怎样写英文求助信
2008-03-28郝昌明
郝昌明
【实例分析】
假如你叫周明,在光明中学读书,在学习英语的过程中你遇到一些问题,想得到老师的帮助。现在你给英语老师写一封求助信,内容如下:
字数: 120左右。
Dear teacher,
My name is Zhou Ming. Im writing a letter to you to ask for some help. I have met much difficulty in learning English. First, I find our texts full of new words that are very difficult for me to remember. Besides, the texts are too long for me to recite. Whats more, grammar is also very difficult to learn.
Faced with so much difficulty, I have to ask you for some help. Would you like to introduce to us some good ways to learn new words so that we can remember them more easily? In the meanwhile, I beg you to teach the text more slowly so that the average students can easily follow you. Also, I would like you to introduce some rules and good ways to learn grammar.
Im sure that I can make great progress in my English study with your help.
点评: 介绍自己在英语学习中所遇到的问题和需要向老师求助的角度时作者均能围绕生词、课文、语法三个角度进行,文章脉络清晰,条理清楚,有较强的层次感。First, Besides, Whats more, In the meanwhile. Also等过渡性词汇的准确贴切使用使文章叙述更合理,思路更清晰,逻辑更严密,体现出作者文笔的老炼与成熟。Would you like to, beg sb. to do sth., would like sb. to do sth., Im sure等委婉句型的使用体现出作者的谦虚客气,诚恳朴实,并使文意显得情感浓烈,真实感人。表达现阶段在英语学习上遇到的困难时作者使用一般现在时表达文意,符合求助信的时态特点。定语从句、目的状语从句、宾语从句等高级表达方式的运用增强了文章的表达效果,提高了文章的表达档次。
【写法总结】
1.正确把握时态,保证语言准确性
写英文求助信的原因就是目前自己在某一角度存在困难,因此应用一般现在时表达文意,当然描绘自己得到帮助后的进步时应用一般将来时表达文意。同学们一定要牢记求助信的这些时态特点,并增强错误防范意识,养成错误防范习惯,确保语言准确性。
2.熟悉常用句型,提高文章整体美感
写英文求助信时首先得做自我介绍,此时可用My name is ... . Im writing to you for some help.或Im writing a letter to you to get some help.句型。接着可简要交待自己所面临的困难,可用I have met much difficulty in ... .句型。请求对方做某事时可用Would you like to ... so that ...? In the meanwhile / At the same time, I beg you to ... so that ... . Also, I would like you to ... .等句型。展望获得帮助后自己的进步时可用Im sure with your help I can make great progress.句型。这些句型不但使用频率高,而且语气委婉,态度谦恭,符合求助信的语言特点。
3.贴切使用过渡性词汇,提高文章逻辑性
列举自己所碰到的困难时可用first, besides, whats more等过渡性词汇。请求对方提供一系列帮助时可用in the meanwhile, at the same time, in addition, also等过渡性词汇。这些过渡性词汇是英文求助信特色过渡性词汇,应增强使用意识,养成使用习惯。
4.适当使用高级表达方式,提高文章表达档次
写英文求助信时除使用常规高级词句之外,还可重点考虑几处高级表达方式。表达“面临巨大困难,所以只好求助”时可用现在分词做状语句型Facing so much difficulty, I have to ask you for some help.也可使用过去分词做状语句型Faced with so much difficulty, I have to ask for your help.表达请求对方帮助以便自己能够有所进步时可在一、二处地方使用so that或in order that引导的目的状语从句。这个句型非常好,有很大的表达容量,它既可表达求助内容,又能表达对方实施帮助后的作用,可谓一举两得。但必须注意的是,仅仅懂得这一点还不够,同学们一定要下定决心,强化意识,非把这一句型用上去不可。