High 2 · Reading series
Lesson 13 · A Name I Learned to Say
Audio track 13
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When a new student joined our class, I shortened his name because I was afraid of pronouncing it incorrectly. He smiled each time, so I thought the nickname was fine. During lunch he quietly told me that his full name reminded him of his grandfather.
I apologized and asked him to say it slowly. I practiced several times, making mistakes and trying again. He did not ask for perfect pronunciation; he wanted me to make the effort. A few classmates joined us, and he helped us hear where the stress belonged.
Later, when he struggled with a Japanese surname, I understood his hesitation differently. We all need room to learn sounds that are unfamiliar. We also need permission to correct one another without embarrassment.
A name is more than a label for attendance. It can carry a family's story. Learning to say it carefully did not solve every difference between us, but it made our conversations begin with respect.
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After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
新同学来到我们班时，我担心念错他的名字，便擅自叫了简称。他每次都笑一笑，我以为这个昵称没问题。午饭时，他轻声告诉我，自己的全名让他想起祖父。
我道了歉，请他慢慢念给我听。我练了好几遍，念错再重来。他并不要求发音完美，只希望我肯花心思。几位同学也加入进来，他帮我们听出重音落在哪里。
后来，他念一个日语姓氏时遇到困难，我开始以不同的眼光理解他的犹豫。学习陌生的发音时，我们都需要试错的空间，也需要能够互相纠正而不尴尬。
名字不仅是点名册上的标记，也可能承载家人的故事。认真学会叫他的名字，不能消除我们之间所有差异，却让谈话从尊重开始。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- pronouncing
- 发音；主人公担心读错。
- nickname
- 昵称；未经询问就使用简称。
- reminded
- 使想起；全名让同学想起祖父。
- apologized
- 道歉；得知缘由后改正。
- effort
- 努力；对方重视愿意练习。
- stress
- 重音；名字中要读重的部分。
- hesitation
- 犹豫；同学面对日语姓氏也有。
- unfamiliar
- 陌生的；不熟悉的语音需要练习。
- attendance
- 点名；名字不只是名单标记。
- respect
- 尊重；认真叫对方名字的起点。
Background notes (Chinese)
姓名有个人和家庭意义。对陌生发音可请本人示范、认真练习，也允许双方友善纠正，而不是未经同意替人起简称。