High 1 · Reading series
Lesson 33 · A Quiet Visit to the Counselor
Audio track 33
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For several weeks, I had found it hard to concentrate in class. I was worried about grades and about a disagreement at home. When my teacher suggested speaking with the school counselor, I hesitated. I thought I needed a clear explanation of what was wrong before I could ask for help.
The counselor began with a simple question: “Which part of the day feels most difficult?” I could answer that. We talked about the train ride home, when I replayed every unfinished task in my mind. She did not give me a quick solution. She helped me decide whom I could speak with at school and what I wanted to tell my family.
After the meeting, the problems were still there. But I no longer had to describe them all at once or solve them alone. I made another appointment and told my teacher which homework deadline I was struggling with.
Asking for help began with one honest sentence, not a complete explanation.
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After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
连续几周，我在课堂上很难集中注意力。我既担心成绩，也为家里的一次争执烦恼。老师建议我去和学校辅导员谈谈，我却犹豫了。我以为，求助之前必须先把自己究竟怎么了说明白。
辅导员先问了一个简单的问题：‘一天中，哪个时段最难熬？’这个我能回答。我们谈到回家的车程：那时我会在脑中反复想起每件没做完的事。她没有立刻给出解决办法，而是帮我想清楚，在学校能找谁谈、想对家人说什么。
谈完后，问题依然存在。但我不必一次讲清所有事，也不必独自解决。我又约了下一次谈话，并告诉老师自己正为哪项作业的截止时间发愁。
求助始于一句诚实的话，而不需要先准备一份完整的解释。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- concentrate
- 集中注意力；课堂上变得困难。
- disagreement
- 争执；家里的问题之一。
- counselor
- 辅导员；学校中可谈心的人。
- hesitate
- 犹豫；主人公迟迟不敢求助。
- explanation
- 解释；不必事先说清一切。
- replay
- 反复回想；车上不断想未完成的任务。
- solution
- 解决办法；辅导员未直接给出速成答案。
- appointment
- 预约；主人公安排了再次见面。
- struggle with
- 为……苦恼；作业期限带来压力。
- honest
- 诚实的；求助从一句实话开始。
Background notes (Chinese)
当学生因多种事情感到困扰时，未必能马上解释清楚原因。文中的辅导员通过具体问题帮助他描述困难，并与他一起找到可沟通的人。