Slide Show 1: Lunar New Year

http://www.timeforkids.com/photos-video/slideshow/lunar-new-year/26926

Slide Show 2: The Road to Civil Rights

http://www.timeforkids.com/photos-video/slideshow/road-civil-rights/26011

Yesterday I gave each student in my three classes a bookmark as I returned the graded 2nd mid-term test papers. It was the same card as I had given to seniors before. A student once told me that it was the card that spurred her to keep going when she was about to give up studying for the entrance exam. The heading of the card is “Persistence.” And the words go like this: 

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

–Calvin Coolidge

Class 301

Class 303

Class 311

This and the next photos were taken at dusk near Tamsui Fisher Wharf on August 27, two days before school started. With different objects and backgrounds, taken at different times–the first at 18:08 and the second 18:14, the two photos evoke different feelings. However, both are beautiful. 

Today many alumni who graduated this summer could be seen on campus. They were invited by the school to talk to the seniors in the 3rd period of class. Every senior class has four visitors.

Not only did I see several of my students but I had a special guest, Ming-kun (李明錕), who graduated around 10 years ago. We chatted for around 3 hours.

Then I invited him to talk to Class 303, with Shih-jen and Deh-chung. The following are some important points from their talk.

Ming-kun: To learn English well, start with pronunciation. When you can pronounce a word, you understand the word while it is spoken to you. So read aloud. Read one or two English magazines. Grammar is important too. With grammar, you’ll be more confident when writing. Learn words from reading. After you see a word for 5 times, you’ll naturally remember it. Don’t study English just for the test. You’ll still need it after taking the UEE.

Shih-jen: Learn English in a naturally way. Read a lot, starting with what you love.

Deh-chung: For seniors, who are going to take the college entrance exam, practice tests are important. As for writing, practice makes perfect. After the UEE, keep reading some English magazines. (He is reading CNN now.)

Event: 2008 Class 314 Reunion

Time: 12pm, Aug. 21, 2011

Place: Han-chiang

This afternoon, my former homeroom Class 314, who just graduated this summer, had their first class reunion at Tamsui. The reunion started at 1pm. However, since I had a birthday banquet at noon, I joined the class around 4pm. Before I got there, the class played with water, chatted, and barbecued. After my arrival, they continued their barbecue, but mostly, we chatted. I enjoyed seeing their happy faces and hearing their laughter. Even though some of them teased each other on and off, everyone knew they didn’t mean anything bad but just showed their intimacy. We all had a great time!

(A click on a photo enlarges it.)

These are the three new classes I started to teach this summer. All of the students are angels to me. Nice to meet you, everyone.

Class 301: science majors; lively, courteous, hard-working

Class 303: science majors; energetic, jolly, fun

Class 311: humanities majors; well-disciplined, diligent, supportive

Class 301

Class 303

Class 311

In the photos on the right, Classes 301 and 311 are writing compositions, and Class 303 are doing translation.

Last Sunday, July 3, Shu (劉書真) called me. She came back to Taiwan from the States for a brief visit and would like to meet some old friends. That brought us five together this noon. Besides Shu and me, there are Losan (羅珊), Shu-yuan (李淑媛), and Yi-li (彭宜秝). We chatted about life, about a happy life. The conclusion is to live in the present and take the focus off ourselves.

The happy reunion reminded me of a statement I read somewhere: Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.