【写作技巧】如何用英文写信？
尽管现在发达的社交网络让我们不常需要写信给朋友。但，信件仍有着它不可替代的魅力。我们可以写信或发邮件向给朋友表达祝福或发出邀请，或分享近况或讨论学校事宜。
写信是一门写作艺术。不同于学术论文，信件更加地私密。信件又不像日记那样私密，它不是仅为作者自己保存，而是写给别人看的。下面，分享一下用英语写信的小技巧。你需要注意以下这些规则。
信中需要包含的五大部分：
1. 信头
信头可以是写信日期，通常在一封信的右上角。
2.称呼语
称呼语是指写信人对收信人的称呼。英文信件中，最常见的称呼语是Dear后加收信人的姓名或称谓。正式的称呼语可以根据收信人的性别，婚姻状况，职务等个人信息来写，例如 Dear Mr.Jones，Dear Dr.Pierson。而如果是与你年龄相仿的朋友，你可以直接用他/她的名字来称呼他/她，例如，Dear Matt。
如果你并不知道收信人的姓名，你可以这样称呼收件人：
Dear Sir or Madam or “Sir/Madam” （如果收信人的性别未知）
To Whom It May Concern （如果收信人可能会将信转交给其他更合适的收件人）
Dear Sir （如果收信人是男性）
Dear Madam （如果收信人是女性）
3. 正文
正文是一封信的主体，可以体现出你明确的写作目的。信的正文应该遵循4C原则：Clarify 清晰, Conciseness 精炼, Courtesy 有礼, Correctness 准确。信件正文的措词应该保持一致的语调。
4.结尾段
信的结尾段通常比较简短以表达祝福与期望。例如：
Looking forward to your reply （期待您的答复）
With the best regards. （致以最真挚的问候）
5.署名
签名位于信的末尾。给你的朋友写信时，可以用Yours开头。而在一封正式的信中，在你的签名前可以使用Sincerely。
读完这篇文章，你学会信中包含的基本部分了吗？现在动手写一份信给朋友吧！ 收起阅读 »
这些年越来越受重视的学术英语写作，一篇文章为你详尽解读！
学术作文在各类英语测试中占的比重越来越高。同时，也是让许多学生最头疼的一个部分。那么，学术英语写作到底该怎么破呢？
— 什么是学术英语写作？ —
英语学习分为两种，一种是综合英语（General English，也叫生活英语），另一种是学术英语（Academic English）。
生活英语非常好理解，日常生活中的衣食住行，购物旅游时用到的英语都属于生活英语的范畴。
而学术英语则应用在相对正式的场合，比如深层次的交流，课堂学术讨论，演讲，辩论，采访，各种presentation等。
学习学术英语需要建立在一定的综合英语基础上。从初中阶段开始，学术英语会越来越受重视，一方面高中入学检测和大学入学检测中大量阅读材料都是学术英语范畴，另一方面托福、雅思以及SAT等大量出国必备标化测验的阅读和写作，也在考察孩子的学术英语能力。
学术英语写作要求学生有着优秀的语言能力，同时还要考虑论点论据分析、批判性思考、有效说服等手法的运用。
比如，雅思中分析图表的小作文，新SAT中对议论文的分析性写作，托福综合作文中的摘要总结，就都属于学术英语。在海外课堂，学术写作的运用领域就更为广泛了。学生一个学期要交5到10份论文，包括读书报告、书评、文献综述、开题报告等各种类型。
既然学术英语那么重要？那你能不能区分学术英语和综合英语呢？下面，我们一起来看两个题型，分别判断一下哪个才是学术英语写作：
题型一
Write 100-150 words on a happy incident that happened to a classmate of yours.
用100到150个字描述你同班同学身上发生的一件快乐的小事。
题型二
Write 300-500 words on the following task:
Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Government should spend more money on developing arts than on developing parks and gardens.
根据以下问题，写一篇300-500字的作文：
政府应该在人文艺术而不是公园或花园上投入更多的资金，你是否同意这样的观点。
题型一要求学生写的是记叙文，叙述一件事情，而题型二则要求学生表明自己的观点，陈述理由，并引证分析，这也是学术英语写作的核心所在。
— 中国学生在学术英语写作时遇到哪些问题？ —
了解学术英语后，我们再来看看，中国学生在进行学术英语写作时存在的三大问题：
1.用语不够正式
学术写作中强调的正式性，指的是在学术英语中应采用惯用的词汇、结构、搭配等，而不是像说口语一样，将聊天的内容一字不改的写下来。所有的学术作文都是需要进行修饰的。
比如，下面这个例子：
× The Internet is dangerous because there are many information on it and they are all your own information, and bad people will do bad things about them.
