Dear Ma Jianfu,

I am intrigued and excited by the brief progress report you have offered on your action research enquiry - I am so keen to know how you are progressing! You work is most original - and you have highlighted in your chosen question a most interesting challenge for all teachers of foreign languages. You want to improve how you paraphrase so that it is more accurate - and yet paraphrasing is an outstanding valuable skill in its own right. When I trained as a teacher of languages I learnt a technique called simultaneous translation - it was very hard but assisted me in developing my skills of accurate paraphrasing - I wonder if it might help you too? As I heard something in French I had to give an immediate translation while trying to retain the expression in the foreign language - so I didn't translate word by word but listened to short sections or sound bites of language and translate those as a paraphrase.

When I work in Japan running workshops on action research and mentoring, I always enjoy myself when I have a translator who can paraphrase accurately and yet not translate word for word. Yumi Tamura has the ability to listen to my words, translate them and express my humor in a way that will amuse my Japanese colleagues in my audience - she tells me that she gives them parallel jokes in Japanese - she does not try to translate but constantly summarizes and expresses her summary in a form that she is sure will excite and interest.

I do hope you continue with your enquiry - I am so looking forward to reading more writing from you -= and please - do include some photographs in your account if possible,

Warm regards,

Sarah