永不退休的教师

湖南长沙市雅礼中学 王 虹

难词探意

1.aerospace/'eərəʊspeɪs/n.航空航天技术

2.assignment/ə'saɪnmənt/n.(分派的)任务

3.relevant/'reləvənt/adj.有意义的

Myfamilycameto the United States from Mexico when I was 5,so I was an Englishlanguage learner in school and had to work very hard.After I finished high school,it took me eight years to graduate from university,during which time I was working full time at night.

I started out as an aerospace engineer and changed into marketing,working at Hewlett-Packard and IBM for most of my career.Then I became a financial adviser,but eventually didn't find it satisfying enough.

I had always dreamed of teaching children with a background like mine,and I was 59 years old,so I knew it was now or never.I found out about the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program in California,which would allow me to explore the possibility of becoming a science,technology,engineering,or math teacher in a high-need middle or high school.I quickly applied and was accepted.

My first job was the hardest assignment you can get.I spent my first year there teaching math in a middle school,and the following two years I taught at the Academy of Science&Engineering.When I spotted a job opening within the high school network Soledad Enrichment Action and I saw the students,I knew it's where I wanted to work.I'm in my third year there,and I love it.It's so much more satisfying than what I used to do for work.The best is when you see a student really getting something for the first time,especially algebra,which can be very confusing.Sometimes I was so confused at their age that I couldn't even ask a question,so I know that feeling.

I feel relevant again,like what I do is really important.I don't plan on ever retiring.

Reading Check

1.What do we know about the author from the first two paragraphs?

A.He had to begin working from an early age.

B.He was good at language learning when young.

C.Upon graduating,he enjoyed trying different jobs.

D.Not satisfied with his job,he changed jobs constantly.

2.How did the author realize his dream?

A.By applying to be a math teacher in a high school.

B.By teaching children with a background like his.

C.By getting the hardest assignment to challenge himself.

D.By changing his job for a satisfying one as an engineer.

3.What was the author satisfied with when being a teacher?

A.He found algebra can be very confusing.

B.He settled confusing math problems for his students.

C.He taught at the Academy of Science&Engineering.

D.He saw a student really getting improved for the first time.

Language Study

Difficult sentence

After I finished high school,it took me eight years to graduate from university,during which time I was working full time at night.

【翻译】_________________________________________________

【点石成金】这是一个主从复合句。主句中含有句型it takes/took sb some time to do sth，意义为“某人做某事花费多少时间”。