互联网很危险，因为上面有很多信息，而且都是你自己的信息，坏人会用这些信息来做坏事。
虽然从字面意思上确实也能看懂学生的意思，但这样的表达显然不够正式，没法获得很高的分数。
如果换成下面的说法，会更受考官的青睐：
√ The Internet is dangerous because the large amount of information on it can be private information. Such information may be useful tools to criminals.
互联网很危险，因为上面的大量信息都可能是个人隐私。这样的信息可能会被犯罪分子所利用。
选词一定要准确，句法一定要严谨，这就是正式性的要求。
2.表达不够清晰易懂
学术作文中强调的清晰性，指的是在行文的微观逻辑上，要做到简单易懂、毫不费力。
这听起来很简单，但实际并不容易实现。很多人写作都是从自身出发，以自我为中心。实际上，在学术写作的要求中，所有的东西都应该是最简单、最清晰的。
在写作时，不要把考官当做是接触过大学教育的人，应该把他当作一个三岁的美国孩子。只要你能把一件事情清楚地解释给一个三岁孩子听，那就达到了学术写作中清晰性这一要求。
然而，在中国的语文课教学当中，老师都强调作文要有寓意，并且寓意要高。但是，寓意跟学术英语是格格不入的，因为始终没有一个逻辑清晰的概念能定义什么叫寓意。
很多学生在写作时甚至不清楚自己的观点，只是把一些耳熟能详的概念转化为英文。这样表达出的概念会让考官不知所云。
举个例子：
× A great amount of time will serve to render no productivity on the shuttle in everyday life of white collars.
在白领的日常通勤中，大量的时间都没有办法产生创造力。
显然，这句话的主语不对，是讲人的事情却围绕时间展开，表达抽象，难以理解。
如果改成下面的形式，就会简单明了很多：
√ White collars spend so much time commuting every day, with so few things to do along the way, thus their productivity drops.
白领们花了大量时间在日常通勤中，但在路上却没做什么事情，以至于他们的创造力下降了。
3.观点与论据不够统一
所谓的统一，是指目的明确，逻辑严密，具有较为全面的批判性思考。
现在，很多学生已经开始有这方面的意识，但是领会还不够深刻。在进行批判性思考时，学生常常连一些基本的要点都没有做好，比如：例子和观点不匹配。
在统一性上，中学生写作文时，逻辑上的问题其实更多：文不对题、各种遗漏、主次不分、顺序不对、分论点不能支撑总论点、证据不能支撑论点、逻辑跳跃、使用模糊概念等。老师只能逐字逐句地去改这些问题，同时，学生也要不断地重写和修改。只有经历这样一个过程，才能把作文写清楚。
托福满分作文的逻辑都非常清晰，渐进性很好，一段只讲一件事，每件事都讲得透，每一步都抽丝剥茧地讲得特别清楚。另外，这种范文还会用一些论证手段，比如列举、假设等等。
— 如何培养学术写作习惯、意识、技巧 —
尽管学术英语写作对学生的要求很高，但我们也可以看看，从哪些方面入手可以帮助孩子提高。
1.大量的阅读，而且要读最好的材料
在读写部分，阅读是输入，写作是输出，而输入部分包含以下层面：知识背景，思辨模式。
在知识背景的输入方面，中国学生的问题不大，主要缺乏的是思辨模式，如果让一个同学看完一本书后说出这本书里用了哪些思辨模式，包括这一段的功能是什么，跟上一段有什么联系，大部分同学都是不能总结出来的。
建议孩子可以抽空浏览国外的新闻网站，或者下载国外的新闻APP，比如：The New York Times、BBC、The Wall Street Journal、Economist等（其中一些app可能需要翻墙才能阅读哦）。注意要挑孩子感兴趣的话题，如果文中包含太多术语，孩子不仅看不懂，也会觉得枯燥无味。另外，感兴趣的话题可能还会激发孩子自觉地去查字典，增加词汇量。
2.有意识地储备背景知识
年纪比较小的同学平时看书看得较少，所以对社会话题的了解非常浅，经常说“这件事情我喜欢，那件事情我不喜欢”。
但是，喜欢与不喜欢是不可以写到学术写作当中去的，除非能给出非常明确的理由。比如，说清楚我不喜欢这件事的三点原因，并且每一点原因都有足够的证据支撑。
所以，建议学生在平时生活中，适当浏览社科类杂志，将一些能够作为论据的材料记录下来，扩大自己的背景知识储备。这样，在写作时才能做到有理有据。
3.大量写作，训练清晰表达和严谨逻辑
很多同学看了很多书，也背了很多单词，但平时一个字都不写，觉得上考场写就行了，这样是不对的。
平时应该大量的写，并且批改。日记、新闻总结及评论、书评/章评、文章评论等这些类型的文章都能写。主要是要发表自己的看法，还可以跟家长讨论，不管用中文还是英文讨论，都对写作有好处。
不停地写完后就是不停地改，训练个性化的行文风格和表达逻辑，写作就是这么提高的，不是套用一个框架就够了。一般来说，修改三到四稿后，才能说这篇作文已经写好了。 收起阅读 »
晚读 · 念一首很美的诗
夜幕降临，给孩子念一首唯美的诗。来自Christina Georgina Rossetti，带着淡淡的青草香，非常清明的味道。很容易背下来，听着诗入睡吧，晚安~
When I Am Dead, My Dearest
By Christina Georgina Rossetti
When I am dead, my dearest,
当我离开人间，最亲爱的，
Sing no sad songs for me;
别为我哀歌悲切；
Plant thou no roses at my head
我的墓前不要栽玫瑰，
Nor shady cypress tree:
也不需松柏茂密。
Be the green grass above me
愿绿茵覆盖我的身躯，
With showers and dewdrops wet;
沾着湿润的灵珠雨水；
And if thou wilt, remember,
如果你愿意，就把我怀念，
And if thou wilt, forget.
