I am an ordinary girl who cannot be more ordinary. Even I have been studying English for almost 12 years, I have no luck to study aboard, which, in my opinion, is one disadvantage for my participation in this competition. The education of English I receive is the same as most people, from primary school, middle school, high school, undergraduate to postgraduate.

　　Looking back to the days when I decided on my major in university, I must admit, English was not my first choice. It was my parents, who considered the best for a girl, that selected this major for me.

　　Once entering university, I suddenly found out that my English was so poor compared with some of my classmates. As a person who always does her utmost and who never admits that she is worse than others, I determined to spare no effort to study English as well as I can. After two-year painstaking study, I finally made great achievements. At the end of my junior year, my overall grades ranked the first. Also evaluating on all the three-year performance, I was the top three in the grade and was admitted for postgraduate study without taking entrance examinations.

　　However, English study of postgraduate is quite different from that of undergraduate in that it never stresses on practices of four basic skills. What you do is read literatures that others have done, do experiments and write your own research paper. The opportunity to use oral English is quite scarce which is far beyond my expectation.

　　In my opinion, English is just a tool, as everybody knows. If you don’t use it, it will become dull. Practice is the only way to improve it. I am not reluctant to use English only to read and write. I want more with my English. I want to speak English as fluently as possible, and I want to use it to make me realize how much I have commanded.

　　Fortunately, one day, I met an opportunity that may help me fulfill my wish. Through my classmate, I came to know an Interpretation Training Center. Bearing certain doubts in mind, I tried to listen to the class once. However, just with this one lesson, I was deeply attracted by the art of interpretation and the charm of the teacher. I finally found out one way leading to my dream. Therefore, I determined to follow the class. Now I really believe that is the smartest decision I have ever made. During the core interpretation class, our teacher taught us a unique note-taking method that is quite easy to grasp and quite efficient. We got the essence of his method in several days and after days of practice, we were basically able to do medium-length interpretation which was quite encouraging and which made us quite exciting.

　　More fortunately, through the Center, I knew this competition. At first, I dared not take part in it since I was just a beginner in this field. I asked my teacher for advice, and he encouraged me to do it, not for the prize, but for an opportunity to practice myself, to meet new people, to experience the outside world. I accepted his suggestion, and what’s more, I took his belief in me. I joined this competition, with no fear in mind but my teacher’s belief and my desire to experience.

　　I was lucky to successfully pass the first round which provided me with great courage to press forward. Now the second is lying ahead. What I can do is to make full preparation for it and to try my best in the second round. My aim is that no matter what the result will be, I wound be proud to say I do my best and I have no regret!

　　What this competition provides is not only a chance to know your English level, but also a valuable opportunity to face yourself. The winner, I believe, must be the person who possesses a terrific command of English and who has the strongest belief in his/herself.

　　As to me, I will definitely experience those I have never experienced. I will clearly know the direction of my future endeavor. The most important I will learn is the courage to face challenge and the belief in myself.

　　Thanks, the organizing committee! Thanks, my dear teacher!

　　Li Liang

　　Beijing Area