched Rosie disappear at the boarding gate (登机门). In four hours’ time, she would be in Kavos. It’s 2, 500 kilometers away from England!

There comes a time when you have to let your baby go—for many parents, it’s around the age of 17. Maybe it is the time that you should trust that they’ll look after themselves. But I still felt worried. Rosie tried to put my mind at rest. She said she and her friends would always look after one another and that it really, really was all going to be okay.

After we had waved our last goodbye at the airport, I looked back. She was, to my surprise, looking back at me, too. Teenagers want to cut free, but it’s still a frightening business for them, too.

We made Rosie promise to text (发短信) as soon as she arrived in Kavos. But around 9 a. m. on the first morning, her first message came through. It was twelve hours since I had left her at Gatwick! And all I got was: “I’m here.”

I wish everything goes well with my children. But like all the dangers in life, all you can do is to warn them, warn them again, and then hope that some of your messages can reach them.

My daughter got home safely. But every time Rosie wants another similar journey, my alarm bells start ringing.

【推荐1】As the fifth of seven children I went to the same public school as my three elder sisters and brother. Every year, each child from the third grade took part in an old school tradition-the plant sale held in early May, just before Mother’s Day.

That year I was old enough to take part in it. I wanted to surprise my mother, but I didn’t have any money. I told my elder sister about it and she gave me some money. When I arrived at the plant sale I carefully chose my favorite. I watched each plant seriously to make sure that I could find the best geranium (天竺葵). After school, with the help of my sister I hid it on the neighbor’s porch (门廊). On Mother’s Day I remember how bright my mother’s eyes were and how elated she was at my gift.

The year I was fifteen, my younger sister reached the third grade. She told me that she wanted to surprise our mother. Like my elder sister did for me I gave her some money. And she bought the same gift and we hid it in the same place. When she gave the gift to my mother, I watched them full of pride and happiness. My mother noticed me watching and gave me a soft and secret smile. With a shock at my heart I smiled back.

I wonder how my mother could pretend (假装) to be surprised at the same sixth child, but as I watched her eyes, I knew she was not pretending.

【推荐2】Dawson was an old man who often became angry with kids. Everyone knew it. He had the best apples in town. When kids came to pick apples, he would get angry and came after them.

One Friday, Cindy and Kelly was going to Kelly’s house. On the way, they walked by Dawson’s house. Cindy saw Dawson sitting in front of his house. Like most kids, Cindy was afraid of him, so she suggested they should cross over to the other side of the street. But Kelly said Dawson wouldn’t hurt them and kept walking. When they got close, Dawson looked up angrily. But when he saw Kelly, he smiled and said, “Hello, Kelly. I see you’ve got a friend with you today.” Kelly smiled back and told him Cindy was coming to her house and play games. “It sounds pretty good.” Dawson said and then gave them each a fresh apple.

They walked on for a while, and then Cindy asked Kelly, “Why is he so nice to us today?” Kelly said, “When I first walked by his house, he wasn’t friendly and I was afraid. But then I pretended he was wearing an invisible(看不见的) smile, so I smiled at him. Then every time I walked by, I smiled at him. It took a while but one day, he smiled back at me.” “An invisible smile?” asked Cindy. “Yes.” answered Kelly, “My grandma told me if I pretended someone gave me an invisible smile, and I smiled back, then sooner or later, he would really smile.”