如果你愿意，就把我忘却。
I shall not see the shadows,
我不会重没见那荫影，
I shall not feel the rain;
不会感觉雨露再临；
I shall not hear the nightingale
我不会听见夜莺
Sing on, as if in pain:
一声声仿佛哀鸣：
And dreaming through the twilight
我置身梦境，在朦胧的暮色里
That doth not rise nor set,
它从不升起，也永不沉沦，
Haply I may remember,
也许，我会怀念，
And haply may forget.
也许，我会忘却。 收起阅读 »
【双语阅读】大小朋友都该了解的英国交往礼仪
给小朋友报名了暑期的英国夏令营？要带小朋友去英国的朋友家做客？还是单纯想了解英国礼仪与文化？这篇双语文章带大家了解英国文化里最基本的礼仪与礼节(customs and etiquette)，大小朋友去英国也能以“礼”服人啦！
Meeting and Greeting / 见面与打招呼
- The handshake is the common form of greeting.
握手是最常见的打招呼的方式。
- The British might seem a little stiff and formal at first.
英国人在见面之初会显得正式甚至有些许僵硬，这是正常的。
- Avoid prolonged eye contact as it makes people feel uncomfortable.
避免过长的眼神交流，以免让对方觉得不舒服。
- There is still some protocol to follow when introducing people in a business or more formal social situation.
- Introduce a younger person to an older person.
- Introduce a person of lower status to a person of higher status.
- When two people are of similar age and rank, introduce the one you know better to the other person.
在介绍朋友时还是有些规则：
- 将年轻人介绍给较年长的人
- 将职位稍低的人介绍给职位稍高的人
- 当两人年龄相仿，职位接近时，将和你比较熟的人介绍给相对陌生的人
Gift Giving Etiquette / 交换礼物
- The British exchange gifts between family members and close friends for birthdays and Christmas.
英国人通常会在生日和圣诞节与家庭成员和好友交换礼物。
- The gift need not be expensive, but it should usually demonstrate an attempt to find something that related to the recipient’s interests.
礼物通常不会特别贵重，但需要表示你对收礼人兴趣的了解。
- If invited to someone’s home, it is normal to take along a box of good chocolates, a good bottle of wine or flowers.
如果你被邀请到谁家做客，通常要带上一盒不错的巧克力，红酒或是一束花。
- Gifts are opened when received.
当面拆开礼物哦！
Dining Etiquette/ 用餐礼节
- Unlike many European cultures, the British enjoy entertaining people in their homes.
不像欧洲大陆人，英国人喜欢邀请朋友到你自己家做客。
- Although the British value punctuality, you may arrive 10-15 minutes later than invited to dinner. However, if going to a restaurant be on time.
虽然英国人很注重准时，但大部分时候，如果要去别人家做客，通常会晚到10-15分钟；如果是去餐馆的话，则会准时到达。
- Table manners are Continental, i.e. the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
餐桌礼仪则和欧陆一致，也就是说，用餐时左手拿叉，右手拿刀。
- The fork is held tines down so food is scooped on to the back of the fork. This is a skill that takes time to master.
用餐时叉齿朝下，用叉背盛放食物。这可是个需要长期练习的技巧。
- Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.
当主人告知你座位后再入座。
- Do not rest your elbows on the table.
不要把手肘放在餐桌上。
- If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife.
如果你还没有用完餐，将刀叉叠放在餐盘上，叉在刀上。
- Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate.
如果要告诉主人你已经用餐完毕，则把刀叉平行地放置在你餐盘的右侧。
- Toasts are given at formal meals.
在正式的晚餐时，需要说祝词。
- When in a pub, it is common practice to pay for a round of drinks for everyone in your group.
如果你们一起去小酒吧，通常你要为同去的人买一轮酒。
- If invited to a meal at a restaurant, the person extending the invitation usually pays. Do not argue about the check; simply reciprocate at a later time.
