Growing up in Venezuela， I never had really much cause to learn English.

For years I knew nothing past “hello”， until I started high school. For five years， I spent two hours a week immersed in understanding the verb “to be”， “numbers”， “colors”， and the di?fference between saying “good evening” and “good night”.

I thought two hours a week was enough time to invest in learning a foreign language. I would always get top marks， and my teachers would regularly praise me.

Even as an adult， I still thought I spoke the language， just by understanding English menus or translating common phrases.

Yep， that used to be me， walking like a queen among everyday Spanish speakers.

“Bring it on， life，” I said.

“I can handle whatever youve got; Im a rock star.” But when I moved to Canada， life hit me so hard that it knocked me down. Years later， I am still recovering.

Living in a new land， with different people， new rules， new weather， a new culture and language， I was no longer a queen.

Did I speak English？

No， not at all.

So， I went back to school， thinking that it was a challenge I would conquer in record time. But the reality was different. English was more like a solid wall in my path.

Even after getting a job， it took all my courage to stop myself from hiding in the washroom during my lunch break， crying， completely overwhelmed （不知所措的） and scared.

Learning English， speaking， listening—it hurt me. Not the language. Not the unkind people. It hurt because I wasnt good， despite my efforts.

Now， after almost seven years in Canada， Ive decided not to apologize for my accent， grammar mistakes， or pronunciation. Im going to chase my dreams and enjoy a beautiful， rich， and fascinating language without being ashamed.

Dont get me wrong. My brain still screams “Give me a break！” from time to time， but thats completely natural. I know its going to take a while， but at least now I accept the person I am—not the perfect person I thought I was.

Activity A Reading for understanding

Ⅰ. Text?centered chunks

immerse in 全神貫注于;沉浸在

invest in 投資;投入（時間、精力等）

knock sb down 打倒（或擊倒、撞倒）某人

Ⅱ. Text?centered sentences

一、非謂語

1. Growing up in Venezuela， I never had really much cause to learn English. 我在委內(nèi)瑞拉長大，從來沒有學習英語的理由。

【點石成金】Growing up in Venezuela意為“在委內(nèi)瑞拉長大”，是V?ing在句中作原因狀語的結構。

【運用遷移】由于不懂英語，他看不懂這部電影。

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2. Yep， that used to be me， walking like a queen among everyday Spanish speakers. 是的，我曾經(jīng)就是那樣，像女王一樣走在普通西班牙語人群中。

【點石成金】walking like a queen表示“像女王一樣”，是V?ing在句中作行為方式狀語的結構。

【運用遷移】他靠開的士謀生。

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二、賓語從句

I can handle whatever youve got. 我可以應付你所面對的一切。

【點石成金】whatever youve got表示“你遭遇的所有事情”，是whatever引導的賓語從句，意為“任何……的人/事/物”。

【運用遷移】我不相信他剛才說的任何話。

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Activity B Reading for writing

假定你是李華，你在英語學習上遇到了困難，你想求助英國網(wǎng)友John。請根據(jù)以下內(nèi)容給John寫一封電子郵件。內(nèi)容包括：

1. 記單詞能力差;

2. 不擅長英語寫作;

3. 口語差，不敢用英語與外國人交流。

注意：

1. 詞數(shù)為80左右;

2. 可以適當增加細節(jié)，以使行文連貫;

3. 至少使用一個非謂語或賓語從句;

4. 注意段落內(nèi)的邏輯關系。

Dear John，

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Best wishes！

Yours，

Li Hua

寫作導引

本次寫作任務是求助信寫作，要求學生向英國網(wǎng)友求助如何學好英語，并且至少需要使用一個非謂語或賓語從句。這些寫作要求和所給語篇的主題語境是緊密相關的。我們可以通過整合同主題閱讀材料的內(nèi)容和語言，梳理寫作思路和積累素材。

一、語篇解碼

（一）內(nèi)容分析

What is the text mainly about？

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（二）宏觀結構

Fill in the blanks according to the text.

（三）段內(nèi)關系

Choose the best answers according to the relation in Para. 14 and Para. 15.

A. The order of logic.

B. The order of space.

C. The order of time.

二、素材積累

（一）求助信的核心表達

1. I am writing to ask you to do me a favor/give me a hand. 我寫信想請您幫我一個忙。

2. I am encountering three problems which trouble me a lot. To begin with， ... Whats more， ... What troubles me most is... 我遇到三個困擾我的問題。首先，……其次，……最困擾我的是……

3. Unfortunately， I find/feel it quite diff?icult/hard to do... 不幸的是，我覺得做……很困難。

4. Faced with the above problems， I am anxious to get your help. Would you please offer me some advice on...？ 面對以上的困難，我渴望得到你的幫助。你能給予我一些關于……的建議嗎？

5. I wonder if you can help me with these difficulties. 我想知道你能否幫助我解決這些問題。

6. I really appreciate it if you could help me. 如果你能幫助我，我將感激不盡。

三、寫作支架

Dear ____________，

How is everything going？ Im sorry to bother you， but I have to ask you to help me____________ .

I am encountering three problems troubling me a lot. To begin with， ____________ . Whats more，____________ . What troubles me most is ____________.

I really appreciate it if you could help me. Looking forwards to your reply.

Best wishes！

Yours，

Li Hua

四、語篇過手

在構思求助信的語篇框架時，應注意在第一段中要及時說明寫信的目的——請求幫助，在第二段中清晰陳述請求幫助的內(nèi)容;總詞數(shù)控制在80左右。

同時，學習并運用前文閱讀中出現(xiàn)的非謂語或賓語從句等高級句型。關注段內(nèi)的關系，如邏輯關系、空間關系或時間關系，需要注意使用恰當?shù)倪B詞。