正式英文小文章閱讀

　　教學篇章語言學中有關英語篇章模式及篇章策略連續體的知識,非常適合英語閱讀教學。本文試圖借用其相關知識,在學生頭腦中建立起英文篇章模式和篇章連續體的概念,提高學生的閱讀技能。下面是小編帶來的，歡迎閱讀!

　　篇一

　　27歲的人生

　　27歲的人生也遠不如小時候預想的那麼好。我曾設想過在我27歲那年會擁有一段正式的婚姻，有自己的房子，令人羨慕的工作，財政自由，過著自我掌控的日子……

　　Life at age twenty seven is nothing what I envisioned when I was a child. I imagined by age twenty seven I would be in a serious relationship border line marriage, owning my own place, a successful career, being financially secure, and living life to the fullest on my downtime. The reality is before college my life was laid out with thirteen years of school then, after college other variables come into play such as figuring out what I want to do in life, coordinating my life with another person’s life, unexpected set backs, and timing.

　　27歲的人生也遠不如小時候預想的那麼好。我曾設想過在我27歲那年會擁有一段正式的婚姻，有自己的房子，令人羨慕的工作，財政自由，過著自我掌控的日子。然而現實卻是大學前一直住在學校，整整13年;大學畢業後生活開始變得迷茫，所有不安定的因素都開始作怪，一切都變得很混亂不安，我甚至不知道自己想要的是什麼，怎樣才能融入另一個人的生活，許多出乎意料的挫折，還有時間排程這一系列的問題。

　　Currently at age twenty seven, a quarter of what I envisioned, I am on my fifth job, took one year off to figure out what my purpose is in life, currently living with my father, not in a serious relationship, somewhat financially secure, and occasionally live life to my fullest on my downtime. Juggling important parts in my life is a complicated because I want to be well balanced in each category or else if you put too much concentration in one area you might get discourage with the results and burn out. The point is that I did not expect life to be so challenging with many more up hill battles ahead of me.

　　走到了今天的27歲，也算是有了當初預想的四分之一的成效。換過五份工作，用了整整一年的時間來考慮生活的意義和目的;一直與父親住在一起，還未談婚論嫁，財政上還算自由，偶爾也過過自己想要的日子。對我而言，兼顧生活的各個重要部分非常複雜，因為我一直希望在各個方面都能達到良好的平衡，否則你可能會由於太過於偏倚某個方面卻得不到好的成效而失去勇氣，甚至崩潰。關鍵是我從不希望自己的人生充滿如此多激烈的挑戰。

　　I still don’t know what I want to do in life, but I am realizing through my everyday experiences that I am slowly finding what makes me happy in life. Sometimes it’s a little ray of hope that carry you through the next day or the next year that eventually everything will work out in the end.

　　我仍然不知道要如何規劃自己的人生，但以每天的經驗為依據，卻發現自己正在慢慢尋找生活中能令我快樂的東西。有時候哪怕只是一絲微弱的希望也能牽引你走過明天，或是接下來的一整年。因為到最後，一切都會迎刃而解。

　　篇二

　　Returning to Learning

　　September represents a fresh start in so many ways. Thousands of learners are returning to school— some with excitement, others with trepidation. For mature students, those feelings may be amplified. So let’s start now: these little lessons will inspire seasoned pupils to sail through school.

　　Lesson 1: Never alone

　　“A great number of people go back to school later in life,” says Calgary-based psychologist Susan MacDonald. “I taught in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary for many years, and the vast majority of students are in their thirties, forties, and fifties. I’ve even had students in their sixties.”

　　A 2011 report projected that over the next decade, the number of 18- to 24-year-old students enrolled full time at Canadian post-secondary institutions will decline. The number of mature students, however, is set to increase slightly.

　　The takeaway: Now is a great time for mature students to enrol. We’ll be in good company.

　　Lesson 2: Strength in numbers

　　Connecting with other mature students is a positive way to navigate the sometimes tumultuous ocean of adult learning. Whether we’re going back to school formally taking part- or full-time courses at a local college or university or informally auditing courses or taking an online class for interest’s sake, we should make time to connect with those adult learners, even if they aren’t in our program or faculty of study.

　　The takeaway: With a group of people to lean on and learn from when the seas get rough, we’ll feel more stable and supported.

　　Lesson 3: A little help

　　“Open and ongoing communication is essential,” says MacDonald. “Let people know when you will need the most support. Often, students feel stress toward the end of each semester, when papers are due and exams are scheduled.”

