Giving is Receiving-Personal Growth in Volunteer Work奉獻即有收獲 (by 陳星 南京大學 第十二屆“21世紀·聯想杯”全國英語演講比賽冠軍)英語演講視頻，附整理的雙語演講稿

 Morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Last summer, I volunteered to work as an English teacher in a primary school for children of migrant workers. To be accurate, I didn’t volunteer. I was dragged in. When my friends first hit upon the idea of this project, I was all against it: “What? To spend my vacation standing in the heat, yelling at a bunch of nine-year-olds who couldn’t even speak proper Putonghua? After all, there’s no pay for my toil. No, I’m not going.” But my friends twisted my arms to have me join them.
去年夏天，我自愿在一所外地農民工子弟小學當起了一名英語教師。確切的說，我并不是自告奮勇去參加的。我其實是被拽著參加的。當我的朋友首次提出參加這個計劃時我是完全反對的：“什么？讓我整個暑假冒著酷暑，   對著一幫9歲大的小孩大聲嚷嚷，他們甚者連普通話都說不標準。而且我的辛苦工作是無償服務。不，我絕對不會去的。”但是在朋友的堅持下，我還是去了。

Unexpectedly, the first lesson I taught turned out a lesson for me. The moment I stepped into the shabby classroom, I was touched by the loud, respectful voices in unison: “Good morning, teacher!” Instead of fooling around, the children were thirsty for knowledge and efficient in absorbing everything I was able to give them. I started to blame myself because I hadn’t even prepared for the class. During the break, I leaned over the squeaky desk, chatting with a sweaty boy in the front row: “Without air-conditioning, it’s pretty hot here. Are you tired?”
出乎意料的是，我的第一節課卻變成了我的一課。當我踏進那間破舊的教室，我被一陣充滿敬意，整齊的喊聲深深打動了。“老師，早上好！”這些孩子沒有四處打鬧，對知識如饑似渴的他們有效地吸收我交給他們的知識。讓我鄙視自己，因為我事前根本沒有備課。課間休息時，我靠在一張吱吱作響的桌子旁，與前排一位滿頭大汗的男孩子聊天：“這里沒有空調，實在太熱了，你感到熱嗎？”

“Not at all,” said he, shaking his head. “It’s fine here. My Dad builds asphalt roads. That is really tiring and hot.”
“一點都不，”他搖搖頭說，“這里很好。我爸爸在修瀝青公路。那里才是真的又熱又累人。”

As summer advanced, my enthusiasm as a teacher grew. I prepared my teaching carefully and even used some methods my teachers used. I organized many group activities to give the kids fun. Strangely enough, the heat was also becoming less and less unbearable.
隨著夏天的推移，我作為一名老師的熱情在上漲。我認真的備課，甚至采用了一些我老師曾經用過的教學方法。我組織了許多小組活動讓孩子們玩得很開心。奇怪的是，這酷暑熱浪也逐漸讓人能忍受了。
 
Soon, my one-month volunteer work came to an end. When I was leaving my last class, I turned back and saw smiling faces and waving hands. Never before had I ever had such a feeling of sadness, which was nevertheless mixed with a sense of enrichment, fulfillment and happiness. I was paid for my work, amply paid, not in terms of money, but something more valuable.
不久，我為期一個月的志愿活動接近尾聲 。當我結束作何一節課時，我轉身，看到那張張笑臉和學的揮動的手。我從未感到過如此傷心，但是這種感覺卻夾雜著充實,滿足和幸福。我的工作得到了回報，而且獲益很大。這種報償不是用金錢來衡量的，而是其他一些更加珍貴的東西。

My English was improved. I was able to teach it, although not very professional. I learned about the grassroots-level society. Inside myself a heart is growing, a heart that not only beats for myself, but cares for others as well.
我的英語水平得到了提高。雖然不是很專業，但我可以勝任這份教學工作了。我了解到了基層社會。我的內心激情澎湃，這不單單是對自己的鞭策，也是在關心著其他人。

