How long have you not written a character?

    Popular TV program National Chinese Characters Contest has brought people's attention back to written Chinese.

    The{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(compete)is the Chinese version of a classic word game American Spelling Bee. Pupils{#blank#}2{#/blank#}usually come from the fifth or sixth grade,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (divide)into different teams and try to write down every word according to Its pronunciation.

    In less than two hours, the contestants need to solve dozens of questions{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(concern) error- prone(容易出错的) characters. Many students keep up with the show. They refer to{#blank#}5{#/blank#}as “the interesting Chinese lessons on TV”. Teachers and parents are also happy to see that children can learn and have fun at the same time.

    The program has gone beyond the circle of primary school students. “It is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(surprising) instructive. I have corrected a lot of my own mistakes by watching the show,” said{#blank#}7{#/blank#}adult viewer.

    Guan Zhengwen, chief director of the show, considers written Chinese{#blank#}8{#/blank#}the root of China‘s{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(culture)heritage, “TV shows on Chinese language mean more than just a trend,” he said. “Mass media need to seek innovation(创新) in order to preserve our culture, We hope that National Chinese Characters Contest will get more people{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(brush)up our written language.”

    On arriving in the United States, I felt everything was different. There were many new things I had to adapt to. One thing that really {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (take) me a long time to adapt to was speaking the language.

    I remember {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (clear) that I had to struggle to learn English because I couldn't even write a short paragraph to introduce myself at the first day of my English class.

    The teacher asked me {#blank#}3{#/blank#} it was difficult for me. If it was, I could change to level one! However, I was stubborn and swore that I was going to succeed.

    I started to spend many {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (hour) per day, even though it was stressful, because I wanted to take advantage {#blank#}5{#/blank#} this special chance to study English in the U.S.A.

    I felt depressed because I couldn't understand {#blank#}6{#/blank#} people were saying even though I studied hard. However, I still kept {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (try) and never gave up.

    Now, I can tell you that I have improved a lot, but sometimes it is still easy for me to get {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (lose) if I don't know what topic people {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (talk) about. To adapt to this new language, I had to tell {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (I) that I could do it. I really believe I can!

    Schools in the UK are trying the use of classroom robots in {#blank#}1{#/blank#} attempt to ease the growing teacher shortage. So far, two primary schools in Plymouth {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (start)to use the machines as possible replacements for teaching assistants. Britain's lack of teaching staff has been worsening over the last decade and shows no sign of improving. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (graduate) are unwilling to enter the primary   education department and many teachers are giving up the teaching jobs for careers in other fields. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (face) with this alarming shortage, some schools believe that robots might soon be able to fill the gap. Tests have shown that teachers can train the robots within just three hours by showing {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (vary) classroom techniques. These methods are then copied by the robots and used in a real classroom setting {#blank#}6{#/blank#} real students are doing tasks. In one example, the robot teacher {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (success) guided the   students through {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (challenge) tasks, giving them praise and encouragement when necessary. The project has been met with mixed reactions from teachers. Some are concerned that the robots are here to take their jobs, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} others optimistically regard the machines {#blank#}10{#/blank#} a way to reduce their heavy workloads.