看看老外怎麼學英文:一個歪國英語學習者的自白

I am often asked by learners, including my clients, what is the best way to practise and consequently improve their English Language skills. My response often varies depending on who the learner is. I try to advise them taking into account their learning methods, general interests and time they have available to dedicate to their learning.
經常有學習者問我如何學英文，他們當中也包含我的客戶，那麼練習和提高英語語言技巧的最佳方法是什麼呢？我的回答是取決於學習者是誰。我試着建議他們考慮自己的學習方法，興趣愛好和能花費在學習上的時間成本。

However, I feel that great advice to learners can also come from other learners and not just teachers. There isn’t only one approach to learning a language and whilst a teacher/coach can provide the tools to facilitate learning, ultimately it’s up to the learner to work out what works for them.
但是，我也意識到真正好的建議也許來自於學習者本身而非老師。學習英文並非只有一個辦法，而老師或教練只是起到提供工具促進學習的作用，最終學習效果如何只能取決於學習者個人感覺哪種方法是行之有效的。

So I decided to ask some of my clients if they would be willing to share their experiences of learning and practising their language and what tips they would offer their fellow learners in the form of a guest post on this blog.
於是我決定來問問我的一些學員是否願意分享他們學習練習語言的經驗，我邀請他們做爲我博客的嘉賓來給其它學習同伴分享一些學習技巧。

The first client I asked was Alessandra who seized the opportunity with great enthusiasm. I have been teaching Alessandra online for just under a year. She is a corporate lawyer based in Milan. We have a conversation class once a week. Alessandra is passionate about learning the English Language and is a joy to teach.
第一位學員是Alessandra，她對於此事抱有極大的熱情。我在線教Alessandra英語已有一年。她在一家米蘭的公司做律師。我們每週一次對話課程。Alessandra對學習英文充滿熱情而且她也願意分享。

I have pleasure in introducing you to Alessandra.
在此我很榮幸的把Alessandra介紹給大家。

Alessandra

I’ve been asked by my lovely English teacher, Shanthi to write about my learning process and what makes it ( hopefully) a success and – above all- a pleasure.
我敬愛的老師Shanthi邀請我分享一些我個人的學習過程以及我是如何成功達到目標的，總而言之，我感到很榮幸。

I studied English for 8 years at school – a long time ago. After graduating from university, I tried not to lose my English but it was not always easy. I didn’t have classes or online courses until 2012 when a South African company took over the company I was working for and my boss organized a two- month English course for all the directors of the board. On that occasion, I found out that I remembered something and could speak, but I was no longer able to listen to the radio or watch TV and really understand the language. What a disappointment!
很久以前，我在學校裏學習英文長達8年之久。當我從大學畢業後，我試圖不丟下英文，然而我發現這很難實現。在這之前我都是沒有任何英語課程或在線課程的，直到2012年，我所在的公司被一家南非公司收購，新老闆爲公司董事會所有管理者組織一個爲期2個月的英語課程。從那次以後，我突然發現我能記住一些英文而且還能開口說英文，但我卻無法用英文聽廣播，看電視，沒有辦法真正理解這門語言。多麼令人失望啊！

First of all, I must say that I’m a mature student. I have a job, a family, a life to live, but about a year ago I started to feel the need to improve my English, that used to be good but not perfect. I wanted to be understood when abroad, to write an e- mail without panicking and to understand most of (not all) the contents of a newspaper. So, I set out to do 3 things which I believe is what my fellow learners should do.
首先，我必須要說我是一個很成熟的學生。我有工作，有家庭，有自己的生活要過，我的英文之前雖不算完美但是也是不錯的。但是一年前我開始感受到我還是需要提高我的英文。我希望我出國時別人能聽懂我說話，發郵件時不用感到恐慌，看報紙時至少大部分內容能看懂（我不要求全部）。於是，我決定做三件事，我想我的英語學習同僚們也應該這樣做。

a teacher找一個老師

The teacher is, in fact, essential to your learning process. He or she must understand your needs and keep your interests high and your enthusiasm alive, especially when you’re tired or discouraged.
事實上，老師是你學習過程中必不可少的一部分。他或她必須明白你的學習目的，保持你的學習興趣高漲，維護你的學習熱情，尤其是當你感到累了或泄氣的時候。

Your teacher must know what to do or what not to do to make you feel confident and still eager to learn.
老師必須知道如何使你感到自信並渴望學習，什麼能做，什麼不能做，你的老師都要清楚。

something you like and do it in English挖掘你喜歡做的事情，然後用英文去做

The second advice I want to share with my fellow students is this: find something you really like and do it in english.
我想分享給同胞的第二條經驗是：發現你熱衷做的事情，然後用英文去做。

I love TV dramas, biopics, TV series and entertainment shows like Graham Norton or The David Letterman Show. I started to watch them in English with Italian subtitles, then with English subtitles and, now, I watch them without subtitles!
我喜歡看電視劇，傳記片，娛樂節目，比如格拉漢姆.諾頓，戴維脫口秀。於是我開始看英文版帶意大利語字幕的這類節目，之後看帶英文字幕的，現在，我看不帶字幕的。

After a while I found myself able to capture the deeper meaning of the dialogue and, as an old Italian proverb says, ‘I’ve started to understand not only the language but the culture behind it (the dialogue)’.
經過一段時間，我發現我可以理解對話中更深層的意義，正如一句古老的意大利諺語所說：“我開始從對話中理解埋藏在語言表面下的深層文化內涵。”

3. Establish a routine建立程序

I have an “English” routine. Just as athletes run or swim every day not to lose their fitness, I watch English TV every evening. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Downton Abbey or The Graham Norton Show, I just feel better if I listen to or watch just a little bit of my favourite programmes.
我有一套自己的英語”例行公事“。就像運動員每天跑步或游泳以保持身材，我每天晚上看英語電視節目。無論是《唐頓莊園》還是《格拉漢姆.諾頓》，只要我看一下，哪怕是一點點我喜歡的節目，我就感覺非常不錯。

When I feel too tired to deal with something new, I simply watch an episode or an interview I’ve already seen and liked, in order to enjoy myself without being a lazy student.
當我感覺很累不想處理事情時，我會看一看之前看過的比較喜歡的電視劇片段或採訪，這樣做的目的是使自己在享受的同時不至於變成懶學生。

Learning English seriously (like old age) is not for sissies, so come on, get to work and very soon you’ll find yourself captured by the new, different, amazing and fascinating world of words.
學習英文嚴格的說（像年齡稍大些）不是膽小鬼的遊戲，所以加油朋友，趕快開始行動起來，很快你就會發現自己沉浸在一個新的與衆不同的，美妙無比的文字世界裏。

Thank you so much to Alessandra for taking the time to write this post and sharing her learning journey.
非常感謝Alessandra花時間與大家分享她的學習旅程。

If you would like to share your learning journey and any tips that you feel have worked or work for you with me and my readers, I would be thrilled to hear from you. Simply drop me a line here and we can work out a plan.
如果你也想分享你的學習之旅和對你行之有效的學習技巧給我和我的讀者，我很期待收到您的來信。簡單的留一句言我們就能做出一個計劃。