英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí):5件事阻礙你學(xué)好一門(mén)外語(yǔ)

1. Take it slow

放慢節(jié)奏

When the adventure of a new language starts, your enthusiasm knows no bounds. On the one hand, that’s something very positive. On the other hand, it’s important not to rely on enthusiasm alone. When the newness and initial excitement has worn off, you might not know where to find the motivation to learn. That’s why it’s necessary to steer your initial exuberance in the right direction, and not let it disappear like a flash in the pan. It’s better to take it slow - tame your enthusiasm and make sure that learning a language becomes a regular daily activity.

當(dāng)一門(mén)新的語(yǔ)言帶來(lái)的挑戰(zhàn)剛開(kāi)始時(shí)，你的熱情是無(wú)限的。一方面，這是很積極的事。另一方面，不單單依靠熱情也是很重要的。當(dāng)新鮮感和一開(kāi)始的興奮褪去，你可能就找不到學(xué)習(xí)的動(dòng)機(jī)了。這就是為什么將你最初的熱情控制在一個(gè)正確的方向是必要的，不要讓它如同曇花一現(xiàn)般消失。放慢節(jié)奏會(huì)更好——控制住你的熱情度，確保學(xué)習(xí)語(yǔ)言成為一項(xiàng)有規(guī)律的日?；顒?dòng)。

Otherwise something like this might happen: You’ll study every day for the first week. Already in the second week you’ll skip a day because you’re too tired. The following week it happens again, and then again the week after that. Soon, you’ll be staring, frustrated, at that pile of language books on your desk.

否則，可能就會(huì)發(fā)生這樣的事：第一個(gè)星期，你每天都在學(xué)習(xí)。第二個(gè)星期，你會(huì)因?yàn)樘^(guò)疲勞而跳過(guò)一天。接下來(lái)的一個(gè)星期也會(huì)這樣，然后以此重復(fù)。很快，你就會(huì)對(duì)著桌上堆積如山的語(yǔ)言書(shū)籍干瞪著眼、充滿(mǎn)挫敗感。

Our Tip: Steer your initial exuberance in the right direction and make sure that learning a language becomes a regular daily activity. Ten minutes a day is better than full-on for a week and then nothing after that.

我們的建議：正確控制你最初的熱情，確保學(xué)習(xí)語(yǔ)言成為一項(xiàng)有規(guī)律的日?；顒?dòng)。比起將一個(gè)星期的時(shí)間塞得滿(mǎn)滿(mǎn)當(dāng)當(dāng)，每天花十分鐘的效果會(huì)更好。

2. The benefits of a bad memory

健忘的好處

No, we’re not crazy. We’re talking to all those people who think that memorization is the key to everything, to everyone who boasts about their photographic memory, and to everyone who gets stuck on vocabulary lists. Don’t get us wrong: a good memory is definitely helpful, but one should not forget (no pun intended) to use and train it the right way.

不，我們可沒(méi)瘋。我們?cè)诤退姓J(rèn)為記憶力是一切的關(guān)鍵的人對(duì)話(huà)，在和所有為自己過(guò)目不忘的記憶力而得意洋洋的人對(duì)話(huà)，在和所有記憶詞匯表有困難的人對(duì)話(huà)。別誤會(huì)我們：好的記憶力固然很有幫助，但是一個(gè)人不要忘記，要用正確的方法來(lái)使用并培養(yǎng)它。

Memorizing entire phrases can be helpful in certain, clearly-definedsituations (like picking up your luggage at the airport, for example). But it won’t be of any benefit when topics come up in conversation that weren’t in that book you so diligently memorized.

在確定、清晰定義的情形下（例如在機(jī)場(chǎng)撿起你的行李），記住整個(gè)短語(yǔ)是有幫助的。但是，當(dāng)談話(huà)的主題沒(méi)有在課本中出現(xiàn)時(shí)，這將不會(huì)起一丁點(diǎn)作用。

Use your memory and make it your ally. Learn phrases and words with which you can make associations or create mnemonic devices. And when a word doesn’t seem to want to come out, find an alternative or paraphrase what you mean. In this way, you don’t only get your synapses firing, but you can also remember things better and for longer periods of time. Try it for yourself!

利用好你的記憶力，使之成為你的助手。學(xué)習(xí)一些可以使你產(chǎn)生聯(lián)想或運(yùn)用記憶技巧的詞語(yǔ)和短語(yǔ)。當(dāng)你想不起一個(gè)詞的時(shí)候，找一個(gè)近義詞或?qū)⒛愕囊馑冀忉尦鰜?lái)。用這樣的方式，你就不用太傷腦筋，卻又可以更好、更長(zhǎng)久地記住東西。試試吧！

Our Tip: Your memory is an important ally if you use it intelligently.

我們的建議：如果你能夠聰明地運(yùn)用你的記憶力，它將會(huì)成為你重要的助手。

3. Nobody’s perfect

人無(wú)完人

No one is perfect… and you shouldn’t try to be! One of the first obstacles you encounter on the path to “fluent mastery” of a language is the absurd and premature demand you place on yourself to speak with perfect and error-free pronunciation and grammar. Of course, you can and will get there with a lot of practice, but it shouldn’t be the highest priority when you’re getting to know a completely new language.

人無(wú)完人······你不必苛求自己盡善盡美！你在通往“熟練掌握一門(mén)語(yǔ)言”的路上遇到的第一個(gè)阻礙就是，要求自己講外語(yǔ)時(shí)擁有零瑕疵的發(fā)音和語(yǔ)法，這種要求是荒謬且不成熟的。當(dāng)然，你可以，也應(yīng)該通過(guò)大量的練習(xí)做到這一點(diǎn)，但是當(dāng)你學(xué)習(xí)一門(mén)完全陌生的語(yǔ)言時(shí)，你不必將其作為頭號(hào)任務(wù)。

If you get lost in especially complicated grammar when you’re trying to say something simple, or if you’re only sure of yourself when you don’t make even the smallest pronunciation mistakes, then it’s highly likely that within a few weeks, you’ll give up out of total frustration.