　　Many adult learners are going to school alongside their elementary- and high school-aged children.

　　“Soliciting help from family and friends was all about childcare for me,” says Kim Pierrot, a pastor, mother of three, and doctoral candidate at Carey Theological College in Vancouver. “My husband and parents helped with my children’s school pickups and after-school activities so I could be in class. My husband would also occasionally take kids out for the day so I could work on my school assignments.”

　　The takeaway: Now is the time to learn how to reach out to family and friends.

　　Lesson 4: Morning lark or night owl?

　　Pierrot planned her schedule around her natural rhythms.

　　“It helped to figure out when my mind was most alert, and capitalize on that time,” she says. “Writing and studying in the afternoon and late into the night didn’t work for me anymore … but early mornings were golden.”

　　Pierrot also found that she couldn’t cram for tests the way she used to, nor could she stay up all night writing essays due the next day. “Now, not only is it rare that I have a full uninterrupted day or two; I’ve learned that it is actually much more productive to write or study in little chunks at a time. Even a consistent hour or two a day—especially at the right time of day—can be really productive.”

　　The takeaway: Becoming aware of our natural circadian rhythms can help us be more productive and better at managing our time.

　　Lesson 5: Essential self-care

　　“Maintaining physical and emotional health is essential to managing your workload at school,” says MacDonald. “Sleep is the foundation for health and well-being. Diet and exercise will keep you mentally sharp. Take frequent breaks when studying by doing some simple deep breathing and stretching. Yoga and meditation are fantastic stress busters.”

　　She adds that socializing with fellow students is important for both mental well-being and academic success. However, it’s important for each of us to know our individual style of coping with stress. Introverts who are energized by being alone as opposed to extroverts who love being with people may prefer to cast off and sail on their own for a little while.

　　“Taking time off was important for me,” says Pierrot. “I took a regular day off, and I allowed myself to take a break from the due dates. Sometimes it’s hard to walk away, especially if something isn’t quite done. But I find if I take a break from things for a day, I have a fresh perspective when I return.”

　　The takeaway: We can follow Pierrot’s lead: if we have pockets of unexpected time when we could study, we shouldn’t always use that time for school.

　　Lesson 6: We can do this

　　It’s normal for adult learners to wonder, “What the heck was I thinking?”—especially when academic due dates, work-related deadlines, kids’ school concerts or projects, and spousal commitments all coincide.

　　“Life is like that sometimes,” Pierrot says. “Take a deep breath, ask for help, and do your best with everything that demands your time and attention. Don’t expect too much from yourself. You might have to settle for a C+ on your project, but if someone … was observing how you juggled everything that was thrown at you, you would get an overall A.”

　　The takeaway: We need to tell ourselves that everything will be okay. We have enough time, and everything will get done.

　　How to fit learning in

　　Try these tips from psychologist Susan MacDonald:

　　Plan ahead and schedule assignments.

　　Pace yourself.

　　Start projects early.

　　Study while the kids do their homework.

　　Seek help if stuck.

　　Reach out to the instructor if feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about what is required.

　　Check with the school’s student services office to see what resources are available.

　　Supplements for students

　　Fish oil may lessen the body’s reaction to stress by blunting a change in heart rate, for instance. Fish oil has benefits for students of all ages: one of its main ingredients, docosahexaenoic acid, has shown promise in preliminary research in improving learning behaviour in children, especially those struggling with reading.

　　Theanine has been shown to relax the brain and improve memory and learning.

　　Camomile may help induce sleep and exerts a calming effect.

　　Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red grapes and wine, may improve memory performance in older adults, according to early studies.

　　Speak with a health care practitioner before trying new supplements.

　　篇三

　　Happy Hours, Happy Days

　　No matter our age, being happy creates more happiness--making a better world for all of us.

　　Sunshine. Hugs. Good coffee. The things that make us happy are as unique as our souls. But as difficult as happiness may be to describe, its effects are quite tangible.

　　Positively healthy

　　For example, a Psychological Bulletin review of 200 studies linked happiness with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Marriage and family therapist Dr. Jane Greer agrees. “Discontent can result in diseases,” she warns. “Your positivity keeps your immune system strong and healthy.”

　　However, happiness could have bigger ramifications beyond just our own health. Happy people “affect others in such a positive manner,” says yogi Cameron Alborzian, who argues that happy people create more happy people—thus shaping a better world for us all.

