本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛时间: 2004-8-28 19:19 标题: Re: Steve, please advise us some ways to improve speaking
The key to language learning is the "ME" factor. It does not matter whether you are learning English or I am learning Chinese.
"ME" is you the learner, you have to take the initiative and take charge of your learning.
"ME" is also "M" for motivation and "E" for efficiency.
How does this work for speaking?
1) M: You have to enjoy speaking with native speakers or you will not do well. You have to enjoy being in a group where you are the only non-native speaker, or with your neighbour sharing a meal or a beer. You have to forget that you are the only non-native speaker. You are just an individual who wants to connect with other individuals in their language. You are there not just to improve your English, but because you like being with them. This has to be true even when your English is poor. If you can create a feeling of friendship and warm human communication, your language mistakes will not matter.
You will miss a lot and will have trouble saying exactly what you want to say. It does not matter. You are not performing, you are just communicating and you will improve. This is true for anyone learning any language. If you create these kinds of opportunities you will become very motivated to improve and you will become psychologically prepared to absorb and imitate the new language.
2) E: Efficiency has to do with method. I will not go into detail here but will mention some general principles. For every hour of talking, I recommend 4 hours of input, otherwise your spoken language will stagnate. Find content of interest that is just a little difficult for you. Listen to it. Read it. Save all new and useful words and phrases for regular review. Do it again and again, every day if possible. Listen 45 minutes to one hour a day, read 30 minutes a day and review words and phrases 15 minutes a day. These are minimums.
You can do this on your own, but it is more efficient to do it in a system like www.thelinguist.com. You need to dedicate a period of time to intense study. It can be 3 months or 6 months. Then you can take a rest and start again. The more efficiently you learn the greater the intensity. You need intensity to succeed. You need heat! You need to change yourself into a person who speak English naturally.
You should also watch TV, read the newspapers and engage in other English immersion types of activities. But these passive immersion activities are not as effective as an intensive program of learning such as I described above. That has been my experience.
There is lots more to say but let's just start the discussion with this.
时间: 2004-8-30 00:21 标题: Re: Steve, please advise us some ways to improve speaking
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Dear 胡不归,
Perhaps one day we can organize a meeting where I can explain my views on language learning. Maybe I should offer my book ( in English or Chinese) to the members of this forum.
I do not believe in teachers. I do not believe in text books. I do not believe in classrooms. I do not believe in learning grammar rules.
I believe in the learner discovering the language by him or herself. You need to listen, over and over, almost daily. Buy an MP3 player and go to it wherever you are. You need to read, lots. You need to save words and phrases for regular review. You need to write and have it corrected. You need to talk to people for the fun of it. Our website is designed around these principles.
With regard to pronunciation, let me say the following. You need to record yourself and compare yourself to the native speaker. You need to start to hear the difference and then you need to work, daily, on improving. You should do this for all the most common words of English. You also need to do this with sentences. You can do this at our website.
There will always be words you will have trouble with. It does not matter. Get it 80% right and you will be fine.
But no part of learning English can be done in isolation. Correct phrasing is more important than pronunciation. It is all about getting a feel for the language. You need to do it all. See paragraph three above. There are no shortcuts.
时间: 2004-8-30 00:48 标题: Re: Steve, please advise us some ways to improve speaking
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Let me add that learners do need a native speaker coach or tutor. Not to teach the language, but to encourage, to stimulate, and to expain when the learner gets stuck, and to give feedback and to help, here and there. This is different than the traditional teacher. Because it is the learner, not the teacher who has to be in charge.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
The key to language learning is the "ME" factor. It does not matter whether you are learning English or I am learning Chinese.
"ME" is you the learner, you have to take the initiative and take charge of your learning.
"ME" is also "M" for motivation and "E" for efficiency.
How does this work for speaking?
1) M: You have to enjoy speaking with native speakers or you will not do well. You have to enjoy being in a group where you are the only non-native speaker, or with your neighbour sharing a meal or a beer. You have to forget that you are the only non-native speaker. You are just an individual who wants to connect with other individuals in their language. You are there not just to improve your English, but because you like being with them. This has to be true even when your English is poor. If you can create a feeling of friendship and warm human communication, your language mistakes will not matter.
You will miss a lot and will have trouble saying exactly what you want to say. It does not matter. You are not performing, you are just communicating and you will improve. This is true for anyone learning any language. If you create these kinds of opportunities you will become very motivated to improve and you will become psychologically prepared to absorb and imitate the new language.
2) E: Efficiency has to do with method. I will not go into detail here but will mention some general principles. For every hour of talking, I recommend 4 hours of input, otherwise your spoken language will stagnate. Find content of interest that is just a little difficult for you. Listen to it. Read it. Save all new and useful words and phrases for regular review. Do it again and again, every day if possible. Listen 45 minutes to one hour a day, read 30 minutes a day and review words and phrases 15 minutes a day. These are minimums.
You can do this on your own, but it is more efficient to do it in a system like www.thelinguist.com. You need to dedicate a period of time to intense study. It can be 3 months or 6 months. Then you can take a rest and start again. The more efficiently you learn the greater the intensity. You need intensity to succeed. You need heat! You need to change yourself into a person who speak English naturally.
You should also watch TV, read the newspapers and engage in other English immersion types of activities. But these passive immersion activities are not as effective as an intensive program of learning such as I described above. That has been my experience.
There is lots more to say but let's just start the discussion with this.
时间: 2004-8-30 00:21 标题: Re: Steve, please advise us some ways to improve speaking
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear 胡不归,
Perhaps one day we can organize a meeting where I can explain my views on language learning. Maybe I should offer my book ( in English or Chinese) to the members of this forum.
I do not believe in teachers. I do not believe in text books. I do not believe in classrooms. I do not believe in learning grammar rules.
I believe in the learner discovering the language by him or herself. You need to listen, over and over, almost daily. Buy an MP3 player and go to it wherever you are. You need to read, lots. You need to save words and phrases for regular review. You need to write and have it corrected. You need to talk to people for the fun of it. Our website is designed around these principles.
With regard to pronunciation, let me say the following. You need to record yourself and compare yourself to the native speaker. You need to start to hear the difference and then you need to work, daily, on improving. You should do this for all the most common words of English. You also need to do this with sentences. You can do this at our website.
There will always be words you will have trouble with. It does not matter. Get it 80% right and you will be fine.
But no part of learning English can be done in isolation. Correct phrasing is more important than pronunciation. It is all about getting a feel for the language. You need to do it all. See paragraph three above. There are no shortcuts.
时间: 2004-8-30 00:48 标题: Re: Steve, please advise us some ways to improve speaking
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let me add that learners do need a native speaker coach or tutor. Not to teach the language, but to encourage, to stimulate, and to expain when the learner gets stuck, and to give feedback and to help, here and there. This is different than the traditional teacher. Because it is the learner, not the teacher who has to be in charge.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net