Here is a story told by an American mother about her son’s way of learning.  Let’s listen to what she has to say. 

The following words in the recording may be new to you:

tricycle <n> 三轮脚踏车               impose…on 将…强加于            

ham radio业余无线电台               fellowship 奖学金

differential equations 微分方程          ample <a> 充足的

Script for the recording：Talking about teaching in the USA and China, I have a personal story to tell. When my older son was five years old, he had a little friend from China. The Chinese child, the son of university professors, was much more advanced than our son. The child could read and write much better than our “baby”，who just wanted to ride his tricycle in circles. After a while the Chinese child found other playmates. Worried, I tried to apply the academic pressure to my son, but quickly gave in to his pleas, “Please,Mommy,I just want to play.”

Well, my son played through grade school and high school. He played at school and got average grades. However, once he started college, everything changed. Our son took to subjects like differential equations and physics like a duck to water. He graduated from the University of California and won a full fellowship to Stanford, where he earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. Today he designs radios for government jets and rockets. Yes, my son is a rocket scientist! 

When I asked him recently why he showed so little interest in school, this is what he told me, “Grade school was about memorizing stuff and that's not what I’m good at.”It turns out taht my son is good at thinking.

The story of my son is an individual case. It does not in itself prove which approach of teaching is better. But as parents, we can not impose a pattern of learning on our children. The best we can do is, perhaps, provide ample space for them to grow.

1. The Chinese child was much more advanced than her son.

2. The mother tried to apply some academic pressure to her son, but quickly gave up into his pleas. 

3. She compares her son’s love for subjects like differential equations and physics to the way a duck takes to water.

4. Her son is not good at memorizing (stuff), but good at thinking. 

5. In conclusion she advises that we should give our children ample space to grow.