联接与跨越 Bridging the Gap 【连载.中学篇2】

【此专栏以一位华裔美国中学生的亲身体验，为了解美国中学学习环境、学习方式、校园生活、课余活动、升学准备、交友与聚会等中国中学生和家长感兴趣的话题，提供短小精悍的中英双语介绍。本专栏分中学篇和小学篇，分别在《中学教师》与《小学教师》中以连载的方式刊出。本期刊出的为中学篇的第二期短文。】

作者简介：王若桑，出生于美国康涅狄格州。现为美国罗德岛州南郡高中

3年级学生。

Connie R. Wang is currently a junior student of the South Kingstown

High School, South Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA.

关于课外体育运动

当人们认为青春期的少年是不稳妥和易受伤害时，往往忽视了他们在学习和对未来做准备过程中所承受的压力。面对来自多方面的新挑战，很多学生选择在课外活动中来获得释放，体育运动是他们最为普遍的首选。

在美国，体育运动是中学生们每天活动的重要内容之一。体育运动不仅为学生们提供了结识新朋友和社交活动的机会，同时也为青春期少年们奠定了生命过程中的重要基础。正如生命是运动的、且从来不会静止一样，让体育运动成为生命中的常量会令人感到舒适。在某种意义上讲，当青春期少年对自己身边所发生的一切缺乏掌控之时，他们在体育运动中的表现是展示生命中某种意义上的控制与地位。当一些事情发生时，运动队是一种彼此支持的缘由。特别是在高中期间，运动项目好的同学往往受到尊重和羡慕，但随之而来的，在某种程度上也是压力。参加体育运动要面对所需要付出的时间和努力的挑战。这就是为什么学习和体育方面都好的学生往往会给人们留下更深刻的印象。

很多体育运动项目在全国各地都比较普遍受欢迎。而另外一些体育项目在地区范围内更加流行，比如因为距离海岸较近和阳光娇好，冲浪和排球等在西海岸为人们所喜爱。在中西部和南部地区，美式橄榄球和拉拉队表演普遍流行。学生们会花时间来练习球类运动，看电视播放的球类比赛，参加高中的球队训练和比赛。这种体育运动项目已经深深嵌入了美国的历史。以健美和谐理念著称的拉拉队活动也受到人们的尊重。拉拉队不仅仅是球场边的激情表演，更是一种竞技体育，为很多高中女生所喜爱。在东部地区，冬季运动项目和寄宿学校的体育比较流行，例如冰球、曲棍球、赛艇、长曲棍球等。如同很多传统的学校在新英格兰地区的历史和文化上留下了深刻的印记，国际上流行的体育运动，如棒球、足球等在东部也普遍被人们所青睐。

在我的学校有很多体育运动项目供选择，比如摔跤、田径、足球、体操、网球、篮球等。我参加的一项主要运动是田径。我是一个热衷体育运动并有6年参与运动队历史的学生。我喜欢短跑、跳远和三级跳远。在某种意义上，跳远和三级跳远更像是一种艺术，需要很多的技巧和注意力。这些个人项目中最难的是来自个人本身的压力。这不仅有成功时的自我满足，也有失意时对自己的抱怨。这就是为什么我更喜欢我的第二项运动――曲棍球运动的原因。虽然我参加曲棍球队只有2年，但是感受到一种新鲜的、远大于个人努力的、团队的合作和投入。与田径项目相比，尽管曲棍球运动有很多规则和约束，但它更令人喜爱和允许创造性地发挥，因为该运动更强调球队队员之间的协作和配合。

在了解美国青春期少年们生活的文化氛围时，体育运动与竞技项目就如同学习成绩和艺术活动一样重要。在全球范围内，体育似乎更加重要，因为参与体育运动并不完全依赖语言和教育。体育活动有利于不同国度之间的交流，例如任何人从任何国家都可以参加足球比赛，依此作为友谊竞赛和人们深度认同的国际语言。

英文原文

About Afterschool Sports

While many people associate the teenage years as a time of vulnerability and insecurity, they often times overlook the stress that comes with education and preparing for the future. Because multiple new challenges are thrown at students, many seek solace in certain after school activities; sports being one of the most popular.

In America, sports play a big role in the day to day lives of students. Not only do athletic activities provide an opportunity to make new friends and socialize, but also, sports for many teens in America serve as an important foundation in life. While life is always changing and never stops still, it is comforting to know that sports will always be there as a constant. In some ways, while the teen may not be able to control what is happening around them, sports performance is an aspect of life that can reestablish a sense of control and order. Sports teams can also be a source of support that really help to escape a situation. In high school particularly, the students that are best in sports are really well respected and admired, which might also, on some level, cause stress. Athletics may also cause stress with the amount of time and effort they require, which is why students who excel in both athletics and academics seem all the more impressive.

While many popular sports are played throughout much of the country, specific sports are most popular in certain regions. On the West coast, there is a passionate love for surfing and volleyball because of the close proximity to the ocean and the sunny weather. Popular sports in the Midwest and South are the American football and cheerleading. This sport has really become embedded in American history, as well as the idea of the fit and well respected feminine cheerleader. Not only a mere companion or side show to football games, cheerleading is a very competitive sport that has been the epitome of high school for many girls throughout the decades. Over on the East coast, many winter sports or preparatory school sports are popular. These include hockey, field hockey, crew, and lacrosse. Even though many traditional preparatory schools have made a lasting impact on New England history and culture, sports that are international favorites such as baseball and soccer are just as popular.

In my school, a variety of sports is offered such as wrestling, track and field, soccer, gymnastics, tennis, basketball, and much more. One of my main competitive sports is outdoor track and field. As an avid fan of the sport for about 6 years so far, I enjoy sprinting and the long jump as well as the triple jump. In a way, the long jump and triple jump seem to be an art-form and require a lot of skill and concentration. One of the hardest parts of this sport, however, is the amount of pressure on ones self as it is an individual sport. Not only do I have myself to credit for my success, but I also have myself to blame for my losses. This is partially why I enjoy my second sport, field hockey, much more. Even though I have only been playing field hockey for about 2 years, there is a refreshing feeling of teamwork and dedication to something much larger than simply one body. While it does have many more rules and regulations than track and field, field hockey offers a more fun and creative way of thinking because of the cooperation required among team mates.

In understanding the culture in which American teens live in today, the aspect of sports and athletics are just as important as education and the arts. On a global scale, sports are even more important because there is no language or education requirement to participate, making them a way for countries to connect to one another. Virtually anyone from any nation can join with others to play a game of soccer and speak the universal language of friendly competition and camaraderie.