如果你被邀请到餐馆用餐，通常邀请人会买单。不要与他争执，下次邀请他就好啦！
以上这些礼仪不仅能给英国友人留下好印象，也能增进交往，让沟通更为顺畅哦。当然，也不要忘记最基本也最重要的三句话：请(please)，谢谢(Thank you!)和不好意思(Excuse me)哦！ 收起阅读 »
【睡前故事】The Happy Prince 快乐王子
The Happy Prince/快乐王子
High above the city stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was covered with thin leaves of fine gold.
He had two bright sapphires eyes, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword.
快乐王子的雕像高高地矗立在城市上空。他混身上下镶满了薄薄的黄金叶片，明亮的蓝宝石(sapphires)做成他的双眼，剑柄上还嵌着一颗灿灿发光的红宝石。
One night there flew over the city a little Swallow.
He saw the eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears that running down his golden cheeks.
有天夜里，一只小燕子(Swallow)从城市上空飞过。
他看见快乐王子的双眼充满了泪水，泪珠顺着他金黄的脸颊淌了下来。
“Why are you weeping?” asked the Swallow.
“When I was alive and had a human heart,” answered the statue, “I did not know what tears were,
for I lived in the palace, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. And now that I am dead and stood so high
that I can see all the misery of my city.’
“你为什么哭呢？”燕子问。
“以前在我有颗人心而活着的时候，”雕像开口说道，“我并不知道眼泪是什么东西， 因为那时我住在王宫里，那是个逍遥自在、哀愁无法触及的地方。而眼下我死了，他们把我这么高高地立在这儿，使我能看见自己城市中所有的丑恶和贫苦。”
“Far away,” continued the statue, ‘far away in a little street there is a poor house.
I can see a woman seated at a table. In a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill.
Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt?
My feet are fastened to here and I cannot move.’
“远处的一条小街上住着一户穷人。” 雕像继续说， “我能看见一个女人坐在桌旁。
在房间角落里的一张床上躺着她生病的孩子。小燕子啊小燕子，你愿意把我剑柄上的红宝石取下来送给她吗？
我的双脚被固定在这基座上，不能动弹。”
So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Prince’s sword, and flew away with it in his mouth over the roofs of the town. He flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings.
于是燕子从王子的宝剑上取下(picked out)那颗硕大的红宝石，用嘴衔着，越过城里一座连一座的屋顶，朝远方飞去。随后他又轻轻地绕着床飞了一圈，用羽翅扇着孩子的前额(forehead)。
“It is strange,” the Swallow remarked, “I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.”
‘That is because you have done a good deed,” said the Prince.
“你说怪不怪，”他接着说，“虽然天气很冷，可我现在觉得好暖和。”
“那是因为你做了一件好事，”王子说。
“Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the prince, ‘far away across the city I see a young man in a garret.
He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more.
There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint.’
“小燕子啊小燕子，”王子说，“远处在城市的那一头，我看见住在阁楼(garret)中的一个年轻男子。
他正力争为剧院经理写出一个剧本，但是他已经给冻得写不下去了。壁炉里没有柴火，饥饿又弄得他头昏眼花。”
“All that I have left are my sapphires eyes. Take one of them to him. He will sell it to the jeweler,
and buy food and firewood, and finish his play.”
“Dear Prince,” said the Swallow, “I cannot do that,” and he began to weep.
‘Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,’ said the Prince, ‘do as I command you.’
So the Swallow plucked out the Prince’s eye, and flew away to the student’s garret.
“我所剩的只有我的蓝宝石做成的双眼了，我请你取出一颗给他送去。他会将它卖给珠宝商，好买回食物和木柴，完成他写的剧本。”
“亲爱的王子，”燕子说，“我不能这样做，”说完就哭(weep)了起来。
“小燕子啊小燕子，”王子说，“就照我说的话(command)去做吧。” 因此燕子取下了王子的一只眼睛，朝学生住的阁楼飞去了。
“Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow. In the square below,” said the Happy Prince, “there stands a little match-girl.
She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and they are all spoiled. She has no shoes or stockings,
and her little head is bare. Give my other eye to her.”
“But I cannot – you would be quite blind then.”
“Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “do as I command you.”
So he plucked out the Prince’s other eye, and darted down with it.
