If You Give Me Three Days of Light: The Best Collection of Helen Keller

Chapter 56 Speeches and Essays (2)
I think that Helen's fluency in language is entirely due to every idea she has received, almost entirely from language itself.We keep Helen with a steady stream of good books, and in the process of learning, present and provide her with the most beautiful and pure language models, and in this way, she will unconsciously use them in conversations. to the words she had read.This is a crucial part of her education.

Sometimes, words cannot fully express our experiences and feelings, but one thing we must pay attention to is that children learn from the magnificent and poetic language that we carefully prepare and think is far beyond children's comprehension. Experienced great pleasure.

A teacher said to the children in the class: "You will understand these things in the future." At the same time, she stopped reading and closed the book. "Oh, please read the rest, even if we don't understand it yet," pleaded the children, and though they couldn't explain it yet, they did feel the beauty of the rhyme of the words and were fascinated by it.

At the beginning, Helen didn't know much about the languages ​​she just came into contact with, but these languages ​​would remain in her mind until the day she needed them, and she would naturally and easily use those words and phrases in her Go in dialogue and composition.In fact, it is not necessary for a young child to understand the meaning of every word in a book before experiencing the thrill and benefits of reading.It is only necessary to explain doubts when encountering substantive problems.If you rely too much on reading, a lot of raw creativity will be consumed in the joy of enjoying books.As a result, when she was able to express what she "saw and heard", all she said was repeating what others had said, because what she had seen before was what other people saw.But on the other hand, reading is also very necessary, because without sufficient preparation for reading, original creative talents cannot be discovered.

I believe that children's perceptions of books are formed unconsciously, and that we should encourage children to read for the sheer joy of it.Reading should also be independent of regular schooling.The magical imagination presented in the book should become a part of children's life, because it is the crystallization of human wisdom.It can be said that the more sensitive children are to "pictures of thought" and "literary imagination", the greater the possibility that they will be able to create beautiful poems in the future.

The education Helen has received all along has made her life completely colorful, whether viewed from the perspective of nature, books, or ordinary people.She has an extraordinary artist temperament, as well as rich emotions and a strong thirst for knowledge.Her mind was filled with so many wonderful thoughts and ideals of great poets that nothing seemed ordinary to her, as her imagination painted her life in brilliant colours.Then, what she strives for is also a kind of warm and cheerful life.

autobiographical essay
In 1892 Helen Keller wrote an autobiographical essay for "Friends of Youth", from which the following is excerpted.

When I was about a year old, I discovered the correct way to walk.So, in this sunny summer, I can't even stop for a minute...

Every time my father came home at night, I would run to the gate to meet him.He'd pick me up in his strong arms and straighten my messy hair that hung over my face.He would also say, "What is my little girl doing today?" Then he kept kissing me.

Not long after the bright summer, winter came.February of that year was very cold and bleak, and when I was nineteen months old, I fell seriously ill.I still have vague memories of that illness.I was tormented by the fever and moaned endlessly. My mother sat by my little bed, and she prayed worriedly: "Father in heaven, please forgive my child!" while comforting me in every possible way.

However, I burned so badly that even my eyes were full of flames.After a few more days, even the doctors thought that I could not be saved.But one morning, my high fever suddenly subsided, as unpredictable and fleeting as it had come.

Then, I fell asleep peacefully.My parents were happy to know I survived.After I recovered, they didn't realize in time that the relentless high fever had taken away my sight and hearing, and from then on, there would be no light or sound in my life.

But then I was too young to realize what a horrible thing I was going through.When I woke up, I found myself surrounded by darkness and silence, I thought maybe it was because of the night.At that time, I must have been very surprised, why did I wait for such a long time and did not come in the daytime? Where did it hide?
However, gradually, I got used to the quiet and dark environment, and I even forgot that I had experienced the day so happily.Soon, I stopped babbling, because I couldn't hear any sound, and I couldn't make any sound.

But I don't have everything!Indeed, although I have lost sight and hearing, two beautiful gifts that God blessed me with, there is one most precious and wonderful gift that still belongs to me, and that is my mind, which I still have a clear and active mind.As soon as I gained some strength, I began to be interested in the people and things around me.When my mother was doing housework, I would cling to her skirt.I touch every object with my little hands, detect every movement, and it is in this way that I come to know the world in which I live.

When I grew up a bit, I felt that I should communicate with the people around me because I had such a need.So, I started making simple, easy-to-understand gestures to my parents and friends.However, I usually can't express my thoughts accurately, and every time this happens, I get angry because of being anxious...

The teacher has been here for two weeks, and I have learned almost twenty words.I really had a sense of enlightenment, like the sun suddenly appeared in the sleeping world.In that shining moment, the secret of language was revealed to me, and I finally saw that beautiful country, a world worth exploring in my life.

For a while, the teacher was hammering at me the different meanings between "cup" and "milk in a mug" every day. But I was retarded and I kept spelling mug as "milk" and milk as "cup" , even the teacher gave up hope. Finally, the teacher gave me a cup and led me to the pump room. We pumped the water, and when the cold, clear water gushed out, the teacher asked me to put the cup Put it under the water pipe, and spelled "w—a—t—e—r" for me at the same time, so, this is "water"!This word made my heart tremble, and I seemed to be enlightened.It was a morning full of spirituality, the song of joy filled my heart...

I learned a lot of words that day.I can't remember the specific ones now, but I remember a few words clearly, that is: mother, father, sister and teacher.I think you'd be hard pressed to find a happier kid than me that night.I was lying in bed, still thinking about the day's events in my mind.

For the first time in my life, I looked forward to the new day coming sooner.The next morning I awoke with joy, everything I touched seemed to be a quivering life.Because, in my eyes, everything is new and beautiful.From then on, I began to learn wonderful knowledge without stopping.

When I spell words, I also make corresponding actions according to the words.I would run, jump, and swing without thinking about where I was.For me, it was a beautiful spring. My teacher and I were hanging out outside from morning to night. Some flowers in the garden were budding and some had begun to bear fruit.The long garlands of dangling silver flowers filled the air with their rich fragrance, and I was so overwhelmed with the joy of rediscovering light and joy that roses had never bloomed so brightly, I thought. . .

At this time, the dawn is slightly dew, it is really a charming summer day.On that day, I was going to meet a dark and mysterious friend.I got up, dressed in a hurry, and ran downstairs.The teacher was already in the hall, and I begged her to take me to the sea at once.

"It's not the time yet, we have to have breakfast first." She replied with a smile,

After dinner, we rushed to the beach immediately.We walked across low sand dunes, probably because we were going so fast that I often got my feet stuck in the hairy wormwood.So, on the warm, blinding sand, I laughed as I tumbled and tumbled.The warm air now had a distinctive fragrance, and I noticed that the air was getting fresher and cooler the further we went.

Suddenly, we stopped, and I didn't need anyone to tell me that the sea was at my feet.I also know that the ocean is awesome and vast!Because in the blink of an eye, the sun seems to disappear from the eyes.But instead of feeling scared, I yelled with excitement.

Immediately I changed into my swimsuit, and I plunged fearlessly into the waves as small waves rushed up the beach to kiss my feet.Unfortunately, my foot hit a rock and I fell into the icy water.

A strange sense of dread came over me.The salty water made it hard for me to breathe and open my eyes.Just at this time, a big wave easily threw me up, as if I was an insignificant pebble.After that, for several days, I was in a state of trembling. No matter how the teacher persuaded me, I didn't dare to go into the water. It was not until the end of summer that my courage slowly recovered and I felt that I was drifting with the waves. The joy of swinging away...

(End of this chapter)