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Lesson 1 Life-long Learning The Importance of Lifelong Learning Nowadays, more and more people of various ages and backgrounds are continuing to study to improve themselves. Here's what they have to say about their life-long learning experience. Sun Wen – 28 years old “It's never too late to learn.” That was the advice I got after I failed my college entrance exam. Now I'm about to graduate from the School of Continuing Education at Qinghua University with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering by distance learning. Because of my new qualification, I'm getting promoted at work. In the past, if someone like me had failed to get into university through the college exam, he would have had no chance of getting a degree. But it's different now. I decided to give myself a second chance by studying for a degree in the evenings and on weekends while keeping a secure full-time job. Frankly speaking, the last four years have been hard work, but it's been worth it! Ms Tang – 45 years old Three months ago, when my manager told me that I would be laid off, my mind went blank and my heart swelled with anger. In the past, if someone had worked for a company for over 20 years, they would have stayed there until retirement! I suspect that they laid me off because the company was not doing that well but it still brought a lump to my throat and made me want to cry. I felt as if I had done something wrong! I know this isn't true though. It's just the status of the job market at the moment. At first, I enjoyed being a full-time housewife and called myself “CHO” or “chief home officer”. But soon I got bored and decided to do a business course. I have always dreamed of starting my own company. I have nearly finished the course now and it has been very helpful. I have learnt so many new skills and have already prepared a business plan for setting up my own export company! I think that getting laid off will prove to be the best thing that ever happened to me. Grandpa Chen – 75 years old I'm sure you all know the saying, “You can't teach an old dog new tricks.” Well, it's certainly not true! I'm an old dog, and I'm teaching myself new tricks every day! It all started a few months ago when postage went up. I'd been sending letters by airmail to my daughter in the US once a week, but, suddenly, it was too expensive. I decided that it was time I became an Internet user. I got my grandson to instruct me on how to email and use the Internet and I really enjoy the speed at which my messages get sent and answered. And aside from emailing, it's fun to see and talk to my grandchildren in the US on the i-Cam. In the past, if I'd wanted to see them, I would have had to visit them in person. So many people think that after you retire, all you can do is switch off your brain and bury everything you've ever learnt. This is so wrong! Anyway, it's time for me to go now. I have to practise the alphabet! I'm doing an English course on the Internet. Tapescript One morning, Bill was standing in his corn field shouting angrily at his neighbour's cattle. Somehow, the cattle had broken through the fence and were now happily eating his corn. Bill tried to get them away but it was no use. What difference did it make? If the frost didn't ruin the harvest, then it was disease. And if it wasn't disease, then it was his neighbour's cattle. Why did he choose to be a farmer? He could have been a banker like his friend Jack! Bill stared at the surrounding countryside for a while and then started up the steep hill to the farm house. He could have made lots of money like Jack and lived in a great flat in the city. And he would never have had to worry about whether his neighbours' cattle were eating his grain if he had chosen to be a banker! Bill chewed his lip as he walked into his kitchen and wiped the mud off his shoes. Suddenly he noticed someone sitting at the table. It was Jack! “What are you doing here?” he asked. “What's the matter?” Jack sighed and put his head in his hands. “I've quit my job and want to stay here with you for a while. I'm tired of the pollution in the city and the stress of my job. I work all the time and never get to see trees or grass! I wish I'd chosen to be a farmer like you!” Bill smiled. “Here are some words of wisdom for you, Jack. Do you know this idiom? The grass is always greener on the other side.” 第一课 终身的学习 终身学习的重要性 如今，越来越多不同年龄不同背景的人都在继续学习以提高自己。 下面是他们描述自己终身学习的经历。 孙文—28 “活到老，学到老。”这是我大学入学考试失败后得到的忠告。现在我就要从清华大学进修学校毕业了，通过远程学习获得电脑工程学的学士学位。因为有了这个新资格，我在工作上就会升职。过去，如果有人像我一样没有通过大学入学考试，他就不会有机会拿到学位。但是现在情况就不同了。我决定给自己第二次的机会，在做一份安稳的全职工作的同时，晚上和周末去学习以获得学位。坦白说，过去的四年真的很辛苦，但是值得！ 唐女士—45岁 三个月前，当我的经理告诉我，我将要下岗了，我的脑子一片空白，心中充满愤怒。 过去，如果有人在一家公司工作了二十几年，他们会在那儿一直工作到退休！ 我猜想他们辞掉我是因为公司的经营效益不佳，但是它仍然令我喉头哽咽，让我想哭。 我觉得我好像做错了什么事情，虽然我知道事实上不是这样！ 这只是当时的工作市场的状况所致。 最初我很高兴地做一个全职家庭主妇，称我自己是“首席家政官”。 但是很快我就厌烦了，于是决定去学习一个贸易课程。 我一直梦想着能自己开公司。 现在我的课程差不多学完了，它对我非常有益。 我学到了许多新的技能，并且已经在准备一个商业计划来建立我自己的出口公司！ 我觉得下岗将会证明是发生在我身上最好的事情。 陈爷爷—75岁 我相信你们都知道这句俗语，“你无法改变老人的想法。” 嗯，它当然是不对的！ 我是一个老人，我每天都在教自己新的东西！ 这一切都起源于几个月前邮票的涨价。 我一直在通过航空邮件给我在美国的女儿写信，每星期一封，可是航空邮件突然涨价了。 我决定，我是时候开始用因特网了。 我让我的孙子教我如何发电子邮件，如何使用因特网，我真的很喜欢我的信息发送出去及接到回复的速度。 除了发电子邮件，能在网络眼上看到我在美国的孙辈并与之交谈也很有意思。 在过去，如果我想看他们，我就得亲自去拜访他们。 很多人都觉得，退休以后，你能做的就只是关闭头脑，把所学的一切深深埋起来。 这是大错而特错！ 无论如何，我现在得走了。我要去学习字母表了。我正在因特网上学习一个英语课程。 |
