編者按： 　　隨著2008年奧運會的臨近，民眾越來越關(guān)心“中國”品牌的樹立，學(xué)習(xí)英語的熱情也被點燃。越來越多的外宣干部和業(yè)內(nèi)同行向我們表達了期待看到雙語欄目的期望。因此，我們從2006年第一期起開辦了《雙語視窗》欄目以滿足廣大讀者的需求。
　　看看周圍的媒體，《北京青年報》、《參考消息》、《國門時報》上有許多精粹的小短文，像一只只啄木鳥，善意地提醒了中國人習(xí)以為常的行為背后“尚未和國際接軌”的細節(jié)，讀后讓人回味不已，在獲得借鑒意義的同時，也帶來更深入的思考。我們效仿中英文對照的版面形式，旨在通過外國友人的視角來看中國，從中折射出東西方觀念、習(xí)俗的異同。通過一篇篇這樣的文章，讓讀者在領(lǐng)略異域文化的同時，也能達到學(xué)習(xí)英語的目的。
　　怎樣才能提高英語水平？自從兩年前我到了北京，一直就有人向我提出這個問題，提問的有英語專業(yè)的學(xué)生，有街上的陌生人，有站在報告廳中間勇敢的發(fā)問者，也有某天晚上英語角站在我旁邊的人。
　　這似乎是非常正常而簡單的問題，可又是個讓我厭煩的問題。
　　我厭煩它，是因為它看似十分合理，實際上卻是個陷阱；它看似很容易回答，實際上是個能難倒俄狄浦斯的謎語。何況我還不是俄狄浦斯。
　　這個總是由認真的學(xué)生提出的問題本身是無辜的，每次聽到這個問題時，我感到這一誠摯的請求必須得到明確的答復(fù)，而我，作為一名英語教師，就應(yīng)該知道這答案。每當(dāng)我不得不承認我不知道時，我總是感到失職。
　　噢，對此我是有答案的，我手忙腳亂地琢磨著怎么答復(fù)，希望學(xué)生們不會注意到我實際上對這問題是多么吃不準。我有答案，可沒有學(xué)生們所尋求的那種答案。
　　不管他們真正詢問的是什么，這一問題讓人覺得他們需要的是一個速成方法，在輕松的六步之內(nèi)就能更正所有的錯誤并能擴大詞匯量。我提供不了這種答案。事實上，只有一個容易的辦法來學(xué)語言：在你兩歲到四歲時置身于那一語言環(huán)境中。語言學(xué)家告訴我們，在這一年齡段，兒童不是在學(xué)語言，而是像染病一樣“染上”語言，他們是在無意識的情況下學(xué)習(xí)語言的。
　　過了這一不可思議的時間段，學(xué)習(xí)語言就要花氣力了。有時這是件令人興奮并有趣的事，但也是件需要自我約束和長期努力的事。有些人天生就學(xué)得比別人好；有人天生就喜歡學(xué)習(xí)語言，就像有人天生就喜歡慢跑或做數(shù)學(xué)題一樣。我覺得多數(shù)問我“怎么才能提高英語水平”的人已經(jīng)知道這一點。雖說他們也會跟我一樣肯定希望我會給出什么秘訣，但他們大概也不會期望很高，像我擔(dān)心的那樣高。我通常給他們?nèi)缦碌闹腋妫?