The volunteer work gave me a precious little chance to say thanks to people like the little boy’s father, who construct highways and undergrounds, build up modern skyscrapers, and make our cities more and more beautiful. To help the children with their English was all I could do at present to show my gratitude to these unsung heroes. The world may not have been fair to them, so people like me are obliged to do whatever we can to help make their life better. Whatever I do for them, however, I know it cannot be compared with what they have done to improve the quality of life in our cities.
這次志愿工作給我一次難得的機會向諸如那位小男孩的父親一樣的人們表達謝意。他們修建高速公路和地鐵、建設現代化摩天大樓，讓我們的城市越來越漂亮。而要表達我對這些無名英雄的感激之情，我目前力所能及的事情只是給他們的小孩教英語。這個世界對他們可能不太公平，所以我們這些幸運和幸福的人有義務盡我們所能，讓他們生活的更好一些。然而，我所做的事情微不足道我知道，比起他們為提高無名的城市生活質量所做的貢獻。

Ladies and gentlemen, now I realize that volunteering is not just a one-time personal experience. It should be a lifetime activity of everybody. Many of us are now offering our assistance to the needy and to each other. Our efforts have indeed made a difference. Whether we are helping children with their schooling, or caring for the elderly in nursing homes, or helping out with 2008 Beijing Olympics, we will not only contribute to the harmony of the world but also elevate ourselves. Emerson once said, “It’s one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” He was right.
女士們先生們，現在我意識到志愿活動不應該是一次個人經歷。這應該成為每一個人的一種終生行為。現在我們中的很多人都在為彼此和那些需要幫助的人提供援助。我們這些努力確實是能改變現狀。不管我們是在教育方面幫助孩子還是在敬老院照顧老人們，或者參加2008年北京奧運會的志愿活動，這些都不只是為社會的和諧貢獻自己的力量，同時也是在提升襲擊的道德修養。愛默生曾經說過：“此生最美好的一種報償就是， 任何對別人的真誠幫助必然也是對自己的幫助。”他是對的。

I hear that my university is going to organize another voluntary teaching program this summer. This time I won’t be dragged in. I will volunteer.
我聽說學校今年夏天將組織另一次義務教學活動。這一次 我不會再被拽著參加了。我會自告奮勇。謝謝。

 
主持人英語問答環節：

HOST: Thank you contestant number 5. Euthanasia is a way of relieving ill people’s pain and saving them from the tortures of their illness. Do we have the right to take people’s lives for this reason? Or should the right to die be considered a “right” for terminally ill patients?
主持人：謝謝5號選手。 安樂死是一種解除病人的痛苦，從疾病的折磨中拯救他們的方法。那我們有權利因為這個原因剝奪他們的生命嗎？或者對于患了不治之癥的人而言，死亡的權利能算是一種權利嗎？
 
CHEN: Thank you very much for the question.
陳星：非常感謝您的提問

“When I am dead ,my dearest,sing no sad songs for me.Plant thou no roses at my head,no shady cypress tree.Be the green grass above me with showers and dewdrops wet.And if thou wilt, remember.And if thou wilt,forget.”    For many,death is not frightening. For many,death is beautiful. For many ,suffering from incurable deadly diseases ,death is a longing .But no matter what they think ,we can’t make the decision for them .Death is their own business .
“當我死去時，我最親愛的，別為我哀歌悲切。我的墓前不要栽玫瑰，也不要柏樹茂密。愿綠茵覆蓋我的身軀，還有那濕潤的靈珠雨水。如果你愿意，就把我懷念。如果你不愿意，就把我忘卻。”  對于很多人而言，死亡并不恐怖。對于很多人而言，死亡是美好的。對于很多遭受不治之癥折磨的人來說，死亡是一種渴望。但無論他們想什么，我們都不能替他們做這個決定。死亡是他們自己的事。
      
