Most kids in Britain have pet bears. This animal is both furry (毛茸茸的) and friendly. But it cannot move or make any noise. That's because it is a teddy bear. Most teddies are in the shape of a small bear. They are usually brown and stuffed (填充) with cotton. Kids love them very much.

    Paddington bear is one of the most famous teddy bears in the world. Yet there are many types. Do you know Winnie the Pooh? He's another popular bear!

Cute, soft teddy bears were born in the 20th century. However, they don't have just one place of birth. Both American and German toymakers made the teddy bear at the same time!

    Teddy bears have long been a popular kids' toy. They are in songs, stories and films. There are even teddy bear museums around the world. And it's not even just kids who hold teddy bears. It's a popular present for lovers, usually on Valentine's Day.

    In the UK it is popular for a newborn baby to get a teddy bear as their first gift. The day I was born, my grandmother handed me a teddy bear. She made it herself. That makes him the same age as me! I took him everywhere I went, holding his arm at nighttime and falling asleep with him. And I still have that bear with me today. It is the best gift I have ever gotten.

    On the first day of the New Year 2019，I made up my mind to go to Thailand to teach English as a volunteer. At the beginning, all I cared about was travelling and seeing the world. I didn't know how fantastic my life would be in the coming months!

    My journey began with attending TESOL certification(认证) course in my home state of Florida last February. After 3 weekends of study and another 40 hours' study online, I received my TESOL certificate.

    I was asked to contact Philip, who is Program Director of the Teach in Thailand. After discussing with Philip, I chose my school and after many months of excitement，I finally flew to Thailand in early April and I couldn't wait to explore the country!

    After a few weeks of single travel, I met up with Philip and the other new teachers in my program in Bangkok. It was great to meet other people who were on the same journey as me, see some cool sights and walk in Thailand's cities! After that, I attended the week­long seminar(研讨会). At the end of the seminar, I was transported to my school—Anuban Buriram Primary School.

    I truly love my job—I teach Grades 5 and 6 and I have the cleverest and most active kids in the world. It's a truly fantastic thing that you can see the difference you make in someone else's life, right in front of you!

    Buriram is a small city with green rice fields. People here are more friendly than anyone I've ever met—I've never been anywhere where a smile is so easily received，where everyone you pass is so friendly to say "Hello" and "Good morning". I've been taken out to countless dinners, and been lent a guitar, a camera, and I am given Thai treats and the most delicious fresh fruits many times a week. I only hope to repay them in the future.

Jacob Tremblay (雅各布•特伦布莱) : a promising young actor

    While you might not recognize the name Jacob Tremblay, you may have seen him in the movie called Wonder (《奇迹男孩》). He plays the role of Auggie, a boy with facial deformities (面部畸形). The director calls the eleven-year-old boy "a once-in-a-life-time actor of his generation". So what about some background information to explain all this success?

    Born in 2006, Jacob started appearing in TV dramas at the age of five. His breakthrough came in Room(《房间》) in 2015. In that movie, he plays Jack, a young boy who has been kept in a small room since he was born. His first-rate portrayal (角色的刻画) of this role won him a lot of praise and several important awards. People then really began to notice this very talented young actor.

    Jacob impressed people again with his acting skills in Wonder. Although the movie audience can see only his eyes under the heavy make-up, they can feel the emotions of the character. People also wonder how he was able to get inside the character so successfully without a shared experience in real life.

    The young actor had, in fact, done a lot of research on children with facial deformities before shooting began. He sent a video to children with facial deformities and asked them to send him letters telling him anything they wanted him to know. He always kept the letters by his side and read them over and over again between takes (录制). He said those letters helped him prepare for scenes with emotional content.

    Jacob's performance on screen has made him one of the most promising actors in his age group. Hopefully, we will see a lot more of him in the future—on the silver screen or on TV.