“小燕子啊小燕子。在下面的广场上，”快乐王子说，“站着一个卖火柴的小女孩。她的火柴都掉在阴沟里(gutter)，不能用(spoiled)了。她既没穿鞋，也没有穿袜子，头上什么也没戴。请把我的另一只眼睛取下来，给她送去。”
“我不能取下你的眼睛，否则你就看不见了。”
“小燕子啊小燕子，”王子说，“就照我说的话去做吧。” 于是他又取下了王子的另一只眼珠，带着它朝下飞(darted down)去。
“Dear little Swallow,” said the Prince, “Look, the rich are making merry in their beautiful houses,
while the beggars are sitting at the gates. The white faces of starving children are looking out listlessly
at the black streets. Under a bridge two little boys are lying in one another’s arms to try
and keep themselves warm…”
“亲爱的小燕子，”王子说：“看啊，富人们在自己漂亮的洋楼里寻欢作乐，
而乞丐们却坐在大门口忍饥挨饿。饥饿的孩子们露出苍白的小脸没精打采地(listlessly)望着昏暗的街道，
就在一座桥的桥洞里面两个孩子相互搂抱着想使彼此温暖一些。”
“I am covered with fine gold,” said the Prince, “you must take it off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor;
the living always think that gold can make them happy.”
“我浑身贴满了上好的黄金片，”王子说，“你把它们一片片地取下来，给那些穷人们
送去，活着的人都相信黄金会使他们幸福的。”
Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, now the Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey.
The poor little Swallow was very cold, he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at his feet.
燕子将上好的黄金叶子一片一片地啄了下来(picked off)，直到快乐王子变得灰暗无光。
可怜的小燕子觉得越来越冷了，他亲吻了快乐王子的嘴唇，然后就跌落在王子的脚下，死去了。
At that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if something had broken. The
fact is that the leaden heart had snapped right in two. It certainly was a bad frost.
就在此刻，雕像体内伸出一声奇特的爆裂(crack)声，好像有什么东西破碎了。其实是王子的那颗铅做的心已裂(snapped)成了两半。这的确是一个寒冷的冬日。
Questions/问题
1.Why did the Happy Prince weep sadly? /快乐王子为什么哭的如此伤心？
2.Why, at the end of the story, did the Happy Prince look quite dull and grey? /故事的最后，为什么快乐王子变的晦暗无光？
3.Do you think the little Swallow take the Happy Prince as a true friend? /在你看来，小燕子有没有把快乐王子当成真正的朋友？ 收起阅读 »
High above the city stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was covered with thin leaves of fine gold.
He had two bright sapphires eyes, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword.
快乐王子的雕像高高地矗立在城市上空。他混身上下镶满了薄薄的黄金叶片，明亮的蓝宝石(sapphires)做成他的双眼，剑柄上还嵌着一颗灿灿发光的红宝石。
One night there flew over the city a little Swallow.
He saw the eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears that running down his golden cheeks.
有天夜里，一只小燕子(Swallow)从城市上空飞过。
他看见快乐王子的双眼充满了泪水，泪珠顺着他金黄的脸颊淌了下来。
“Why are you weeping?” asked the Swallow.
“When I was alive and had a human heart,” answered the statue, “I did not know what tears were,
for I lived in the palace, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. And now that I am dead and stood so high
that I can see all the misery of my city.’
“你为什么哭呢？”燕子问。
“以前在我有颗人心而活着的时候，”雕像开口说道，“我并不知道眼泪是什么东西， 因为那时我住在王宫里，那是个逍遥自在、哀愁无法触及的地方。而眼下我死了，他们把我这么高高地立在这儿，使我能看见自己城市中所有的丑恶和贫苦。”
“Far away,” continued the statue, ‘far away in a little street there is a poor house.
I can see a woman seated at a table. In a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill.
Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt?
My feet are fastened to here and I cannot move.’
“远处的一条小街上住着一户穷人。” 雕像继续说， “我能看见一个女人坐在桌旁。
在房间角落里的一张床上躺着她生病的孩子。小燕子啊小燕子，你愿意把我剑柄上的红宝石取下来送给她吗？
我的双脚被固定在这基座上，不能动弹。”
So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Prince’s sword, and flew away with it in his mouth over the roofs of the town. He flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings.
于是燕子从王子的宝剑上取下(picked out)那颗硕大的红宝石，用嘴衔着，越过城里一座连一座的屋顶，朝远方飞去。随后他又轻轻地绕着床飞了一圈，用羽翅扇着孩子的前额(forehead)。
“It is strange,” the Swallow remarked, “I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.”
‘That is because you have done a good deed,” said the Prince.
“你说怪不怪，”他接着说，“虽然天气很冷，可我现在觉得好暖和。”
“那是因为你做了一件好事，”王子说。
“Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the prince, ‘far away across the city I see a young man in a garret.
He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more.
There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint.’
“小燕子啊小燕子，”王子说，“远处在城市的那一头，我看见住在阁楼(garret)中的一个年轻男子。
他正力争为剧院经理写出一个剧本，但是他已经给冻得写不下去了。壁炉里没有柴火，饥饿又弄得他头昏眼花。”
“All that I have left are my sapphires eyes. Take one of them to him. He will sell it to the jeweler,
and buy food and firewood, and finish his play.”
