1、Unit 1 Lesson 3 Your life is what you make it After a long day, Zhang Tian finally got back1to his small room, feeling tired2. He had started3working at seven in the morning and it was eight in the evening now. He had to4prepare his lessons for5the following day. This is a typical6day for Zhang Tian
2、. Coming to Guizhou Province to teach7has been quite an experience8for him. Zhang Tian graduated9from university and got a teachers certificate10last year. His parents, like most, hoped he would go to a big city to find a teaching job. Likewise11, his friends all left his hometown for12work in Shang
3、hai or Beijing. Zhang Tian felt differently, however13. He wanted to start a new lifestyle. He had met wonderful teachers from small villages during14 his early school years and he was inspired by15them to go and teach where he was needed the most16. For that reason he applied for17and became a volu
4、nteer teacher in a village school. Bringing with him lots of books, clothes, and two pairs of trainers18, Zhang Tian travelled to the village with an eager heart19. He imagined20all sorts of21exciting things about living22 independently and teaching in a village. However, not everything23lived up to
5、24Zhang Tians hopes. The school was much smaller than25he had expected26, with only three classrooms. In front of the classrooms, there was a playground which got dusty on windy days and muddy on rainy days27. Living in the village28was also more challenging29 than he had thought. The power30and wat
6、er supplies were unstable31, so he could only shower every three or four days32, and he had to learn how to cook. The thought of leaving once flashed33 through his mind, but he quickly gave up34on the idea and found ways to deal with35the challenges. The school had just36three teachers and Zhang Tia
7、n was the only English teacher. The other two local teachers were responsible for37maths and Chinese. To make school life healthier and livelier38for his students, Zhang Tiann introduced39more subjects to the school- music, art and PE. It is not surprising that PE is the kids favourite40subject! The
8、ir school lives are now more attractive41and interesting, and they enjoy playing42football in the playground, as well as43 singing songs theyve learnt. The school is now full of44laughter and music. Zhang Tian is planning to organize45the first-ever school concert! Everyone is very excited. Zhang Ti
9、ans first year is almost over. It has been a tough46year, but he has enjoyed working with the children. What made him feel satisfied47was that his students were able to read, speak and write in English, andthey becamemore confident in48 learning. Besides49teaching, Zhang Tian also brought changesto5
10、0thevillage.Hecontactedcharity organizations about rebuilding51the playground and setting up52a library, and helped the villagers sell local53products online. The contribution he made to54 the village was great, so he became very popular55 among the villagers and they treated him as56one of them. The village is like his second home now. Although he had only intended to stay57for one year, he now feels ready to58stay for another year. He feels so happy that he followed59his heart when choosing what to do with his life, even though it may not be what others expected of him.
