今周一位學生家長給我寫了一封很讓我很鼓舞的郵件：

Dear Michelle,

Thank you for your sharing. Noah is trying to improve his writing and your demonstration, not only in words but also in person, is becoming a model for him. We recently received the feedback from his English teacher. He noticed Noah has improved a lot in writing recently. His writing is more accurate and starting to have some character. I didn’t expect he could write with character at this stage and this is better than anything! We are very grateful for your work, and wish you’d carry on writing.

Warm regards,

Jade

這是我給 Jade 的回覆：

Dear Jade,

This passage is from 張忠謀’s autobiography. He talks about attending MIT in the 1960s. I think this kind of education played a role in giving him the persistence to create 台積電：

大師級教授處理發問的態度也令我印象深刻。美國學生很喜歡發問，問題的程度則參差不齊，有的問題很幼稚，但有的也相當深奧。大師級教授從不輕視任何問題。簡單的問題他們固然很快地回答，對比較難的問題，他們也好整以暇，一面想，一面說，一面又在黑板上寫出所想的階段結論。這樣幾分鐘後，我們認為很難的問題他也解出來了。如果當時沒有完全想出來，他會說，「讓我回去再想想，下堂再告訴你們。」而他下堂課時也從來不爽約。大師究竟是大師，似乎從來難不倒的。越是難的問題，越是他表現思考方式的機會。聰明的學生也會自其中學到解決問題的方式，並在「言教」與「身教」的雙重教育下學習成長。

My Oxford education was very similar (professors happily solved complex problems that had just been presented to them right in front of my eyes), and I try to provide that for my students too. They watch my reaction as I read their freshly-written stuff. I ask them probing questions. They become aware of their faults and oversights. I then offer them a solution by rewriting their stuff in front of them. Sometimes my mind is working well and I can rewrite very quickly, but other times I need time to think too. I think showing them the hard reality of writing is good because when they are stuck,  they know it’s normal and won’t give up so easily.

Yours,

Michelle

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其實教授英文寫作不但是我的生活來源，還是我實現理想的渠道。這點在當下動蕩的政局尤其明顯。我這段時間經常想起民國大師宗白華經歷文革時養成的一個習慣。他會到一個親戚家，觀看家裡的小孩睡覺，小孩睡醒，總會見到宗白華用慈祥的目光注視着自己。最近我在Zoom上教學，看到屏幕上的學生，就會想宗白華，並理解他為什麽會特地去看小孩——他們是我們的未來。等到我的學生成年更懂事，如果他們想起我，並思考我當年的人生選擇（為什麽明明有條件做香港高官的英文寫手之類的工作，享受薪高糧準的待遇，卻要自己單幹？），那才是我給他們上最重要的一課的時候。

 

Michelle Ng

英國牛津大學畢業，前《蘋果日報》和《眾新聞》專欄作家，現在身在楓葉國，心繫中國大陸和香港。

聯絡方式： michelleng.coach@proton.me
個人網站： https://michellengwritings.com

逢周日英國時間晚上8時 / 周一香港時間凌晨3時刊出