Problems and Progress of the Teenagers

主" 持" 人：謝建民（正高級教師，江蘇省特級教師）

本期撰稿：江蘇省無錫市謝建民名師工作室成員陸夢潔（江陰市第一初級中學）

Are you satisfied with your appearance？ Some teenagers are not.

From popular photo-editing（照片編輯） apps to plastic surgery（整容） ， it seems that large eyes， pale skin and a skinny body are the standards of beauty these days. But can following these standards really make us feel good about ourselves？

Body image anxiety（對自身形象的焦慮） is a common issue among teenagers. According to an interview and survey， some girls choose not to take part in certain daily activities， because they feel bad about their looks. Some teenagers avoid speaking up in class because of their fear of being judged based on their looks.

Many teenagers are upset about their appearance because they believe in unrealistic（不現實的） standards of beauty， experts say. Perfect faces and bodies are everywhere in advertising， TV shows and social media， leading individuals to believe that they’re either too dark， too fat， too short， or too tall.

However， trying to meet these strict standards can make us feel anxious. What troubles us is not just our “imperfect” looks， but the harshness with which we criticize（批評） ourselves.

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Plus-size（大號的） models are now being featured in some fashion shows. We should all strive to be just as confident as they are.

1. How do experts explain the reasons why teenagers are dissatisfied with their appearance？

2. What’s the true reason behind teenagers’ anxiety about meeting these strict standards？

青春期是生命中的一個關鍵階段，它既帶來了成長，也伴隨著挑戰。你可能發現自己在身心變化中迷失了方向，從而出現了一些問題。這些問題可能來自父母的嚴格要求，可能因為缺少交心的朋友，抑或是因為無法平衡學業與愛好的關系……假如你是李華，請根據自身情況，給Mr. Youth寫一封求助信，傾訴煩惱，尋求幫助。

Dear Mr. Youth，

I’m Li Hua， a Grade 9 student. I’m writing to tell you about some of my problems， hoping to get a few useful advice from you.

These days， I always argue with my parents. I think they are too strict with me， but they think what they have done is good for me and ask me to follow their instructions.

What’s more， I’m going to be mad because I don’t have any good friends. I can’t share my worries and happiness with anyone. I don’t know how to get along well with my classmates.

Since I became a Grade 9 student， I find it hard to achieve a balance between my studies and hobbies. If I finish all my work， there will be no time left for my hobbies. I think it’s important for me to enjoy hobbies.

I’m looking forward to your reply.

Best wishes.

Li Hua

“argue”一詞含有濃烈的感情色彩，暗指和父母的關系很糟糕，用在此處不妥。句子之間也缺少連貫性。

過渡語使用不當，且第2、3段無遞進關系。

建議呈現問題時依照遞進關系，這樣可以使文章更具邏輯性。

整篇文章句式單一，可以嘗試用多變的句型和短語對文章進行潤色。

Dear Mr. Youth，

I’m Li Hua， a Grade 9 student. I’m writing to you to discuss some of my problems， hoping to seek your useful guidance and suggestions.

First of all， as a teenager who has become a Grade 9 student， I have great difficulty achieving a balance between my schoolwork and hobbies. Whenever I complete all my schoolwork， I can hardly find any time for my hobbies， which matter a lot to me.

Secondly， though I’ve tried my best to get along well with others， I still find it hard to get genuine friends to share my worries and happiness with. This lack of sincere companionship worries me a lot.

What’s worse， my parents are incredibly strict， and they often insist that I conform to their demands without considering my own thoughts and opinions. Consequently， I have no idea how I can communicate with them better.

I’m looking forward to your reply.

Best wishes.

Li Hua

本篇書面表達的目的主要是讓同學們對處于青少年時期的自己有更清晰全面的認識。在寫信時要注意情感的遞進，使文章更有層次感與沖擊力。升格文穩扎穩打，循序漸進，結構也更加清晰，使用first of all， secondly， what’s worse等過渡語使文章更有邏輯性。小作者也靈活運用不同的句式，如have difficulty doing，find it hard to do等，為整篇文章增色不少。

時光荏苒，初中三年轉瞬即逝。與三年前的自己相比，你一定在學習和生活中取得了不少進步。假如你是李華，請你寫一篇英文發言稿，復盤自己三年來取得進步的地方，比如學科知識、體育鍛煉、生活技能、良好習慣、人際關系等，和你的同學分享。

How time flies！ It has been nearly 3 years since we first arrived at our school. Let me show you my changes.

When I was a primary school student， I was weak in Maths. I once thought Maths problems were the most difficult things in the world！ However， now， I’m a Grade 9 student. I can solve a lot of Maths problems by myself and I have won high praise from my teacher.

Moreover， I also become more friendly and confident. I’m not as shy as I used to be. At present， I am willing to help my classmates with their homework and their problems.

During three years of studying， I develop some good habits as well. For example， I often make a list of all the homework I have and finish it on time.

文章的體裁是發言稿，要加上適當的稱呼。

文章主體部分以第一人稱講述自己的經歷。通過對比三年前和三年后自身的變化，內容較為充實且合理。但是，有些段落之間和句子之間缺少邏輯性、連貫性。

結尾缺乏總結性的語句。

發言稿要加上結束語。

Dear classmates，

I’m very glad to stand here. How time flies！ It’s been nearly three years since we first entered our school. Today， I’d like to share my changes with you.

On one hand， I didn’t use to get good scores in Maths. I even thought Maths problems were the most difficult things in the world！ However， our Maths teacher helped me a lot. For example， she advised me to be more diligent and practise more frequently. She also told me that “Many a little make a mickle.” Whenever I failed in Math tests， she cheered me up and encouraged me never to give up. Now， I do well in studying Maths.

On the other hand， I used to be so shy that I was afraid of communicating with others. As a result， I often kept quiet in class. To solve this problem， our head teacher recommended me to take part in speech competitions. Now， I become brave and confident in expressing myself.

All in all， thanks to our teachers， I have changed a lot. Never will I forget the valuable middle school life！

Thanks for listening. Wish you all the best！

這是一篇發言稿，主體部分主要以第一人稱講述自身經歷，對比三年來的變化，突出了老師對自己的幫助。句子與句子、段落與段落之間使用了恰當的連接詞，使得文章連貫、有邏輯。此外，小作者加上了恰當的稱呼和結束語，使得文章結構清晰、內容完整。