我是个令人失望的学生，尽管一般来说我很听话，也就是说，我按别人说的做。

I am a disappointing, though generally dutiful, student. That is, I do as I'm told.

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

其实我是一个很听话的人。

Butactually I'm very obedient.

youdao

我掀开帘子，看见一个小姑娘，只有八九岁光景，瘦瘦的苍白的脸，冻得发紫的嘴唇，头发很短，穿一身很破旧的衣裤，光脚穿一双草鞋，正在登上竹凳想去摘墙上的听话器，看见我似乎吃了一惊，把手缩了回来。

She had a pale thin face, and her lips were frozen purple because of the cold. Her hair was cut short and she was dressed in worn-out clothes.

youdao

But for a long time I was chastened whenever I remembered that my mother had come close to killing me.

然而很长一段时间里,一想起母亲过来揍我,我就会很听话，“

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选

Then I want to note the transition that happens at the very bottom of this page after he says, "I was chastened whenever I remembered that my mother had come close to killing me."

我想强调的是,这页最下面的转折，在他说完“一想起母亲过来揍我,我就会很听话“之後“

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选