我们中国人很幸运，每年有两个新年：农曆年及西曆年。所以新年愿望也可以有两组。就今个月的牛年作为课堂题材，我邀请学生发表自己对中国农曆年的愿望。

　　跟往年不同的是，今年希望学生只为这个季度作出一些人生计劃。给他们的题目是：

　　Think small but aim high. All big things start small. What small steps will you take this CNY month towards your bigger goals for the year?

　　我特别欣赏同学在这一节Lockdown Learning网课以图画及文字所发挥的创意。但在语文方面，同学如果以中文的句法思维及表达方式，似乎未能让读者了解句与句之间，或段落与段落之间的连繫及连贯性。例如：

　　New good habits take perseverance and persistence to form. I don't think I can buy smaller size clothing to fulfil my resolution of losing 20 pounds in the first month in the year of the Ox. I cannot make the change happen overnight! But I will think about to eat less and do some exercise.

　　养成新的好习惯、买细码衣服、减20磅、减食、做运动，究竟有什麼联繫呢？重点在哪裏呢？

　　即使是口语的演讲，同学也务必留意在topic sentences之后的supporting sentences.句与句之间的连繫是否合逻辑。如果上文不接下理，即使图画相当吸引，读者也不能融入你的演讲当中。我们试试根据同学上文的内容“加加减减 ”……

　　Creating new and sustainable habits takes perseverance and persistence. Although I don't think I can shape a new and positive behavior overnight, I can develop an action plan on how I will meet my weight-loss goal in the first month of the Year of the Ox. This action plan shall include a calendar with measurement of my daily workout to keep me on track. Therefore, keep nudging myself in the right direction for creating a long-lasting change is essential.

　　我们可以比较两个段落：在第二段，除了把原文的中式英语更正，每句子之间的意思及结构是紧扣的。段落比较贯彻，交代出农曆年第一个月的目的是为了建立一个长远持久的减磅计劃，目标清晰。

　　跟第一段不一样，没有迅速早早总结出为穿着细码衣服要指定减20磅。也没需要撰写"think about to eat less and do some exercises." 的不确实字眼。整体的语文也比较踏实。

Aim high, behave graciously, but prepare to be alone and endure some failures. Sometimes we are capable of more than we know.

　　In many Chinese traditions, Oxen manifest hardworking, industrious, persistence and positivity. May the persistence nature of the Oxen reflects well on our lives and work hard to fulfil all our goals.

　　预祝各位读者牛气冲天，庖丁解牛！

　　Email: carolc.english@gmail.com