【此專欄以一位華裔美國中學(xué)生的親身體驗(yàn)，為了解美國中學(xué)學(xué)習(xí)環(huán)境、學(xué)習(xí)方式、校園生活、課余活動(dòng)、升學(xué)準(zhǔn)備、交友與聚會(huì)等中國中學(xué)生和家長感興趣的話題，提供短小精悍的中英雙語介紹。本專欄分中學(xué)篇和小學(xué)篇，分別在《中學(xué)教師》與《小學(xué)教師》中以連載的方式刊出。本期刊出的為中學(xué)篇的第二期短文?！?/p>

作者簡介：王若桑，出生于美國康涅狄格州?，F(xiàn)為美國羅德島州南郡高中

3年級(jí)學(xué)生。

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

High School, South Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA.

關(guān)于課外體育運(yùn)動(dòng)

當(dāng)人們認(rèn)為青春期的少年是不穩(wěn)妥和易受傷害時(shí)，往往忽視了他們在學(xué)習(xí)和對未來做準(zhǔn)備過程中所承受的壓力。面對來自多方面的新挑戰(zhàn)，很多學(xué)生選擇在課外活動(dòng)中來獲得釋放，體育運(yùn)動(dòng)是他們最為普遍的首選。

在美國，體育運(yùn)動(dòng)是中學(xué)生們每天活動(dòng)的重要內(nèi)容之一。體育運(yùn)動(dòng)不僅為學(xué)生們提供了結(jié)識(shí)新朋友和社交活動(dòng)的機(jī)會(huì)，同時(shí)也為青春期少年們奠定了生命過程中的重要基礎(chǔ)。正如生命是運(yùn)動(dòng)的、且從來不會(huì)靜止一樣，讓體育運(yùn)動(dòng)成為生命中的常量會(huì)令人感到舒適。在某種意義上講，當(dāng)青春期少年對自己身邊所發(fā)生的一切缺乏掌控之時(shí)，他們在體育運(yùn)動(dòng)中的表現(xiàn)是展示生命中某種意義上的控制與地位。當(dāng)一些事情發(fā)生時(shí)，運(yùn)動(dòng)隊(duì)是一種彼此支持的緣由。特別是在高中期間，運(yùn)動(dòng)項(xiàng)目好的同學(xué)往往受到尊重和羨慕，但隨之而來的，在某種程度上也是壓力。參加體育運(yùn)動(dòng)要面對所需要付出的時(shí)間和努力的挑戰(zhàn)。這就是為什么學(xué)習(xí)和體育方面都好的學(xué)生往往會(huì)給人們留下更深刻的印象。

很多體育運(yùn)動(dòng)項(xiàng)目在全國各地都比較普遍受歡迎。而另外一些體育項(xiàng)目在地區(qū)范圍內(nèi)更加流行，比如因?yàn)榫嚯x海岸較近和陽光嬌好，沖浪和排球等在西海岸為人們所喜愛。在中西部和南部地區(qū)，美式橄欖球和拉拉隊(duì)表演普遍流行。學(xué)生們會(huì)花時(shí)間來練習(xí)球類運(yùn)動(dòng)，看電視播放的球類比賽，參加高中的球隊(duì)訓(xùn)練和比賽。這種體育運(yùn)動(dòng)項(xiàng)目已經(jīng)深深嵌入了美國的歷史。以健美和諧理念著稱的拉拉隊(duì)活動(dòng)也受到人們的尊重。拉拉隊(duì)不僅僅是球場邊的激情表演，更是一種競技體育，為很多高中女生所喜愛。在東部地區(qū)，冬季運(yùn)動(dòng)項(xiàng)目和寄宿學(xué)校的體育比較流行，例如冰球、曲棍球、賽艇、長曲棍球等。如同很多傳統(tǒng)的學(xué)校在新英格蘭地區(qū)的歷史和文化上留下了深刻的印記，國際上流行的體育運(yùn)動(dòng)，如棒球、足球等在東部也普遍被人們所青睞。

在我的學(xué)校有很多體育運(yùn)動(dòng)項(xiàng)目供選擇，比如摔跤、田徑、足球、體操、網(wǎng)球、籃球等。我參加的一項(xiàng)主要運(yùn)動(dòng)是田徑。我是一個(gè)熱衷體育運(yùn)動(dòng)并有6年參與運(yùn)動(dòng)隊(duì)歷史的學(xué)生。我喜歡短跑、跳遠(yuǎn)和三級(jí)跳遠(yuǎn)。在某種意義上，跳遠(yuǎn)和三級(jí)跳遠(yuǎn)更像是一種藝術(shù)，需要很多的技巧和注意力。這些個(gè)人項(xiàng)目中最難的是來自個(gè)人本身的壓力。這不僅有成功時(shí)的自我滿足，也有失意時(shí)對自己的抱怨。這就是為什么我更喜歡我的第二項(xiàng)運(yùn)動(dòng)——曲棍球運(yùn)動(dòng)的原因。雖然我參加曲棍球隊(duì)只有2年，但是感受到一種新鮮的、遠(yuǎn)大于個(gè)人努力的、團(tuán)隊(duì)的合作和投入。與田徑項(xiàng)目相比，盡管曲棍球運(yùn)動(dòng)有很多規(guī)則和約束，但它更令人喜愛和允許創(chuàng)造性地發(fā)揮，因?yàn)樵撨\(yùn)動(dòng)更強(qiáng)調(diào)球隊(duì)隊(duì)員之間的協(xié)作和配合。

在了解美國青春期少年們生活的文化氛圍時(shí)，體育運(yùn)動(dòng)與競技項(xiàng)目就如同學(xué)習(xí)成績和藝術(shù)活動(dòng)一樣重要。在全球范圍內(nèi)，體育似乎更加重要，因?yàn)閰⑴c體育運(yùn)動(dòng)并不完全依賴語言和教育。體育活動(dòng)有利于不同國度之間的交流，例如任何人從任何國家都可以參加足球比賽，依此作為友誼競賽和人們深度認(rèn)同的國際語言。

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.