早在兩個月前，就已經和學生每週兩次固定練習這次的中文口說比賽，最後在前往Newcastle的火車上時，更是毫不懈怠地一再複習可能會出現的考題，然後信心滿滿地準備好這次的比賽。
HSBC British Council Mandarin Speaking Competition分成個人和團體比賽兩種。個人賽同時分成三個階段，首先學生發表約兩分鐘的演說，其次評審就演說內容提問兩個問題，最後學生回答三個英翻中的問題。我們學校只報名參加初級個人賽，演說內容是關於自己和家人朋友的愛好。由於是全英國地區的大型比賽，雖然這是英格蘭北區的預賽，但是每個學校都卯足全力參加。
但是讓我傻眼的是，即便這是Beginner的比賽，亦即在校學習中文的時間不可超過兩年，參賽的學生當中，盡然有人可以發表關於武則天、十二生肖的由來、中國的傳統音樂、中國之行等等進階級甚至是流利級的演說，然後輪到評審根據內容提問時，卻只能一聲不吭地傻在台上。
我無意批評這些中國老師為了求勝而出奇招的行徑，但是以初級的程度讓學生去背誦這些對他來說根本毫無意義的文章，然後在台上被所有的參賽者投以鄙棄的眼光，此種心態根本毫無可取之處，並且無疑地抹殺了學生學習中文的興趣!如果學習一個語言只為了贏得比賽，那學習還有什麼意義?
HSBC British Council Mandarin Speaking Competition分成個人和團體比賽兩種。個人賽同時分成三個階段，首先學生發表約兩分鐘的演說，其次評審就演說內容提問兩個問題，最後學生回答三個英翻中的問題。我們學校只報名參加初級個人賽，演說內容是關於自己和家人朋友的愛好。由於是全英國地區的大型比賽，雖然這是英格蘭北區的預賽，但是每個學校都卯足全力參加。
但是讓我傻眼的是，即便這是Beginner的比賽，亦即在校學習中文的時間不可超過兩年，參賽的學生當中，盡然有人可以發表關於武則天、十二生肖的由來、中國的傳統音樂、中國之行等等進階級甚至是流利級的演說，然後輪到評審根據內容提問時，卻只能一聲不吭地傻在台上。
我無意批評這些中國老師為了求勝而出奇招的行徑，但是以初級的程度讓學生去背誦這些對他來說根本毫無意義的文章，然後在台上被所有的參賽者投以鄙棄的眼光，此種心態根本毫無可取之處，並且無疑地抹殺了學生學習中文的興趣!如果學習一個語言只為了贏得比賽，那學習還有什麼意義?
開心地在Newcastle大學前合照
雖然最後無法晉級決賽，但是這次的新城之行讓我學會到不少關於中文教學的寶貴經驗，並看到中國人迥異於台灣人的文化觀念，和學生也培養出很好的感情與默契。
以下將這次考試的英翻中試題分享出來，希望明年其他老師在準備時能稍有一點可供參考的方向。
1. I like playing football.
2. I have two younger brothers.
3. Tomorrow is my birthday.
4. His mum is a teacher.
5. What time is it now?
6. It is 11 o'clock now.
7. My dad wants to go to London.
8. She lives in Beijing.
9. I am very busy today.
10. Do you like Chinese food?
11. The book is very interesting.
12. My elder brother is called Daming.
13. How old are you?
14. I am fourteen years old.
15. Today it is very hot.
16. My friends are going shopping.
17. I like red and blue.
18. Do you like basketball?
19. She lives in England.
20. My house is very nice.
21. He would like a cup of coffee.
22. Tomorrow is Saturday.
23. I have two dogs.
24. He likes watching Chinese films.
25. I can speak English and Chinese.
26. Our school is very big.
27. What would you like to eat?
28. It's ten o'clock now.
29. This is my mum's car.
30. Is your younger brother tall?
31. See you tomorrow.
32. I like speaking Chinese.
33. What would you like to drink?
34. His garden is pretty.
35. I have many French books.
36. We finish class at three o'clock.
看到最後三題，傻眼了吧，我也傻眼了，因為連續出現初級接中級才有的單字-garden, many, finish-想當然爾，最後一個學生在前面的演說與兩道題都回答得很好的情況下，英翻中時只能死在台上。唉~ 連我的學生都說，這次比賽實在是要靠運氣啊!
還好，下午2點之前比賽就結束了，我們在新城的市中心逛了兩番，又跑去狠狠地大吃了一頓中國菜，當然一切費用由學校負擔，也算是稍微平息了一下心中不平的怨氣哈~
題外話，還好之前沒有安排專程來新城旅遊，除了古城牆和河岸，這裡實在是和格拉斯哥沒什麼兩樣，愛丁堡實在是美太多了!!
以下將這次考試的英翻中試題分享出來，希望明年其他老師在準備時能稍有一點可供參考的方向。
1. I like playing football.
2. I have two younger brothers.
3. Tomorrow is my birthday.
4. His mum is a teacher.
5. What time is it now?
6. It is 11 o'clock now.
7. My dad wants to go to London.
8. She lives in Beijing.
9. I am very busy today.
10. Do you like Chinese food?
11. The book is very interesting.
12. My elder brother is called Daming.
13. How old are you?
14. I am fourteen years old.
15. Today it is very hot.
16. My friends are going shopping.
17. I like red and blue.
18. Do you like basketball?
19. She lives in England.
20. My house is very nice.
21. He would like a cup of coffee.
22. Tomorrow is Saturday.
23. I have two dogs.
24. He likes watching Chinese films.
25. I can speak English and Chinese.
26. Our school is very big.
27. What would you like to eat?
28. It's ten o'clock now.
29. This is my mum's car.
30. Is your younger brother tall?
31. See you tomorrow.
32. I like speaking Chinese.
33. What would you like to drink?
34. His garden is pretty.
35. I have many French books.
36. We finish class at three o'clock.
看到最後三題，傻眼了吧，我也傻眼了，因為連續出現初級接中級才有的單字-garden, many, finish-想當然爾，最後一個學生在前面的演說與兩道題都回答得很好的情況下，英翻中時只能死在台上。唉~ 連我的學生都說，這次比賽實在是要靠運氣啊!
還好，下午2點之前比賽就結束了，我們在新城的市中心逛了兩番，又跑去狠狠地大吃了一頓中國菜，當然一切費用由學校負擔，也算是稍微平息了一下心中不平的怨氣哈~
題外話，還好之前沒有安排專程來新城旅遊，除了古城牆和河岸，這裡實在是和格拉斯哥沒什麼兩樣，愛丁堡實在是美太多了!!
