이번주 강의 ― Annie's Mailbox

[조국현]

Annie's Mailbox의 문장이나 단어는 평이하지만, 저널리스트가 아닌 일반 미국인들이

일상생활에서 쓰는 표현들을 고루 담고 있기 때문에

영작이나 영어회화 자료로 훌륭합니다.

쉬운 단어라도

나라면 이 자리에 이런 표현을 쓸 수 있는지 고민해 보고,

그럴 수 없는 표현이라면 내게 중요한 표현이고 익히는 것이

진정한 영어의 활용능력을 기르는 방법입니다.

시사영어가 세상에 대한 분석력과 이해의 폭을 넓게 해주는 멘토라면,

Annie's Mailbox는 중요한 생활영어 표현 이외에도

Annie의 통찰력 있는 충고를 얻을 수 있어서

토론과 설득력을 위한 훌륭한 멘토입니다.

영어 활용능력도 기르고

삶의 지혜도 얻을 수 있는 칼럼인 Annie's Mailbox,

저와 함께 감상하시죠.

I Alone

Dear Annie: I am a 14-year-old girl. I am arguably the smartest in the school and have never lacked confidence. I admit I am prideful and have never questioned my self-worth. I am always the one in the group with a sarcastic remark, although I am always careful never to hurt anyone with my words. I consider myself literate beyond my years.

This past week, my friends said they didn’t think I could be truly “nice.” I don’t question my friends. I know they are the best of the group, and I am thankful for them. But one of them described me as “cold.” This upsets me a great deal, as I thought I had been doing better opening up to people and being less aloof. I thought I was succeeding, but I have failed miserably.

I don’t particularly want to be Miss Congeniality, but I also don’t want to be labeled as cruel or cold. I am fun-loving and can be sweet and compassionate. It appears to be overlooked that I do volunteer service regularly and have befriended “outcasts” when others wouldn’t look their way. I really do try, and I know my personality is getting in the way. But I don’t know how else to present myself.

I don’t want to alienate myself from others. It sounds really stupid, but I want to be the stereotypical girl everyone wants to be with. Just a little. How can I open up after 14 years of acting totally self-sufficient? — Disappointed

Dear Disappointed: You sound smart, sassy and completely self-centered. Nearly every sentence in your letter has “I” in it. It seems as if you behave in order to be admired, and this is what your friends are reacting to.

If you truly want to open up, take a genuine interest in your friends without comparing their accomplishments to yours. Ask how they’re doing and how they feel. See if you can make it through the day without saying something snarky. Don’t brag about yourself. Make your friends feel important to you. You can be assertive and still develop some humility. It will help.

Husband who won't drive

Dear Annie: I have been with my husband for five years. I adore him, but there is one problem. He refuses to learn to drive.

For five years, I’ve had to get both of us everywhere. We work in the same part of the city and carpool together. Six months ago, I bought him a car, hoping it would motivate him to learn to drive. He promised he would, but has found an excuse every time. Now just mentioning the subject makes me the bad guy. He’s even asked if I want him to leave me, which hurt tremendously. I don’t mind driving both of us, but this situation can’t last forever. How do I fix this and still preserve my marriage? — Driving for Two

Dear Driving: It sounds as if your husband has a phobia, and he has to recognize the problem before he can fix it. Approach him gently, saying that you understand he has anxiety issues, and suggest he contact the Anxiety Disorders Association of American (adaa.org) and then sign up for a drivers’ education class. But if he is unwilling to budge, we hope you will continue to carpool because we don’t think this is worth ending an otherwise loving marriage.