High 3 · Reading series
Lesson 34 · Asking for Help before a Crisis
Audio track 34
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Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
By the final term, I had become skilled at saying, “I'm fine.” I finished assignments and smiled in class, but each task took longer than before. I thought help was only for people in an obvious crisis, and I did not want to take time from anyone else.
A teacher invited us to make a plan for the weeks before exams. My blank page made me realize I needed to talk. I told her that I was struggling to start work and that the situation had continued for several weeks. She listened, helped me identify one immediate task, and explained where I could find further support at school. I also spoke with my family.
Nothing changed in a single afternoon. I still had to do the work, and some days remained hard. Yet asking early gave other people a chance to help me understand the problem before I was completely stuck.
I had imagined that seeking support required a dramatic reason. In reality, the change I could describe was already enough to begin a conversation.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
到最后一学期，我已经很会说“我没事”。我能交作业，也在课堂上微笑，但每项任务都比以前花更久。我以为只有陷入明显危机的人才需要帮助，不想占用别人的时间。
一位老师请我们为考前几周做计划。我面对空白的纸，意识到自己需要谈谈。我告诉她，自己很难开始做事，这种情况持续了好几个星期。她听完，帮我找出一件眼前可做的任务，并解释学校还有哪些支持。我也和家人谈了。
事情没有在一个下午全部改变。我仍要完成作业，有些日子依然艰难。但提早开口，让别人有机会在我完全卡住前，帮我理解问题。
我曾想象，求助必须有惊天动地的理由。其实，我已经能描述出的变化，就足以开启对话。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- obvious
- 明显的；学生以为危机必须外显。
- crisis
- 危机；求助不必等到此时。
- blank
- 空白的；计划纸使问题显现。
- struggling
- 苦于；难以开始做事。
- continued
- 持续；困难已有数周。
- immediate
- 眼前的；先确定一项任务。
- further support
- 进一步支持；学校还有资源。
- completely
- 完全地；不必等到无法行动。
- seeking
- 寻求；主动提出需要。
- describe
- 描述；说清变化即可开始。
Background notes (Chinese)
困难未到危机程度时也可以求助；老师帮助学生找出眼前任务并介绍后续支持。