當(dāng)你試圖描述一些簡(jiǎn)單的事物，卻陷入復(fù)雜的語(yǔ)法里找不著方向，或者你只能在不犯任何發(fā)音錯(cuò)誤時(shí)才能相信自己時(shí)，那么你就很可能在幾周內(nèi)因?yàn)槿痪趩识艞?。

“Until I can speak perfectly, I won’t speak. But if I don’t speak, I’ll never improve and can give up hope of ever being able to speak perfectly”. It’s a Catch 22!

“在我能流利地發(fā)言之前，我不會(huì)開(kāi)口。但如果我不開(kāi)口，我就永遠(yuǎn)不能提高，也就會(huì)因?yàn)椴荒苷f(shuō)好外語(yǔ)而放棄希望。這就是進(jìn)退兩難！”

Our Tip: Give yourself a break and don’t be afraid to make mistakes! You’ll soon see the progress that’ll bring you closer to your goal.

我們的建議：給自己休息的時(shí)間，不要害怕犯錯(cuò)！你很快就會(huì)看到使你接近目標(biāo)的進(jìn)步！

4. All work and no play…

只工作不娛樂(lè)

It’s exactly you – so tirelessly and steadfastly learning – who we’re speaking to here: Are you finally going to get up out of that chair, or do you want to put down roots right where you’re sitting? You’re diligent and persistent. You’ve used your memory and your desire to learn in the best way possible. You’ve trusted yourself to speak to people because you understand that we all learn from making mistakes. And now? Now it’s time to give yourself a reward!

我們就是對(duì)這樣的你——一直不知疲倦地學(xué)習(xí)——所說(shuō)的：你打算從椅子上起來(lái)嗎？或者說(shuō)你是想在椅子上扎根嗎？你勤奮且堅(jiān)忍不拔。你盡可能以最好的方式運(yùn)用自己的記憶力和學(xué)習(xí)的*。你相信自己能夠在人們面前說(shuō)外語(yǔ)，因?yàn)槟忝靼资∧顺晒χ??，F(xiàn)在呢？給自己獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)的時(shí)間到了！

When you set such a big goal as learning a new language, it’s important now and then to pat yourself on the back and enjoy the success you’ve achieved. You’ve managed to have your first real-life conversation? You’ve got all that difficult pronunciation down? You’ve gotten through the jungle of pronouns? Then you should celebrate it and do something fun! Watch a film, sing a song at the top of your lungs, or listen to the radio… but, of course, in the language you’re learning! When you couple language learning with activities that bring you joy, you’ll learn more effectively and remember what you’ve learned more easily.

當(dāng)你將學(xué)習(xí)一門(mén)新的語(yǔ)言作為自己的目標(biāo)時(shí)，那么現(xiàn)在獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)一下自己，好好享受成功也是很重要的。你成功地做到了現(xiàn)實(shí)中的第一次對(duì)話(huà)？你克服了所有的發(fā)音困難？你弄清楚了所有的代詞？那么你就應(yīng)該好好慶祝一下，做些有趣的事！看看*、放聲歌唱、或者聽(tīng)聽(tīng)廣播······但是，當(dāng)然是和你所學(xué)語(yǔ)言相關(guān)的！當(dāng)你將學(xué)習(xí)語(yǔ)言和快樂(lè)的活動(dòng)結(jié)合在一起的時(shí)候，你會(huì)更有效地學(xué)習(xí)，并更輕松地記住所學(xué)的內(nèi)容。

Our Tip: You don’t have to learn like a crazy person. There should also be time to combine the enjoyable with the practical, and have fun while learning!

我們的建議：你不需要像一個(gè)瘋子一樣地去學(xué)習(xí)。只要將興趣與實(shí)踐結(jié)合，快樂(lè)地學(xué)習(xí)！

5. The goal is always within sight

總是設(shè)置現(xiàn)實(shí)的目標(biāo)

Learn the art of always keeping your goal within sight. Of course, anyone could say that learning for learning’s sake is the ideal pictureof education… that goes without saying. But if you want to reach the end of the road, it’s important that you’re aware of why you stepped onto the path in the first place.

學(xué)習(xí)設(shè)置眼前的目標(biāo)的技巧。當(dāng)然，誰(shuí)都會(huì)說(shuō)，為了學(xué)而學(xué)就是教育的寫(xiě)照，這不必說(shuō)。但如果你想走到路的盡頭，明白自己當(dāng)初為什么走上這條路是很重要的。

Why are you learning a new language? For love? To get a raise? Because you want to try your luck in a new country? Because you can’t stand films that are dubbed? Very good. Keep your goal in sight and imagine that with every tiny step forward, the path to your goal gets shorter and the top of the mountain gets closer.

你為什么想學(xué)習(xí)一門(mén)新的語(yǔ)言？為了愛(ài)情？為了加薪？為了在一個(gè)新的國(guó)家碰碰運(yùn)氣？因?yàn)闊o(wú)法忍受譯制*？很好。設(shè)置現(xiàn)實(shí)的目標(biāo)，想象你每前進(jìn)一小步，通往目標(biāo)的路就越短，你距離山頂就越近。

Our Tip: Keeping a goal in sight increases motivation. Before you start, set a goal!

我們的建議：通過(guò)設(shè)立現(xiàn)實(shí)的目標(biāo)來(lái)激發(fā)動(dòng)力。在開(kāi)始之前，設(shè)立目標(biāo)！