This is my second yr with Stephany as my mandarin teacher . I really enjoy the class very much not just that my mandarin is improving but I have grown an appreciation of the Tzu Chi mission and their foundation It is now 2Yrs ago when someone speaks mandarin to me I only know how to say “ sorry I do not understand Mandarin “ And I would walk away . Now I will try my best to understand what they are asking me . And I try my best in replying back.

我在劉芳玲老師的雙語班學習中文第二年了！我非常喜歡這個班級不只是因為我的中文進歩了，我更對慈濟這個團體產生了感恩之心。記得兩年前，如果有人用國語問我，我只會用中文回答：「對不起，我不懂國語。」然後便轉頭走開了。現在如果走在路上有人用國語問我的話，我會盡我能力去了解他的問題，然後試著去回答問題了！

My memories of childhood was that I was always teased upon by my school mates because I spoke a lot of Cantonese and not English . When . I came to Canada when I was 8yr old and at that time you can count all your fingers you only can see one or two Asians in any classroom . I had my hair pulled as I have long braided hair and yellow skin. My fellow students would tease me because my English is not up to par as them. Even my English teacher told my mother not to learn 2^nd language as it will make my English weaker and it the Chinese language is not useful.

記得我還在學校讀書的時候，學校的同學常常會取笑我只會說廣東話不會說英語；因為我在八歲的時候就來到加拿大，當時在班上的華人少得只有一兩個而已。班上的同學總是喜歡拉著我頭上的辮子嘲笑我是個不會說英語的黃種人。我的英文老師甚至告訴我的媽媽說我不需要再學第二語言，那樣只會使我的英文更差而且中文在當時是不被重視的。

I became inferior to my race and I would not speak Chinese at all till High School. I went to Jarvis Collegiate , downtown Toronto where there is an influx of new immigrants come from many East Asian countries, many from HK and China . Instantly I become more fond of learning language of Cantonese , as many are from Hong Kong . In order to fit in I have to improve my Cantonese or I felt left out . As the saying goes “ 多做多得, 少做多失

我開始在種族歧視的陰影下完全不說中文了！一直到念高中的時候，我進入多倫多downtown的一個專科學校，那裡有許多從東南亞來的包括香港和中國的新移民同學。我便又開始學習說廣東話並覺得有一種歸屬感。就像是我學到的靜思語說的：「多做多得，少做多失」。

I become to know of the school, because of my colleagues who also is a volunteer for the school. I was told by my team manager to learn more Mandarin for my job. When I think about it , I got hired not because I know English but because I know a second language- which is Cantonese. Many of my colleagues knows Mandarin as well which translate more job opportunities . As Canada is a multicultural society. Chinese language is just the 3^rd language besides French in Canada.

我認識慈濟中文學校是透過我的同事，她是學校的志工之一。我的上司希望我可以多學一些國語來增加我工作上的需求，因為我當時應徵得到這份工作的原因不是因為我的英文，而是我的廣東話使我被錄取的。加拿大是一個多種族的國家，而中文的重要性已經是在英文和法文後的第三種重要語言了。

One of the quality of class is that Stephany I like she tries to teach us the importance of respecting, appreciation and caring for others . To me I look forward to Sunday class as it like a family to me . I love to hear Stephany saying to us everyone ' Have you had breakfast and how are you doing today. ? She always has a smile for us. “ Yao bie ren xiao , Si Ji xian Yao Xioa 要別人笑, 自己先要笑 “ There are times our classmate seems sleepy when they come to class . She has a way of brighten us up .Jiang hao jua, cun hao xin chang huai gan en xin. 講好話, 存好心, 常懷感思心

我喜歡我們班的其中一個重要的原因是因為我們的老師，她總是試著讓我們知道並學會尊重、感恩和關懷他人的心。對我而言，我總是期待著星期天的到來，因為這個班級給我一種像家庭班的溫暖感覺。我很喜歡聽到芳玲老師每次上課都會面帶笑容的問同學們：『大家這星期都好嗎？吃過早餐了沒有？』讓我想起一句靜思語『要別人笑，自己先要笑。』記得有幾次有一些同學都面帶睡意的進來教室，她總是有辦法讓我們的睡意去除並使大家快樂的上課學習。

