Some students often complain about learning English. The subject, they say, takes up too much of their time. They have to read many passages, look up new words in the dictionary and do lots of exercises. Although they work hard, they still can't get good scores on tests. "Why?" they ask. "How can I enjoy success?"
The story of Chinese astronaut Deng Qingming might help to answer their questions. Deng was chosen as an astronaut trainee (接受培训者) in 1998. That was long ago—you readers hadn't even been born yet. Since that day, he had spent almost all of his time training hard to become an astronaut. Over the years, Deng has seen other trainees with him go into space one after another. However, he was always a.backup (后备人员). He often felt sad. Sometimes, he even cried.
But Deng never gave up. Although he is now in his fifties, he keeps training hard. "I must be ready whenever the chance comes to me," he once said. Finally, on the night of November 29, 2022, he and two other astronauts boarded the Shenzhou 15 spaceship and flew into space. Deng had waited 24 years for this very moment.
So, if you want to give up learning English (or something else), think about Deng's story. Your efforts might not pay off immediately. Be patient, though. Try to improve your methods and keep going. One day, success will knock at your door. Being different from Deng, you probably won't even have to wait 24 years for that moment!
