今天是M大的开学第一天，因为昨天完成了教学大纲，今天忙里偷闲地上了大学的网页，开始了解这个学校。明天将是轻舟在M大教中文的第一天。
M大是基督教私立学院，10几年前在中国时，轻舟从未听说过这所大学，但到了纽约雪城留学，轻舟的第一个牧师的独子毕业于M大。哈城好友芳也告诉我，M大在美国东北部口碑甚好，学生品德佳，能力强，每年她的会计公司都要专程到M大招聘新员工。
大约1个月前轻舟曾接受了M大校刊记者的采访，今天上午无意中看到校刊网页上刊登了采访全文，很惊喜，遂剪贴于下，并附上中文翻译与大家分享。
校刊标题：
East meets West
New professor joins the Mxxx College Department of Modern Languages
（轻舟中译文）
东方与西方相遇
新教授加入M大现代语言系
While gathering facts for the article on the new Chinese language course for the summer issue of The Bridge, we had the opportunity to correspond with xxx, the new professor of Chinese at Mxx College. We asked her to tell us a little about herself and her thoughts about teaching and learning Chinese.
（轻舟中译文）：当我们为夏季的校刊收集资料，准备着手写中国语言新科目的文章，我们有机会与M大新教授xxx联系上。我们请她介绍自己，以及她对中文教与学的想法。
How long have you been teaching Chinese and what first made you interested in the language?
I have been teaching Chinese for 14 years. I was born and grew up in China. In 1995 while I was a graduate student in the English department of Syracuse University, I was invited to lecture on Chinese classical poetry at Skaneatles High School. I was impressed with the enthusiastic responses of the students, so I applied for a Chinese teaching position at Syracuse University, and I got the job. Later on I also volunteered teaching at Central New York Chinese School and was awarded with the honor of “Teacher of the Year Award.” I have also taught Asian business culture and basic conversation classes to my former employer, Lockheed Martin at Syracuse, N.Y.
（轻舟中译文）你教中文多久了？最先你是如何对教中文感兴趣？
我教中文14年了。我在中国出生，成长。1995年当我在雪城大学(Syracuse University)修英文文学硕士学位时，受邀到Skaneatles高中讲座，向学生们介绍中国古诗。学生们的热情反应让我印象深刻，于是我申请到雪大教中文，并获得了那份工作。后来我又到Central New York 纽约中部的中文学校义务教中文，并获得“年度优秀教师奖”的荣誉。我还为我从前的公司，洛克希德马丁，提供了亚洲商业文化和基础中文会话的课程。
Why is it so important to add Chinese to a language department that has, up until now, featured only European languages?
Chinese is spoken by more people than any other language in the world. More than 21 percent of the world’s population lives in China! Beyond that, there are many other Chinese people in Southeast Asia and around the world. China opened its doors three decades ago. The economy is booming and Chinese people are very open to the Gospel. Chinese is a critical language for business and ministry in the 21st century.
A famous Chinese saying that I used to quote to my students at Syracuse University and Lockheed Martin is Sunzi’s “Know yourself and know others, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.” Sunzi is the writer of The Art of War (500 B. C.). Chinese people believe it essential to know another culture before entering the territory to win a war. It is applicable in the business world, and it works well with evangelism.
（轻舟中译文）
为什么加入中文，对原本只提供欧洲语言的语言系，有重大意义？
中文是世界上说的最多的语言，多于世界人口的21%的人居住在中国！再者，东南亚以及世界各地也有很多华人。30多年前中国向世界敞开了大门。经济腾飞的同时，中国人对福音也持开明的态度。中文是21世界商业和福音的重要语言。
在雪大和洛克希德马丁的课堂，我常常引用孙子的“知己知彼，百战不殆”这句名言。孙子是公元前500年《孙子兵法》的作家。中国人相信，了解对方的文化，是赢得胜利的根本。商业世界如此，福音传播亦如此。
What is your favorite thing about the language?
I like classical Chinese poetry, the beautiful tones, the calligraphic strokes, and Chinese music. Language consists of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The four parts are integrated and interrelated. I can’t say I favor one over another. According to a Czech proverb, “To learn a new language is to get a new soul.” I feel so blessed to be naturally bilingual and I enjoy sharing the Chinese language with American college students.
（轻舟中译文）
你最喜欢中文语言的那个方面？
我喜欢中国的古诗词，美丽的音节，飘逸的书法，和中国音乐。语言包含着听，说，读，写四部分。这四方面相互关联，缺一不可。我无法说喜欢某一部分多于另一部分。捷克有句谚语：“学会一种新语言，得到一个新灵魂。”我为自己拥有双语言而感到有福，也为能够和美国大学生分享中文而喜乐。
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