“Dear Prince,” said the Swallow, “I cannot do that,” and he began to weep.
‘Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,’ said the Prince, ‘do as I command you.’
So the Swallow plucked out the Prince’s eye, and flew away to the student’s garret.
“我所剩的只有我的蓝宝石做成的双眼了，我请你取出一颗给他送去。他会将它卖给珠宝商，好买回食物和木柴，完成他写的剧本。”
“亲爱的王子，”燕子说，“我不能这样做，”说完就哭(weep)了起来。
“小燕子啊小燕子，”王子说，“就照我说的话(command)去做吧。” 因此燕子取下了王子的一只眼睛，朝学生住的阁楼飞去了。
“Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow. In the square below,” said the Happy Prince, “there stands a little match-girl.
She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and they are all spoiled. She has no shoes or stockings,
and her little head is bare. Give my other eye to her.”
“But I cannot – you would be quite blind then.”
“Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “do as I command you.”
So he plucked out the Prince’s other eye, and darted down with it.
“小燕子啊小燕子。在下面的广场上，”快乐王子说，“站着一个卖火柴的小女孩。她的火柴都掉在阴沟里(gutter)，不能用(spoiled)了。她既没穿鞋，也没有穿袜子，头上什么也没戴。请把我的另一只眼睛取下来，给她送去。”
“我不能取下你的眼睛，否则你就看不见了。”
“小燕子啊小燕子，”王子说，“就照我说的话去做吧。” 于是他又取下了王子的另一只眼珠，带着它朝下飞(darted down)去。
“Dear little Swallow,” said the Prince, “Look, the rich are making merry in their beautiful houses,
while the beggars are sitting at the gates. The white faces of starving children are looking out listlessly
at the black streets. Under a bridge two little boys are lying in one another’s arms to try
and keep themselves warm…”
“亲爱的小燕子，”王子说：“看啊，富人们在自己漂亮的洋楼里寻欢作乐，
而乞丐们却坐在大门口忍饥挨饿。饥饿的孩子们露出苍白的小脸没精打采地(listlessly)望着昏暗的街道，
就在一座桥的桥洞里面两个孩子相互搂抱着想使彼此温暖一些。”
“I am covered with fine gold,” said the Prince, “you must take it off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor;
the living always think that gold can make them happy.”
“我浑身贴满了上好的黄金片，”王子说，“你把它们一片片地取下来，给那些穷人们
送去，活着的人都相信黄金会使他们幸福的。”
Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, now the Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey.
The poor little Swallow was very cold, he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at his feet.
燕子将上好的黄金叶子一片一片地啄了下来(picked off)，直到快乐王子变得灰暗无光。
可怜的小燕子觉得越来越冷了，他亲吻了快乐王子的嘴唇，然后就跌落在王子的脚下，死去了。
At that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if something had broken. The
fact is that the leaden heart had snapped right in two. It certainly was a bad frost.
就在此刻，雕像体内伸出一声奇特的爆裂(crack)声，好像有什么东西破碎了。其实是王子的那颗铅做的心已裂(snapped)成了两半。这的确是一个寒冷的冬日。
Questions/问题
1.Why did the Happy Prince weep sadly? /快乐王子为什么哭的如此伤心？
2.Why, at the end of the story, did the Happy Prince look quite dull and grey? /故事的最后，为什么快乐王子变的晦暗无光？
3.Do you think the little Swallow take the Happy Prince as a true friend? /在你看来，小燕子有没有把快乐王子当成真正的朋友？ 收起阅读 »
【写作技巧】练习写一篇日记
下面是【写作技巧】叙事文章写作系列，如果你已经浏览了：
1.【 写作技巧】叙事作文的5W+1H原则
2.这些单词会毁了你的句子
3.【写作技巧】用过去时态写作
4.【写作技巧】叙事作文范文阅读
接下来，到你根据下面这些提示写一篇叙事文章咯 。你可以写任何你感兴趣的事件—不用担心，这完全是私密的。
- 印象最深刻的一次生日，你在生日那天做了什么？
- 和家人一起去的一场印象最深刻的旅行。
- 这学期度过的最美好的一天，那天中发生了什么？
自我检查：
- 你使用过去时态了吗？
- 你有在日记中记录自己的情绪吗？
- 你有按时间顺序写作吗？
- 在你的日记里有一个或两个精彩事件吗？
- 写作有帮助你撷取自己的思想吗？
养成写日记的习惯会使你受益匪浅。练习英语写作也可以帮助你提高写作技能。而且，日记是可以记录你内心最深刻的情感的理想之处。日记是你最耐心的伙伴，它会倾听你的想法、情绪与感受，并且从不加以评论。这位伙伴会永远珍藏你珍贵的回忆。 收起阅读 »
【写作技巧】叙事作文范文阅读
描述一个事件一定离不开时间、地点、人物和事情的起因、经过、结果。叙事作文的5W+1H原则 可以帮助你讲一件事情描写地生动具体。如果想让你的句子漂亮，一定要避开这些会毁掉你的句子的单词。当你描述一个过去发生过的事件时，不要忘了要用用过去时态写作。让我们来读一篇安妮的日记，学习一下吧。
“On Friday, June 12, I was awake at six o’clock, which isn’t surprising, since it was my birthday. But I’m not allowed to get up at that hour, so I had to control my curiosity until quarter to seven. When I couldn’t wait any longer, I went to the dining room, where Moortje (the cat) welcomed me by rubbing against my legs.