　　1．別指望有捷徑。學(xué)習(xí)語言的惟一途徑就是使用這一語言，一天接一天地練習(xí)。像瘋狂英語這樣的教程是很不錯的，它適合很多人，這是因為其內(nèi)容很有意思，而且人們也喜歡學(xué)，使學(xué)習(xí)變得有趣對學(xué)習(xí)是非常有激勵性的。但是，不要以為李陽的成功之路也會成為你的成功之路，因為你不是他。每個人的成功之路只是屬于他（她）自己的。
　　2．找出你自己的成功之路。請記住，像李陽這樣的人今天獲得了成功是因為他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了適合自己的學(xué)習(xí)英語的途徑，他們總結(jié)出了對他們自身最有效的方法�，F(xiàn)在他們想讓你跟著他們已經(jīng)輝煌過的足跡走，而此時你要做的，則是以他們?yōu)榘駱樱�走出你自己輝煌的路。
　　這并不是說每個人都需要去重新發(fā)明車輪。教科書與語言學(xué)習(xí)課程都能提供有用的幫助。我學(xué)中文就是從一本教科書學(xué)起的。瘋狂英語可能對你十分有效。多數(shù)語言教育都基于這一事實：人們在某些方面是有共性的，人們以相似的方式學(xué)習(xí)，因此對我奏效的方式對你也至少是部分地奏效。但是我們每個人又都是各自不同的人，因此要了解你自己，使你的學(xué)習(xí)方法適合你自己。
　　我的漢語是在課堂里學(xué)的，通過教科書到做作業(yè)，按照要求與計劃去做，學(xué)得也不錯。所以說，我的學(xué)習(xí)是從一本教科書開始，然后記漢字卡片，把它們積累成好幾本，而且每天增加新卡片，并加以復(fù)習(xí)。
　　既然我已經(jīng)掌握了一些初級漢字，漢字卡片就顯得乏味了，我現(xiàn)在更有興趣來做廣泛的閱讀，看報紙、聽中文歌曲、看電影。你的計劃要有靈活性，要知道你的弱點和強項，要使你的計劃適合你正在學(xué)習(xí)的語言，允許你的計劃有所改變。但是，一定要有計劃！
　　 （本文作者為北京大學(xué)英語系外教）
　　
　　原文：
　　Ever since I arrived in Beijing almost two years ago I have heard this question: from an English major, from a stranger on the street, from a brave soul standing in the middle of a large lecture hall, from a dark shadow beside me one evening at an English corner.
　　It seems a perfectly fair and simple question, and it’s a question I hate.
　　I hate it because it seems completely reasonable but is actually a trap, because it seems so easy but is actually a riddle to stump Oedipus. And I’m no Oedipus.
　　It is an innocent question invariably asked by earnest students, and every time I hear it I feel that this sincere plea must admit of a clear answer and that I, as an English teacher, should know what this answer is. I always feel I have failed somehow when I have to admit that I don’t.
　　Oh, I have answers, and I stumble around in my response, hoping the students won’t notice how unsure I am. I have answers, but I don’t have the answer, not the answer I think they’re looking for.
　　Whatever they are really asking for, it feels like they’re asking for a quick fix, a magic bullet which will fix all their mistakes and expand their vocabulary in six easy steps. I can’t provide that. The truth is there’s only one easy way to learn a language: you must be immersed in that language from the time you are two years old until you are four years old. These are the years, linguists tell us, during which children don’t learn a language, but rather catch it like a disease. They pick it up without conscious effort.
　　After that mysterious time, learning a language is work. It is exciting and fun work sometimes, but also a matter of discipline and time-work. Some people are naturally better at this work than others; some naturally enjoy this kind of work as others might naturally enjoy jogging or doing math problems. I suspect most people who ask me that question“How can I improve my English?” already know all this. Though they no doubt hope as I would that I might have some secret knowledge to offer, they are probably not expecting as much as I fear they are. I usually give them the following advice:
　　(1)Don’t expect to find and easy way to learn. The only way to learn a language is to use a language, to practice day after day. Programs like Crazy English are great and they work for a lot of people because they are fun, because people enjoy them, and making work fun is a great incentive to learn. But don’t think Li Yang’s success story will be your success story because you are not him. Everyone’s success story is his or her own success story. So:
　　(2)Find your own success story. Remember, people like Li Yang are only successful now because they found their own way to study English; they figured out a method that works best for them. Now they are trying to make you follow the trail they have blazed when what you should be doing is following their example by blazing your own trail.
　　That’s not to say everyone need reinvent the wheel. Textbooks and language learning programs can provide a useful service. I started learning Chinese with a textbook. Crazy English may work great for you. Most language education is based on the reality that people are people, that we share some things in common, that we learn in similar ways, so what works for me might work. at least partly, for you. But each of us is also unique, so know yourself and make your study methods suit yourself.
　　I learn well in a classroom setting, from textbooks and homework, with rules and schedules, so I began with a textbook and from there went on to make notebook after notebook of Chinese character flashcards which I add to and review every day.
　　Now that I have mastered a small Chinese “alphabet” of characters, the flashcards are getting dull and I’m more interested in trying extensive reading exercises, looking at newspapers, listening to Chinese songs, watching movies. Keep your plans flexible; know your weaknesses and strongpoints; make your scheme match the language you are studying; allow your scheme to change sometimes; but do have a plan!
　　
　�。ǜ兄x《北京青年報》“雙語視窗”欄目張愛學(xué)編輯對本文提供的支持。）
　　
　　 責(zé)編：周瑾

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