The first time I heard the term "New Oriental" was when I was in the second year of high school. At that time, at the age of sixteen, I was about to enter my final year of high school, and awaiting me was yet another brutal life decision—college entrance examination (Gaokao). My mother told me, "A friend of mine sends their child to New Oriental for English training every year. I've heard that seventy percent of overseas students have undergone foreign language training at New Oriental." Through my mother, I initially learned that "New Oriental" is a famous foreign language training and education institution, renowned both domestically and internationally.
A year later, I gave up on attending university in China and chose to study abroad in the United States. Thus, last September, I came to Beijing New Oriental School by reputation and participated in a four-month intensive New TOEFL training course. Actually, about twenty days before I went to New Oriental for English training, I had already taken the TOEFL test—it was the paper-based TOEFL exam. That particular exam happened to be the last paper-based TOEFL test conducted in mainland China, and I just happened to catch it. After taking the TOEFL exam, I developed an idea: to learn English at New Oriental. And so, I went to Beijing, beginning my lifelong connection with New Oriental. In the early days of attending classes at New Oriental, I fully experienced the personal charm of New Oriental's teachers—their smiles, their attentiveness, their humorous speech, outstanding abilities, and their unwavering pursuit of ideals and beliefs deeply attracted me. Finally, I understood why New Oriental has been renowned for such a long time. Among all the teachers, the one I have known the longest is my listening teacher, Ma Jun. On the first day of class, he appeared on the podium with an unusual demeanor: a short ponytail tied at the back of his head, a face full of beards as if he hadn't shaved for a long time, giving off an air of having experienced much in life. When I saw him, I was genuinely surprised; I had never met this type of man before. He didn’t look like a teacher but rather possessed the temperament of an artist. Mr. Ma’s handwriting carried a poetic elegance, and I couldn't help but be impressed by his talent.
Mr. Ma is a free-spirited person who loves to nickname students based on their characteristics, and I was no exception. I remember once when he joked around with a student's nickname, and that student pretended to be angry and hit him, but he didn’t care and continued to joke with the student. Mr. Ma said, "The process of memorizing words is not the process of learning English; listening to English is the real way to learn it. The one who masters listening will rule the world." Coincidentally, during the summer vacation, I had memorized more than a thousand new words. Sometimes in Mr. Ma’s class, whenever he asked for the Chinese translation of words or phrases related to the content of the listening passages, I could answer their meanings. After hearing my answers, he would often make a "distressed" face, as if he wanted to stab himself with a knife and fork, which made the whole class laugh. Mr. Ma then gave me the nickname "Word Master," and the classmates followed him in calling me that. I jokingly said to Mr. Ma, "Teacher, you teach listening, so you should select a 'Listening Master.'" In fact, looking back on the time when I memorized those English words, I really felt what Mr. Ma described as "wanting to stab myself with a knife and fork." Over the four months, I was busy writing, reading, practicing oral English, and memorizing words. Every day was fulfilling. The classroom atmosphere was relaxed and free, and every class passed with laughter. Occasionally, I would joke with the teacher, making the atmosphere even livelier. I referred to those four months as "happy times."
The brief four months passed quickly, and I had to face the reality of leaving my beloved teachers behind, shedding tears as I bid farewell to the New Oriental classroom that left me with wonderful memories. I knew there was still a long road ahead, and I needed to continue my dream-chasing journey. I thank the teachers of New Oriental for their care and encouragement, as well as for spending those four months with me. In my heart, they are unique miracles, and I will forever remember the story between me and New Oriental.
New Oriental, my eternal "base!"