She will spend time in speaking to everyone of us personally. This is a quality that I admire in her. But it is also it shows in her teaching . From the books to the teaching I know all the teachers put a lot effort , I remember the first time Stephany ask us to learn the still thoughts , I just thought it just “ homework , ugh “ why do i have to learn the saying “ . Honestly I would leave “ the “ homework” to the to the end but now I look forward in doing more. ie the Taiwan project, even though the research is in English but I still want to translate to Chinese . It a challenge but the more you effort you put into it , it's very rewarding. As the Duo Zuo duo de Shao Zuo duo shi 多做多得, 少做多失

除此之外，劉老師總是會利用時間一個個的問候關懷學生的情形，這是另一個原因讓我很尊敬她的地方。她的教學方式也令我佩服；記得剛開始學習靜思語的時候，我只是覺得那只是一句話而已，我為什麼要學靜思語？所以剛開始我總是把它當成一個我會放到最後才做的回家功課。可是經過每一次在課堂上的靜思、省思和討論後，我發現自己喜歡並期待作更多的功課了！

就像最近老師要我們做一個關於介紹台灣的作業，雖然我在網站上閱讀了許多的英文資料，可是我還是試著想把作業翻譯成中文；因為我逐漸了解到我愈用心去做就會得到更多的了解和收穫的。這不就是『多做多得，少作多失』的最佳詮釋嗎？

I learned that Tzu Chi academy is a non-profit organization and that runs by volunteers which has been contributing to better social and community services,and humanity studies. I become to realize many of our books that Stephany has given us many saying is from the buddist teaching. . this yr I had the opportunity to read Master Cheng Yen book .They would volunteer there time in nursing homes and help fund raising for different events.“ To End, I like her saying “ Every day is a new beginning of being a person and Every moment is a time for self-vigilance “

芳玲老師：

今天我要分享的是我本人的故事。在一九六八年越南就開始鬧革命到一九七五年，當時的人民真的很辛苦，也有許多人死亡。因為革命戰爭的關係，家裏糧食缺乏，許多人試著到田裏耕種，可是土壤貧脊，始終無法收成。我在一九七九年便離開了我的家鄉。

當時離開家的時候，我是坐在漁船上逃出公海，看到公海的時候，心裏好害怕。因為這艘漁船很小，寬度大約十呎，長度也只有十八呎，船裡面坐了有兩百七十人，大人小孩都有，裡面有人生病也有人因為害怕一直哭泣著；公海的四週除了海，什麼都沒有，我看不見一隻鳥或任何住家。我們在船上一直都很害怕，一點安全感都沒有，我甚至想過自己可能會死在海裏被大魚吃掉。

老師，妳知道嗎？我們停留在海上的時間很長，三天三夜後，終於看見一艘很大的漁船和許多強壯的男士到我們的船上，大家都很高興的以為有救了！沒想到他們不是來幫我們而是來搶劫的。他們威脅我們拿錢出來，要不然就要把我們打死；我們聽了害怕極了，於是把身上所有的東西都給了他們之後，他們還要我們和其他十幾個女人都過去他們的船上，我們無力抵抗只有害怕。因為那些人都是泰國人，講的話我們也聽不懂，後來我看見他們的老闆要他們放過我們這群無力抵抗的女人，他們的老闆還算有點兒良心，過一會兒就把我們放回船上了。我們就平安了！

現在想起來，真的很感恩那個老闆。雖然我們的錢都被劫走了，可是人平安就好。後來船繼續駛到印尼邊境，可是印尼政府並不讓我們入境，但是船已經開始破了一個洞，大家只好開始往海裏跳，找到港灣後就自由了！

芳玲老師，我很感恩妳的教導。

妳的學生─　郭秀鄕　敬上

讀後小語─

親愛的秀鄉媽媽：如果妳可以再寫更詳細些，讓我們知道你是如何在經過這些日子後，如何在加拿大和孩子們一起平安快樂的生活經歷等等，我會更感恩妳的分享喔！　芳玲老師^_^