Giving is Receiving—Personal Growth in volunteer Work奉献即有收获—“21世纪联想杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军演讲Morning, ladies and gentlemen.早上好,女士们先生们。Last summer, I volunteered to work as an English teacher in a primary school for children of migrant workers.去年夏天,我自愿在一所外地农民工子弟小学当起了一名英语教师。To be accurate, I didn’t volunteer. I was dragged in.( literally)确切的说,我并不是自告奋勇去参加的。我其实是被拽着参加的。(从字面上说)When my friend first hit upon the idea of this project, I was all against it:"What? To spend my vacation standing in the heat,当我的朋友首次提出参加这个计划时我是完全反对的:“什么?让我整个暑假冒着酷暑, Yelling at a bunch of nine-year-olds who couldn’t even speak proper Mandarin Chinese? And besides, there`s no pay for my toil. No, I am definitely not going.”对着一帮9岁大的小孩大声嚷嚷,他们甚者连普通话都说不标准。 而且我的辛苦工作是无偿服务。不,我绝对不会去的。”But my friend twisted my arms to have me join them.但是在朋友的坚持下,我还是去了。Unexpectedly, the first lesson I taught turned out a lesson for me.出乎意料的是,我的第一节课却变成了我的一课。The moment I stepped into the shabby classroom, I was touched dy the loud, respectful voices in unison: “Good morning, teacher!"当我踏进那间破旧的教室,我被一阵充满敬意,整齐的喊声深深打动了。“老师,早上好!”Instead of fooling around, the chilend were thirsty for knowledge and efficient in absorbing everying I was able to give them.这些孩子没有四处打闹,对知识如饥似渴的他们有效地吸收我交给他们的知识。This made me despise myself for I hadn’t even prepared for the class.让我鄙视自己,因为我事前根本没有备课。During the break, I leaned over the squeaky desk, chatting with a sweaty boy in the front row:"Without air-conditioning, it`s really hot here. Are you tired?"课间休息时,我靠在一张吱吱作响的桌子旁,与前排一位满头大汗的男孩子聊天:“这里没有空调,实在太热了,你感到热吗?”"Not at all," said he, shaking his head."It`s fine here. My Dad builds asphalt roads. That is really tiring and hot."“一点都不,”他摇摇头说,“这里很好。我爸爸在修沥青公路。那里才是真的又热又累人。”As summer advanced, my enthusiasm as a teacher grew.随着夏天的推移,我作为一名老师的热情在上涨。I prepared my lesson carefully and even used some methods my teachers used.我认真的备课,甚至采用了一些我老师曾经用过的教学方法。I organized many group activities to give the kids fun. Strangely enough, the heat was also becoming less and less unbearable.我组织了许多小组活动让孩子们玩得很开心。奇怪的是,这酷暑热浪也逐渐让人能忍受了。Soon, my one-month volunteer work came to an end.不久,我为期一个月的志愿活动接近尾声 。When I was leaving my last class, I turned back and saw smiling faces and waving hands.当我结束作何一节课时,我转身,看到那张张笑脸和学的挥动的手。Never before had I ever had such a feeling of sadness, which was, nevertheless, mixed with a sense of enrichment, fulfillment and happiness.我从未感到过如此伤心,但是这种感觉却夹杂着充实,满足和幸福。I was paid for my work, amply paid, not in terms of money, but something more valuable.我的工作得到了回报,而且获益很大。这种报偿不是用金钱来衡量的,而是其他一些更加珍贵的东西。My English was improved. I was able to teach it, although not very professional. I learned about the grassroots-level society.我的英语水平得到了提高。虽然不是很专业,但我可以胜任这份教学工作了。我了解到了基层社会。Inside myself a heart is growing, a heart that not only beats for myself, but cares for others as well.我的内心激情澎湃,这不单单是对自己的鞭策,也是在关心着其他人。The volunteer work gave me a precious little chance to say thanks to people like the little boy’s father,这次志愿工作给我一次难得的机会向诸如那位小男孩的父亲一样的人们表达谢意。Who construct highways san under grounds, build up modern skyscrapers, and make our cities more and more beautiful.他们修建高速公路和地铁、建设现代化摩天大楼,让我们的城市越来越漂亮。To help the children with their English was all I could do, at present, to show my gratitude to these unsung heroes.而要表达我对这些无名英雄的感激之情,我目前力所能及的事情只是给他们的小孩教英语。The world may not have been fair to them,这个世界对他们可能不太公平,So privileged and blessed people like me are obliged to do whatever we can to help make their life better.所以我们这些幸运和幸福的人有义务尽我们所能,让他们生活的更好一些。 What I ever [whatever] I do for them, however,然而,我所做的事情微不足道I know it cannot be compared with what they have done to improve the quality of life in our cities.我知道,比起他们为提高无名的城市生活质量所做的贡献。Ladies and gentlemen, now realize that volunteering shouldn’t be a one-time personal experience.女士们先生们,现在我意识到志愿活动不应该是一次个人经历。It should be a lifetime activity of everybody.这应该成为每一个人的一种终生行为。Many of us are now offering assistance to the needy and to each other, and our efforts have indeed made a difference.现在我们中的很多人都在为彼此和那些需要帮助的人提供援助。我们这些努力确实是能改变现状。Whether we are helping children with their schooling, or caring for the elderly in nursing homes, and helping out in 2008 Beijing Olympics,不管我们是在教育方面帮助孩子还是在敬老院照顾老人们,或者参加2008年北京奥运会的志愿活动,We well not only contribute to the harmony of the world but elevate ourselves as well.这些都不只是为社会的和谐贡献自己的力量,同时也是在提升袭击的道德修养。 Emerson once said,:“It’s one of the most beautiful compensations of this life 爱默生曾经说过:“此生最美好的一种报偿就是,that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” He was right. 任何对别人的真诚帮助必然也是对自己的帮助。”他是对的。I hear that my university is going to organize anther voluntary teaching program this summer.我听说学校今年夏天将组织另一次义务教学活动。This time I won’t be dragged in. I will volunteer.这一次 我不会再被拽着参加了。我会自告奋勇。 Thank you.谢谢。