　　Unsurprisingly, we experience happiness differently depending on our life stage. “As we age, we must evolve,” says human behaviour expert Patrick Wanis. “Our needs change and so does our perspective in life.”

　　Babies

　　Ah, the simple life. For babies, happiness is rooted in the basics. “Babies are happiest when their needs are being met,” says Esther Adler, a licensed mental health counsellor. “This includes physical needs and emotional needs, [such as] interacting and playing with your baby.”

　　For parents and caregivers, building a nurturing environment is key to raising happy infants. But also be aware of your own emotions. “Our brains are social organs—mirror neurons are at play, and we carry the emotions of others,” says Don MacMannis, child psychologist and music director for an award-winning children’s television show. “The emotional state and … levels of happiness in caregivers tie right into the same of a young child.”

　　Children

　　“A child’s happiness in the early years is largely affected by levels of stress and happiness in the home,” continues MacMannis. “Kids are happiest in families where there is love and warmth, but also firmness and structure.”

　　Similarly, Adler says that young children are happy when they’re given the freedom to explore, are provided unconditional love, and have people around them who build their self-esteem.

　　Teenagers

　　As kids grow up, MacMannis reports that happiness levels are “increasingly defined by success and failure at learning new tasks—academically, socially, and emotionally—and by their relationships with other kids.”

　　Attempts to impress peers, get into university, or land a good job can really weigh on an adolescent’s happiness. Having the support of family and friends, and being encouraged to exercise and eat well, can help during these stressful times, suggests the Canadian Mental Health Association.

　　“No child can be happy all the time,” says MacMannis, “but kids can become happier with improved character, social, and emotional skills.” He recommends that parents teach teens the emotional tools for living well, such as how to handle anger or manage stress.

　　Adults

　　“When we are younger, what brings us happiness is forging ahead,” says psychotherapist Christina Steinorth-Powell. For many young adults, she notes that some of their greatest joys come from reaching goals, such as buying their first home.

　　This shifts when we get older. “As we age, we realize that ‘stuff’ won’t make us happy,” says psychologist Samantha Madhosingh. “I think this is why many people go through a ‘midlife’ crisis. They realize that things don’t make you happy and begin to search for more meaning in their life.”

　　By this life stage, it’s also not uncommon for us to have experienced loss or a serious illness. “By the time middle age rolls around,” says Steinorth-Powell, “most of us have a better understanding of how fragile life really is, so what tends to bring us the most happiness is holding on to and appreciating what we have.”

　　This becomes even truer as we enter our golden years. “As seniors, we tend to be happy when we have good health, a close friend, a good relationship with our spouse, and a secure living environment,” says Steinorth-Powell. “Mention these types of things to a younger person and ask them if they would be happy with just these few things, and most would say yes, but they would want more—a bigger home, a better career, and to be more popular.

　　As we get older, we slowly learn to appreciate more of what we already have, and that in itself brings feelings of happiness.”

　　The secret to happiness

　　“No matter where you’re starting from, you can go to your next level of happiness,” says psychotherapist Jennifer Howard. According to Howard, it starts with recognizing that happiness comes from within, not from getting everything you want. “Having everything we want in any given moment is closer to addiction than it is to happiness,” she warns. “Remember, happiness is more than momentary gratification.”

　　Secrets to happiness

　　Creating more abundant, genuine happiness can be as simple as doing the following.

　　Give thanks

　　Multiple studies have shown that expressing gratitude increases happiness. “Taking a minute or two to say silent thank-yous from your heart is a wonderful and rapid way to boost your level of happiness,” says psychotherapist Jonathan Robinson.

　　Let go of what you can’t control

　　Research shows we have a greater sense of well-being when we accept what can’t be changed. “Practise acceptance of situations and people,” says Alborzian. “What is it that takes our joy away that leads to unhappiness? It is mainly our expectations that things should be different instead of accepting that they are the way they are for a reason.”

　　Be kind

　　“It’s been shown that a small act of kindness toward a stranger is a powerful way to boost your sense of well-being,” says Robinson.

　　Volunteer or give to a good cause

　　Research has linked charitable giving with happiness in adults, as did a similar study with children. “Giving back helps us think outside of ourselves,” says Steinorth-Powell. “Rather than dwelling on all of our problems, we are reminded how good we actually have it.”

　　Be aware of life’s little joys

　　“The smaller elements of life cumulatively contribute to an overall feeling of happiness,” says Greer. A kiss from your child or a good heart-to-heart with a friend can do more for your happiness than you realize.