在偏僻乡村英语的教学

Children living in some of China's more remote areas often suffer from scarce resources -- including access to an education that rivals the big cities. Specialist teachers are often unwilling to stay in such places for long, and learning a foreign language is often simply not an option. But one small village in Jilin Province has bucked the trend - thanks to a volunteer teaching English, who’s been working with local kids for years.
和大城市相比，生活在中国一些偏远地区的孩子经常遭遇到资源短缺——包括受教育的机会。专职教师常常不愿意在那些地方久待，学一门外语常常是不可能的。但是吉林省一个小乡村抑制了这种趋势——多亏一位教英语的志愿者多年来从事教当地孩子的工作。

This house in Dawan Village, Jilin Province is about to be invaded.
位于吉林省大湾村的这间房子快要被挤满了。

Every weekend, children from the village assemble here -- not to play -- but to learn English.
每个周末，村里的孩子们都聚集在这里——不是来玩的——而是来学英语。

It’s unusual for a village this size and this remote to even have an English teacher -- let alone one who works for free.
一个这样大小、这样偏远的乡村有一名英语老师是很罕见的——更别说是免费教的。

But Zhang Shuang, a college student who was born here, is one of a kind.
但是，出生在这里的大学生张爽是独一无二的。

She began teaching local children during a summer break a few years ago.
几年前的暑假她就开始教当地的孩子了。

Her class became popular -- so popular that a handful of students turned into a crowd -- and one summer break turned into weekly classes.
她的课变得受欢迎——如此受欢迎以至于从少数的学生变成为一大群学生——从暑假上课变成每周上课。

English student from Dawan village said: "Learning English is hard, so I came here to learn."
大湾村的英语学生表示：“英语很难学，所以我来这里学。”

Over the years, Zhang Shuang has become a close friend to many of the children.
多年来，张爽已经成为很多孩子的亲密朋友。

Her generous contribution is highly valued by the villagers.
她的慷慨奉献收到村民的高度评价。

Local villager said: "She covers her own expenses. She brings snacks for the kids everytime she comes. They’re so happy to see her, they always ask when she’ll be back."
当地村民称：“她自己承担费用。她每次过来的时候都给孩子们带来点心。他们看到她都很高兴，总是问她什么时候回来。”

But coming back each time is not so easy.
但是每次回来都不容易。

Zhang Shuang lives in Changchun. It takes 4 hours, and three different buses to get to the village.
And she has to work within a very tight budget -- 6 Yuan per day is all she spends on food.
张爽住在长春。到村子要花4个钟头，搭三路不同的公车。而且她工作的预算很紧——6元，是她每天的食物花费。

Zhang Shuang said: "Sometimes when the weather is very bad, I have second thoughts about coming. But when I imagine the look on the children’s faces, I know I must go."
张爽表示：“有时天气非常糟糕，我会再三考虑会不会来。但是当我想到孩子们脸上的表情时，我知道我必须去。”

Zhang Shuang’s story has touched many people.
张爽的故事感动了很多人。

Her friends in college founded a volunteering club to encourage more people to get involved.
她的大学朋友成立了一个志愿者俱乐部来鼓励更多人参与。

Over 600 students have already registered -- all ready to follow Zhang Shuang’s example of taking English teaching into some of the Province’s remotest villages.
已经有600多名学生报名了——他们都准备以张爽为榜样，将英语教学带到吉林省一些最偏远的乡村。

Zhang Shuang never planned to become a professional teacher -- but to the children of Dawan Village, she’s already an inspiration -- as someone who has changed their lives forever.
张爽从没打算成为一名专业教师——但是她对大湾村的孩子们来说已经是一种鼓舞——成为永远改变他们生命的人。