升初中以後,對老師的稱呼改為“先生“了。我的初中英文老師也是女的,姓楊。 楊先生畢業於聖約翰大學。鵝蛋臉,大眼晴,長得很有氣質,即使是一件不起眼的衣服在她身上都會穿出與眾不同的味道。她授課非常幽默,生動有趣。記得在教"vacation"這一詞時,楊先生說 “度假應該是快樂的,但是勿開心(滬語不開心的諧音)。所以要記住,中文度假,英文勿開心“。還有一些順口溜象是“來是come, 去是go; 大水牛buffalo....". 楊先生的英文課,常常被當作樣板課開放給其他學校的老師觀摩。楊先生後來為了她的孩子移民美國,又聽說她在美國的一白人家幫著看管孩子,過得不太愉快。
考高中時,進了我初中同一間學校,教英文的是一位男老師:謝先生。謝先生也是畢業於聖約翰大學,個性儒雅,寫得一手非常漂亮的英文黑板字,唯教學風格比較刻板枯躁。 不知為什麽,我總感到謝先生有點唯唯諾諾的。他在教我班英文的同時,還兼作副班主任。遇到同學之間有爭執,謝先生會拿出他的餅幹桶,請大家隨意拿,來息事寧人。那時班上有一位高幹子弟,非常傲慢,常常不將老師放在眼中。有一次謝先生實在氣不過,大為光火:“我希望你將來不要作造糞機器!“。 從此之後,謝先生就得了一個“造糞機器“的綽號。謝先生有一位漂亮的太太,曾經是聖約翰大學某係的係花。後來來美探親, 居美不回,並提出離婚,他的兩個兒子也不在身邊。可憐的謝先生,在作祖父的年齡,落得個妻離子散的境況。
我曾經的英文老師們,雖時隔已久,但心中常常想起他們,默默祝福每一位。。。
注: 在結束此文的時候,與父親相處的點點滴滴再次湧上心頭。
“You Are My Sunshine" 是父親教我的第一首英文歌曲。在此用作背景音樂。
You Are My Sunshine
The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
I'll always love you and make you happy,
If you will only say the same.
But if you leave me and love another,
You'll regret it all some day:
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
You told me once, dear, you really loved me
And no one else could come between.
But not you've left me and love another;
You have shattered all of my dreams:
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me
When I awake my poor heart pains.
So when you come back and make me happy
I'll forgive you dear, I'll take all the blame.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away