承报 第14期域外采风（3）

抑轻尘

        A Letter to Students

■\文 Grace Feng

Dear students,

I am thrilled to share my English learning experience with you, in the hope that it will help you more or less. I will mainly focus on three aspects: how to improve spoken English, how to enhance listening skills and how to memorize English words.

How to improve spoken English. The answer is very simple, just one word—“Practice”! The more you speak it, the easier it will come. Speak in English when you are in class. Speak in English when you are in English corner. Speak in English when you are in your dorm. Even when you are alone, speak in English. I still have the habit of talking to myself in English now. All this is because “Rome was not built in one day.” You have to use the language as more as possible and it will melt into your life. Another tip to speaking beautiful English is imitation. Imitate the native speaks and fill the language with your emotion. If possible, record your voice and compare it with the original version.

How to enhance listening skills. Most students complain to me that once they have listening class or turn on the radio, they would fall asleep within 10 minutes. Why? They are not interested in it. As an English major, you should have “enthusiasm” for it. Attention! I didn’t use the word “passion”, since it can only last for a short period of time. Find out the mistakes you have made while listening, and carefully analyze them. Why you can’t tell the word? Is it because the speed is too quick or the pronunciation you have is different from the standard one? Is it because the sentence is too long or there are some new words? Anyhow, make sure you know the “reason for your mistake”.

How to memorize English words. Vocabulary is the brick to our great wall. You should build it very day. Don’t complain that the words are too long, too similar. Keep a good mood to master them. Just imagine you will use it very often and tell yourself:”Oh, I learned something new today”. You will soon feel satisfied. Try to absorb 20 or more words every day. If it is hard to memorize the words alone, put them in sentences or remember them in chunks.

In a nutshell, the best approach to English learning is the way which fits you.

Best regards!