A little after seven I went to Daddy and Mama and then to the living room to open my presents, and you were the first thing I saw, maybe one of my nicest presents. Then a bouquet of roses, some peonies and a potted plant. From Daddy and Mama I got a blue blouse, a game, a bottle of grape juice, which to my mind tastes a bit like wine (after all, wine is made from grapes), a puzzle, a jar of cold cream, 2.50 guilders and a gift certificate for two books. I got another book as well, Camera Obscura (but Margot already has it, so I exchanged mine for something else), a platter of homemade cookies (which I made myself, of course, since I’ve become quite an expert at baking cookies), lots of candy and a strawberry tart from Mother. And a letter from Grammy, right on time, but of course that was just a coincidence.
Then Hanneli came to pick me up, and we went to school. During recess I passed out cookies to my teachers and my class, and then it was time to get back to work. I didn’t arrive home until five, since I went to gym with the rest of the class. (I’m not allowed to take part because my shoulders and hips tend to get dislocated.) As it was my birthday, I got to decide which game my classmates would play, and I chose volleyball. Afterward they all danced around me in a circle and sang “Happy Birthday.” When I got home, Sanne Ledermann was already there. Ilse Wagner, Hanneli Goslar and Jacqueline van Maarsen came home with me after gym, since we’re in the same class. Hanneli and Sanne used to be my two best friends. People who saw us together used to say, “There goes Anne, Hanne and Sanne.” I only met Jacqueline van Maarsen when I started at the Jewish Lyceum, and now she’s my best friend. Ilse is Hanneli’s best friend, and Sanne goes to another school and has friends there.
They gave me a beautiful book, Dutch Sasas and Lesends, but they gave me Volume II by mistake, so I exchanged two other books for Volume I. Aunt Helene brought me a puzzle, Aunt Stephanie a darling brooch and Aunt Leny a terrific book: Daisy Goes to the Mountains.“
–a passage from The Diary of Anne Frank
回答下列阅读理解问题：
Q1: What are 5W in the diary? (这篇日记中的5W分别是什么？）
Q2: What’s the main purpose of this piece of writing?（作者写下这篇日记的主要目的是什么？）
Q3: What’s special about the day of this diary entry?（日记中的这一天有什么特别之处？）
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
参考答案：
Q1: What are 5W in the diary?(这篇日记中的5W分别是什么？）
When: Friday, June 12
Who: Anne’s family, cat, and friends.
Where: Anne went to school and gym.
What happened: Anne had a happy birthday. In the morning, she received present from her parents, and a letter from her grandmother. In school, she passed out her cookies to her classmates. Afterschool, she played volleyball and danced with friends. When she came home, she saw her good friends were there wishing her happy birthday and giving her presents.
Why: She had a great day because all her family members and friends were celebrating the day with her.
Q2: What’s the main purpose of this piece of writing?（作者写下这篇日记的主要目的是什么？）
To record things happened on her birthday, and to get her feelings off her chest.
Q3: What’s special about the day of the diary entry?（日记中的这一天有什么特别之处？）
It was Anne’s birthday. 收起阅读 »
【写作技巧】用过去时态写作
就像在 【写作技巧】叙事作文的5W+1H原则 <查看文章>一文中提到的，叙事作文是一种复述过去的一段经历或一次事件的写作形式。因此，在写叙事作文时，过去时态是最为常见的时态。
什么是过去时态？
总的来说，过去时是用来谈论在过去某一特定时间发生和结束的事情的。在过去时中，动词要变形成过去形态。为了将规则动词改写成过去式形式，通常在动词后加“ed”。
- play – played
- cook – cooked
- rain – rained
- wait – waited
- Last night I played my guitar hero all night.
- 昨晚，我弹了一整夜的吉他。
- It rained yesterday.
- 昨晚下雨了。
- While we were in sleep, Angela got up early in the morning and went to see the sunrise.
- 当我们正在睡梦中时，Angela早早的起床，出去看了日出。
- Matt took the course last year.
- Matt去年上过这门课了。
- When we finally arrived in Bangkok at 4am this morning, we were exhausted.