Whether for good intention or bad ,if we decide to take another person’s life ,it’s murder .We take it for granted that people suffering from terminal diseases ,want to die .Perhaps it might be so ,in some cases ,but how are we to tell ? We can’t make the decision for others .Many old people ,suffering from Alzheimer’s ,seem to be living a most pitiable life to us. They no longer even recognize the beloved ones around them .But perhaps they’re enjoying their life ,because they are now cut off from any worldly affairs and problems. They are kind of reliving their childhood.They are ,perhaps ,enjoying it .We can’t terminate their life . Some people ,suffering from cancer ,seem to be living most painful life to us ,with all these torturing treatments and the prospect of death in front of them .  But ,perhaps ,deep down in their heart ,they want to go on ,they want to live ,they want to fight ,they want to feel every bit of sunshine on earth ,and hear the pitter-patter of rain in spring . Some people ,vegetable people ,can’t express themselves ,and to us they are not even living a life .But how are we to know that they want to die ?  Perhaps ,deep down in their heart ,they want to struggle ,they want to see life conquering death . And ,besides,miracles do happen now and then .There are cases that when a vegetable person is wakened from his long slumber by love and caring ,if we rob him of that chance ,we are committing murder .We are extinguishing hope .
不管是出于好心與否，如果我們決定奪去別人的生命，這種行為就是謀殺。我們理所當然地認為那些長期遭受不治之癥折磨的人們想結束自己的生命。可能某些情況下，事實是這樣的，但我們怎樣去判斷呢？我們不能為其他人做這個決定。在我們看來，許多患有老年癡呆癥的老人似乎在過著一種最悲慘的生活。他們甚至認不出身邊愛著他們的人。但是他們可能也在享受他們的生活，因為現在他們與所有的凡人俗事和問題完全隔絕。他們重溫他們的童年，他們可能很享受這樣的生活。因此，我們不能結束他們的生命。 在我們看來，一些備受癌癥折磨的人似乎過著最痛苦的生活。因為擺在他們面前的是折磨人的治療和死亡的命運。但是也許他們內心深處還想繼續走下去，繼續活下來。他們想和病魔抗爭，他們想沐浴地球上的每一縷陽光，聆聽春天里噼噼啪啪的雨滴聲。一些人，還有一些植物人，他們無法表達自己的想法。這在我們看來，他們簡直就不是在生活。但是我們怎么知道他們想死呢？可能在他們的內心，他們想抗爭，他們想見證生命戰勝死亡。更何況，奇跡總是不時地發生。例如，通過精心照顧，愛的力量會讓以為植物人從長期的沉睡中蘇醒過來。如果我們不給他機會，那我們就是在謀殺。我們就是在扼殺希望。

If we make the right to take another person’s life away illegal ,I shudder to think what the consequences will be .Perhaps some family ,tired of taking care of an old person ,might get rid of him for that reason . Perhaps a family full of daughters ,sons ,granddaughters ,grandsons ,gaping at the inheritance ,will want to get rid of the old person for that reason . I really shudder to think the consequences. 
如果我們擁有非法奪取別人生命的權利，我不敢想象后果將會是怎樣。可能一些厭煩了照顧一位老人的家庭會以這個原因而放棄老人。可能一個兒孫滿堂的家庭會因為對遺產虎視眈眈而想要放棄這位老人。我真的很害怕去想由此產生的后果。 

No ! If I want to die ,it’s my own business .No one is going to take that decision for me .Yes ,death might be a beautiful journey after the experience we have on earth ,but I don’t want
 to be hurried onto that journey by anybody else . If I am determined ,my life is terminated by another person ,I will rise from my grave and haunt that person ,“…and he will always feel the shadows ,he will always feel the rain ,and he will always hear the nightingale weep on ,as if in pain .”
      不！如果我想結束生命，這是我自己的事情。沒有人能為我做這個決定。的確！可能當我們有了在這個塵世的各種經歷后，死亡是一個美麗的旅程。但我不想被任何一個人驅趕到這個旅程。如果我自己決定活下去，而我的生命斷送于他人之手，我會從墳墓中爬出來，糾纏困擾這個人，“他將會感受到陰魂不散，他將時刻感受到雨水，他將時刻聽到宛如夜鶯痛苦的哭泣。”

Thank you .
謝謝。
 

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