当我们最后确定留在CANONS读高中后,女儿果断选择了物理专业。
说起专业,其实刚开始我们是希望女儿读经济的,CANONS老师也说伦敦政治经济学院很不错,前景光明。
当然那是女儿读十年级时候的事情。
到了十一年级时候,女儿对物理越来越感兴趣,对身边的许多现象都不自觉地联系物理知识。
我感到奇怪:物理,在上海八年级也接触了半年,从来没有发现她有这个偏好,而且,当时,语数外物理,四门所谓的中考科目,她最不喜欢的就是物理。
怎么来伦敦才读了两年半的书,就对物理有如此大的态度反差呢?
经过交流了解,才知道,女儿遇到了一个改变她择业方向的老师DR.PATEL。
他是一个在伦敦出生的印度人,毕业于伦敦帝国理工,生物博士,同时精通物理和化学。
每节物理课都讲得异常精彩,而且对每个学生都热心辅导,不论课堂还是课外。
显然,他的博学、才华、师德深深地吸引着他的学生们。
而我那原本在国内对物理感觉很一般的女儿就这样被他引进了物理的知识殿堂!
作为同行,我虽然也尽心尽力去激励我的学生们,但是,学生除了感激我,亲近我,似乎没有哪个在人生重要关口深受我的影响(当然,中国的学生在中学多是为了能够考进大学而发奋学习,没有很远的规划),所以我对DR.PATEL有着崇高的敬意。
终于在那次去CANONS谈论女儿高中事宜的路上,遇到过他,他正回家,我们只能简单聊了几句。
真是个好老师,虽然颜值很一般。
记得我当时不经意对他的外表开了句善意的玩笑,竟招来女儿的强烈不满:妈妈,看人不能看外貌!DR.PATEL是我们学校的明星,每个人都喜欢他,都尊重他!
——一个老师,做到这个份上,已经成功了。
我们向来知道女儿从来就不喜欢死记硬背学东西,所以,对她选择物理,也没有异议,何况,工科出身的先生说:学物理的人即使以后改攻别的许多领域,不会太难。
就这样,女儿结合A-LEVEL的考试要求,很快选定了高中的几门科目:数学、高等数学、物理、电脑,当然,还有中文(祖国语言嘛,不用费力可以得高分,也算一门附加学科)。
至于A-LEVEL的数学,女儿早在初中备考GCSE的同时,就抽空考完了,成绩是A*。
所以,在一年的高中期间,她集中精力冲刺高等数学、物理和电脑。
这不是容易的内容,高等数学还有她爸爸可以辅导辅导,物理和电脑就只能靠她自己了。
物理因为有极大的兴趣,所以可以攻克。
难的是电脑,国内的电脑几乎没有正儿八经学过,这里不但要学,还要认真学,努力学,学电脑语言,学电脑编程。
于是,女儿在本来就缩短了时间的十二年级,分秒必争去啃那一大叠高中课程,而且由于两年课程一年完成,也没有固定的同班同学,十二年级十三年级都是她的同学,却又不完全是。
而伦敦是走班制度,学生根据选择的课程去固定的教室上课,不同课程有时候同时上课,这样就去自己更需要老师讲授的课堂,至于错过的另外一节课,只能自己课下解决,或寻找老师有空的时间去请教。
在学校里情况如此复杂,而在家里,也有了变化,先是我准备回国。
女儿高中确定后,我就寻思回国再找工作了。
网上寄出了简历,都是要求回国面试的,无奈,只有先行回国。
在回国之前,我们帮女儿租了另外一个地方,是她一个同学家,比较放心。
她爸爸则留下来再陪她一段时间。
可以说,女儿的高中,一半在课堂,一半在课外;一半由老师指导,一半靠自己自学;一半在十二年级,一半在十三年级。
说不尽的动荡,道不尽的辛苦。
尤其是在这期间,还要递交大学的申请,而大学的申请,又是一个不短也不易的过程,所以,女儿读十二年级的这一年,经受了前所未有的考验,除了时间,毅力、能力、定力、耐力都得到极大的锻炼。
她也就在这样的紧张中,迎来了A-LEVEL一次又一次的考试。
物理班的高中同学
2012年,在MR.PARTTERSON家里,先生陪伴女儿过了她16岁的生日后,第二天也回到上海,把女儿一个人留在了伦敦,此时,她的高中刚开始一个月。
许许多多的事情,都由她来面对。
而我们回到上海后,都忙于寻找新的方向。
和女儿,只能是网上联系。
虽然MR.PARTTERSON和杜老师一直和我们保持联系,交流女儿在伦敦的情况,但那确实是非常揪心的一年:女儿的生活、心理、学业、大学申请。
无一不让我们牵挂。
我们就在这种越洋互动中,一步步往前走着。
2013年8月15日,当英国A-LEVEL成绩出来的时候,女儿结束了英国高中的所有课程的考试,正在国内度假。
当时,MR.PARTTERSON也应我们之邀请来上海旅游,得知舟舟的A-LEVEL成绩(五门课程,数学物理全部A*,电脑中文是A)后,异常激动,当日就为CANONS校报写了一篇报道稿子,以示祝贺:
"This week’s celebrations of A Level results for students attending Canons 6th Form in Edgware were extended to the other side of the world as international student, Jojo Xia, learned of her remarkable success in her family home in Shanghai, China.
With three A* to her credit and some perfect scores in exam and coursework, Jojo also received a congratulatory note from Imperial College, London where Jojo needed a minimum of one A* and two A results to be accepted into their competitive physics course. She exceeded that with her outstanding three A*s.
Jojo’s parent’s, Mr and Mrs Xia, were delighted that Jojo had achieved such amazing results, and were thankful for the staff at Canons High School and 6th Form where they had entrusted their daughter in March, 2010. Jojo was originally placed into Year 8 in accordance to her age. She was still learning English and was only 13 years of age.
Jojo’s remarkable adaption to English and her early display of outstanding academic and music ability resulted in her being accelerated from Year 8 in 2010, to Year 13 in 2012. Jojo completed both GCSE and A Levels in record time.
What is particularly remarkable is Jojo achieved several perfect scores (full marks) both in AS and A2 levels and that this was achieved in 9 months of study.
At 16 years of age she is one of the youngest students accepted by the prestigious Imperial College. Jojo’s performance has also been flagged by Cambridge University where Jojo recently attended a physics study week.
It may be concluded that Jojo has lead a life totally consumed in academic study, but during her concurrent studies in GCSE, AS and A2 levels, Jojo has balanced out her life with music studies including gaining 8th Grade violin in 3 months of study, performances in Chinese traditional dancing, performing in an outstanding progressive rock group, “Jojo Jam” at the O2 Academy and working collectively with other Canons music students on an original world music composition to open a bollywood musical world premier at the Harrow Arts Centre.
Jojo is also a very active member of the Hendon Squadron Air Cadets, where she has gained rank and participated in aeronautical engineering studies, flying and shooting lessons as well as becoming a violin soloist for several combine squadron choir recitals.
Jojo was also invited to perform at a new musical festival in Glastonbury this summer, but had to decline due to visiting her parents in China. Jojo also enjoys traditional Chinese embroidery and spending time “hanging out” with her UK friends.
女儿的高中,就这样结束了。
这一年的经历,显然成为女儿极为宝贵的财富。
而这个过程,又一次让我震惊有效教育的魅力和学习激情的魔力!
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