- 凌晨4点，我们终于到达了曼谷，我们早已精疲力尽。
否定句的过去时
1.一般现在时don’t和doesn’t，过去时都变成为didn’t。 didn’t (did not)即否定句中的过去式形式。这只限于英语中的实义动词。（To be和情态动词，如can，是特例）。主动词（例如例句中的like）是用原形的。助动词Didn’t是用来表示句子是否定的，而且是过去时。
例句：
现在时：I don’t like beans.
过去式：I didn’t like beans.
2.一般现在时的Isn’t/am not/aren’t变成了wasn’t and weren’t.
例句：
现在时：I am not a teacher.
过去式：I wasn’t a teacher.
3.一般现在时的can’t,变成了couldn’t.
例句：
现在时：I can’t go.
过去式: I couldn’t go.
练习一下吧！请将下列句子改写成过去式形式：
1.We embrace challenges and rarely take no for an answer. When we find ourselves stuck, we try to keep a positive attitude. We believe there is a creative way around almost any obstacle. We don’t give up easily.
2.Boys and girls come and go like moths among the whisperings.
3.Do you understand?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
答案：
1.We embraced challenges and rarely took no for an answer. When we found ourselves stuck, we tried to keep a positive attitude. We believed there was a creative way around almost any obstacle. We didn’t give up easily.
2.Boys and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings.
3.Did you understand? 收起阅读 »
【写作技巧】叙事作文的5W+1H原则
什么是叙事作文？叙事作文重述一段经历或过去发生的事件。写作目的包括提示他人，或是反思，评价一个事件。最常见的叙事作文的方式有私人日记和新闻报道。叙事作文不能单一的列举一天中发生的事，而是应该重点记录一个或几个最为重要的事件。5W和1H法则可以帮助你在纸上“展示”任何具体的事件。
5W包括：
- when:故事发生在什么时候？
- where:故事发生在哪里？
- who:故事中有谁？
- what happened：发生了什么事情？
- why：为什么？事情的起因是什么？你为什么要记下这个故事
1H是指 How did it happen 故事是如何展开的？
如果对一个事件的陈述包含了这六个因素，读者就能有一个事件的大致画面。当然，你也可以添加额外的信息：你对此事的感受，想法，为什么这件事很重要，你从中学到了什么等等。
通常一篇叙事文应该以时间顺序讲述一个事件，这样会容易让读者理解。然而，作者应该避免使用 and then, and then, and then…下面是一些时间顺序的连接词：
- First (首先)
- Soon (很快)
- Later (后来)
- Eventually (最后)
学会今天分享的小贴士5W+1 H 法则和时间顺序连接词了吗？ 准备好来试试看写一个故事了吗？何不拿出一张纸，记录一下特殊的日子，成就或是有纪念意义的活动呢？
“We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams.”
-Jeremy Irons
“我们都有自己的时光穿梭机器。一些带我们回到过去，我们称其为回忆。一些带我们去往前方，我们称其为梦想。”
-Jeremy Irons 收起阅读 »
【写作技巧】影评写作练习
题目：选择一部你看过的电影，喜欢的不喜欢的都可以，写一篇自己的观影感/影评。
如果你一筹莫展，你可以先阅读下面几篇文章：
1.如何写好影评
2.写一篇影评你可能需要的词汇与短语
3.影评范文阅读
希望上面的这些文章可以对你有帮助。在影评写作前，记住这一写作方法：当你提及电影名时，确保你正确单词的大小写都正确。（写作技巧：英语中单词首字母的大写原则）
现在，可以写一篇你自己的影评了。下面是影评的结构：
首段：开头段：可以给出有关电影的基本事实，并阐述你对电影的主要观点。
第2段：需要总结概括电影，但是不要提及任何细节或剧透电影的结局！
第3—4段：阐述你对电影的肯定或否定观点。为什么喜欢/不喜欢这部电影：针对情节、演员、演技、配乐、服装，特效等分别点评。
结尾段：最终评价—总结你的观点。在此段中，你可以推荐或不推荐读者去看这部电影。你也可以提供一些建议给即将要去看这部电影的人。
自我检查：
在写完一篇影评后，可以自查一下：
Did you have one main opinion in your writing?
你的影评有主要论点吗？
Is your opinion arguable?
你的观点是可以被论证的吗？
Is your opinion supported by the elements you found in the movie?
你有写出电影中的可以支撑你的观点的例子吗？
Did you give a brief summary of the story without spoiling too much?
你有对电影故事简要概括，而不透露剧情吗？
Did you capitalize the name of the movie, actors, places?
你有将电影名，演员名，地点名称的首字母大写吗？
当完成了一篇影评后，何不分享给朋友看？看看你的小伙伴读完你的影评是否想去看你评论的这部电影呢？朋友之间互相检查也是一个提高写作能力的有效方式哦！ 收起阅读 »
