记者：蔡少薇
4月9日晚上6点，同学们依旧与外教们相聚图书馆畅谈本次英语角的主题：独立的重要性。出席本次英语角的外教有：Mr. Martin Stannard、 Mr. Christopher Dockstader、Mr. Sean McHugh和Mr. Gerard Brent。
就某些方面而言，西方人的独立性强于中国人。就拿学习为例，Mr. Christopher Dockstader认为：一个普通的大学生，如果在学习过程中遇到不懂的问题，不应当总是依赖老师，而是应该自己试着通过上网搜寻，翻阅书籍来寻找答案。老师，只是作为你学习生活中的一个“辅助道具”。听到此，同学们豁然开朗，纷纷表示赞同！
另一方面，外国人喜欢独自旅行，而中国人趋向于结伴而行。对此，Mr. Martin Stannard 也有自己的看法。他解释道，一个人去旅行不仅更自由，而且也能结识到很多朋友。虽然在旅行的过程中不免遇到问题，但寻找解决方案的过程很好地锻炼了个人独立生活的能力。这激发了同学们独自出发看世界、感受一个人的旅行的热情和信心。
对此，Mr. Sean McHugh 和Mr. Gerard Brent也认为独立性对于个人来说是颇为重要的品质。
欢乐的时光总是过得飞快，英语角在不知不觉中已接近尾声。感受完此次英语角，大家是否也想靠自己的力量解决生活中的困难，抑或独自一个人，踏上旅途，感受自由与培养独立性呢？
English Corner - The Importance of Independence
By CAI Shaowei
On the evening of April 9th, as usual, many teachers and students whose enthusiasm for the English Corner never wane gathered in the lobby of the library. Tonight’ s topic wasThe Importance of Independence. The foreign teachers who attended the English Corner were Mr. Sean McHugh, Mr. Christopher Dockstader, Mr. Martin Stannard and Mr.Gerard Brent.
Westerners, in some respects, are more independent than Chinese. Speaking of study, Mr. Christopher Dockstader held that college students should not always depend on teachers’ guidance. Instead, Internet searching or books consulting are also good ways to find answers on one’s own. Most of the students were suddenly enlightened and strongly agreed with him.
In terms of traveling, westerners prefer to travel alone while Chinese like group travel. As for this, Mr. Martin Stannard said that traveling alone was a chance to enjoy freedom and to make friends. Although people inevitably came across some problems, they were cultivating their independence while seeking solutions alone. Some students also expressed their longing for traveling alone.
Mr. Sean McHugh and Mr. Gerard Brent both considered independence as a significant character for human being as well.
After having such a communication with the overseas teachers, have you learned a lot? Do you also want to travel alone? Or will you try solving problems on your own?
