Hi Brad,

    I've read many articles written by you in English Salon, from which I've learned a lot. But now I met lots of new {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (挑战).

    I'm an English teacher in a middle school. Most of my students here are poor in English and they don't think it's necessary to learn it.  English has been a {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (头痛) for most of them ever since last term. I try my best to {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (鼓励) them, but all my efforts receive tiny effects. Lack of confidence and interest is the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (最大的) problem for them to learn English.

    I love teaching {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (然而), I feel confused. What should I do? Best wishes to you.

Annie

Hi Annie,

    Thank you for writing to me. I will enjoy {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (交换) ideas with you and I hope we can know each other better.

    You can't make your students learn anything well if they have no interest in it.  We all know learning another language is very difficult.  You can also tell them English is an {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (国际) language. We should pay {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (关注) to the fact that it's widely{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (说) all around the world.

    Please don't give up because your job gives you lots of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (机会) to help young people, and I am sure things will be better and better.

Brad

—Of course not. Take it easy, baby.

    As prices and building costs keep rising. The "do-it-yourself" trend(遊势)in the US continues to grow.

    "We needed furniture for our living room." says John Ross, "and we just didn't have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and c{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. "John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, he and his wife struggle to make a home at a time w{#blank#}2{#/blank#}the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week DIY course for $ 280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs a{#blank#}3{#/blank#}the house.

    Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died, He has a full-time job at home, as w{#blank#}4{#/blank#}as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420. "I was deeply upset about it. Now I've finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself."

    John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they c{#blank#}5{#/blank#}to save money so they can fight the high c{#blank#}6{#/blank#}of living. If you want to become a "do-it-yourself" expert, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things y{#blank#}7{#/blank#}.