Sending and reading email has quickly become one of the most popular daily activities around the world, either for business or pleasure. Now, more and more teachers and students are using this form of communication to improve their language skills, particularly English.

　　无论是为了娱乐还是为了谈生意，在全球范围内，收发电子邮件已经迅速成为人们最流行的日常活动之一。现在，越来越多的老师和学生通过运用电子邮件这种沟通 方式来提高自己的语言水平，特别是英语。

　　Several reasons why email has become a great tool is that it is fast, convenient, and affordable. One particular activity that takes advantage of these points is a keypal exchange. In the past, teachers often organized pen friends project where their students would exchange letters with another group of students in another country. However, the turn-around time for sending and receiving traditional letters (and then follow-up replies) can take up to months for the whole process, and by that time, students might lose interest in the project or the class might end before a series of meaningful exchanges can take place. Furthermore, students have to pay international postage to send letters, something the students might be unwilling to do.

　　电子邮件之所以风靡全球，成为人们的一大沟通工具，是因为它快速，方便，又经济划算。笔友之间利用电子邮件进行交流活动正是基于电子邮件的这些特点。在过去，老师经常组织笔友项目，让他们的学生和其他国家的学生通过往来书信进行交流。然而，传统书信的往来可能会花上几个月的时间，没准儿学生们对这个项目就失去兴趣了，或者还没往来几封信，课程都结束了。还有，学生在邮信的时候还需要付邮资，这可能也是学生们不愿接受的。

　　With email, however, messages can be sent at a click of a button at school, home, or an Internet cafe, and if you are using a free email account, the cost is free (not taking into account any Internet Service Provider fees you have to pay). Instead of waiting days or weeks for a response, students can receive a reply within days, hours, or even minutes.

　　而电子邮件呢，无论你是在学校，在家里，或者是在一个可以上网的咖啡馆里，只要你有一个免费的电子邮件帐户，敲击一下电脑按键，邮件就发出去了，而且是免费的哦（支付给互联网服务提供商的费用不考虑在内的话）。学生们为了收回信也不必等上很多天或是几个星期了，几天，几小时，甚至是几分钟，回信就来了。

　　Email has a lot to offer for language learners and teachers in the classroom.

　　电子邮件可以极大地方便课堂上外语学习者的学习和(外语)老师的授课。