【英语时差8,16】老师也需要榜样

 I recently invited an alumna¹ who graduated about ten years ago to come to senior conversation class. I was particularly happy to introduce her to my students because she is a role model par² excellence³ for young people in Taiwan. After graduating with a double major in English and German, she first worked as a secretary, and then taught elementary school in Taipei for five years. After that, she earned a master's degree in England. Romance and now marriage led her to Italy, where she is now a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience. She hopes her work will help stroke victims improve their quality of life. For better or worse, those who go before us in life show us the way. I willingly admit that a few days before that conversation class, role models were already on my mind. I had just received news that the founder⁴ and first chair of our English Department had passed away at the age of 96 in Germany. When I began my life in Taiwan, Father Peter Venne was one of the heroes at my university. He was a dedicated⁵ priest and professor, and was far more than only another colleague for me in the first semester of 1977. My students have their role models, and I have mine too. Thank you, Father Venne.

1 alumna   

n.女校友，女毕业生 (pl.alumnae)

参考例句：

• I came across a old alumna in the street this morning.今天早上我在街上碰见一位老校友。
• My alumni and alumna are present at my birthday party.我的男校友和女校友都出席了我的生日聚会。

2 par   

n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的

参考例句：

• Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
• I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

3 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。