The editor of ES asked me to talk about how to learn English well and of course I will. It seems that English is becoming more important and more people, no matter young or old, are involved. As for me, English learning opens the door to a brand new world, and provides a totally new turn of mind.
姚志中 北京大学28楼427 100871
Tip 1: Be Passionate about Learning English
As I have mentioned above, learning English can lead us to a brand new world where the cultural background and the life style are completely different. Have you tasted the beauty of English poetry? I have. Have you enjoyed the delicate croon1 of R&B singers? I have. Have you ever listened to an original sound-track2 from various Hollywood pictures? I have. So I can sense the beauty of English. In that case, I can painlessly learn a lot of English subconsciously3, of course, without pain. Remember an old saying: the one who loves something can learn the most from it.
Tip 2: Pay More Attention to Your Speaking
I know you find reading difficult. However, reading is a process of input. The opposite processes—speaking and writing are even tougher. And in my eyes, your speaking skill is the foundation of your writing, because writing is a way of expressing what you wanna say. A speaker can become a typist when doing some writing.
Maybe you've already forgotten the way you obtained the ability to use your mother tongue. Mind you: You listened carefully before you learned to speak. You learned to speak before you could write! But when it comes to learning English, we Chinese learners just turn the order up-side-down. That's why we find speaking so difficult.
Tip 3: Create Your Own English Atmosphere
If put in a totally authentic4 English atmosphere, anybody can master English in a short time. However, most of us don't have the opportunity to study abroad, so why not create an English world of your own? Do watch English programs from time to time. Do read great English novels rich in ideas. And maybe you can try to speak English to yourself more often. Let me tell you something about a friend of mine: he even utters English word in his dreams!
I have already told you the three tips for learning English. To sum up, English is not something we should study, but love!
Undoubtedly, English is now a subject of great importance. I think it's necessary for everybody to learn it well, not just for NMET or going abroad. In universities, especially some top ones like Tsinghua, there aren't as many English classes as in senior high school—at most two in a week. However, that doesn't mean they pay little attention to foreign language education. Our teachers believe most freshmen have already mastered English, there's no need to give a lot of English lessons anymore. At Grade II, some major courses will be taught completely in English. I believe it'll be incredible learning physics and electronics while learning complicated English...so, building a solid foundation before entering university is very important.
I don't think I have handled English well, for I am always making silly grammatical mistakes. So I haven't much ″experience″. However, I don't think it is difficult to learn English either. There are millions of books in bookstores telling us the ″best ways″ to study English for those who consider learning language a nightmare. As a matter of fact, I think there are simply a few points to follow.
杨波 清华大学紫荆公寓1#425A 10084