4 Tips to Help You Learn English - How to Learn English

如何学习英文—4个窍门帮你学习英文（及其他语言）

Hi, I'm Oli. Welcome to Oxford Online English. In this video I'm going to tell you a little about

嗨，我是Oli。欢迎来到Oxford Online English。 在本部视频里，

my language learning experiences and I'm going to share with you some things I wish I'd known

我要告诉您一点我的语言学习 经验，我也会和您分享一些

before I started studying languages.

在我开始学习语言之前我希望 我想知道的事情。

I really hope you'll find these ideas interesting and useful and you can use them to help you

我真的希望您会发现这些有趣和 有用的想法，您可以用它们

learn English or even maybe another language!

来帮您学习英语，或甚至是另一种语言！

First, let me tell you a little about myself and why I do what I do, and why I’m making

首先，我来告诉您有关我自己的小 事情，以及为什么我做我所做的，

this video.

为什么我制作这部视频。

I was always fascinated by foreign languages. I remember the first time I went to a foreign

我总是对外语着迷。 我记得我第一次去国外。

country. I was nine, and I went to Holland.

当时，我九岁，我是去荷兰。

The thing that I liked best was hearing all of these foreign sounds. I’d never really

我最喜欢的事情是听到所有的 这些外国的声音。之前，我从未

heard people speaking other languages before.

真正地听过人们讲其他的语言。

Even then, I thought that speaking another language would be a really cool thing to be

即使那样，我认为讲另一种 语言是一种能做的

able to do.

很酷的事情。

Being able to open your mouth and produce all of these foreign words and actually be

能够打开您的嘴巴，并产生 所有这些外来单词并

understood… That seemed almost like magic to me as a child!

实际能被理解… 对我一个孩子 而言，那看上去几乎像是魔术！

My Mum bought me a ‘How to learn Dutch’ book. It didn’t work! I didn’t learn any

我妈妈带给我一本名为《How to learn Dutch》 的书。那没用！我没学

Dutch.

任何荷兰语。

But, I did study French and German at school for many years. They were always my favourite

但是，我在学校学了很多年的 法语和德语。它们总是我

subjects.

喜爱的主题。

When I was around 20, I set myself a goal. I would travel the world, and by the time

当我大约20岁时，我自己设定 一个目标。我要旅行全球，

I was 30, I would speak four foreign languages fluently.

在我30岁的时候，我会 流利地讲四种外语。

I don’t know why. There wasn’t much logic to it. It doesn’t seem like the most coherent

我不知道为什么。那没有太多逻辑。 那看起来不像是最连贯的生活

life plan, even now. But, that’s what I’d decided to do, so that’s what I did.

计划，甚至是现在。但是，那是 我决定要做的，因此我做了。

I lived in Russia, and studied Russian to quite a high level. Then, I moved to China.

我在俄国住过，学习俄语并达到一个 十分高的级别。然后，我

I studied Chinese, including written Chinese.

搬到中国。我学中文，也包括写中文。

By the time I was 30, had I reached my goal? Kind of. I could speak Russian, French and

当时，我30岁，我达到了我的目标 吗？有点是的。俄语、法语

Chinese well, and I could still speak some German, though not so well.

和中文我可以说讲得好，我仍然讲 一些德语，尽管不是太好。

Close enough—I don’t have any regrets.

足够近了 — 我没有任何遗憾。

Anyway, I made so many mistakes along the way. I got so many things wrong. I wasted

无论怎样，我在这条路上犯了太多的 错误。我做错了很多事情。

lots of time and energy on things that didn’t work.

我浪费了大量的时间和精力 在那些没做到的事情上。

There are so many lessons I had to learn the hard way.

有太多我必须刻苦地学习的教训。

So, what were they?

那么，它们是什么？

I remember my first few Russian lessons. They were bad. I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t

我记得我的最初几次俄语课程。 它们是糟糕的。我什么都

learn anything.

不能做。我什么都没学到。

Why? Because I had just graduated from university, and in my head, I was still at school.

为什么？因为我刚从大学毕业， 在我的内心里，我仍然是在学校。

When the teacher asked me a question and I got it right, I thought: “Great! I achieved

当老师问我一个问题，我答对， 我想：”Great! I achieved

something!” I thought this even if I just guessed the answer.

something!“即使我只是猜中 答案，我也这样想。

If I got a question wrong, I thought, “I feel bad!” I felt embarrassed.

如果我搞错了一个问题，我想，“I feel bad!”我感到尴尬。

If we did an exercise or a test, I thought, “If I get a high score, I’ve succeeded!”

如果我们有做一个练习或一个测验，我想， “If I get a high score, I’ve succeeded!”

Worst of all, I thought that just turning up to class was enough. After all, I wasn’t

最糟糕的是，我认为只要上课 考勤就够了。毕竟，我没有

responsible for my learning. The teacher was responsible. That’s the teacher’s job.

对我学的负责。老师尽了职责。 那是老师的工作。

I hope, I really hope, that you realise that I’m saying these things because they’re

我希望，我真的希望，您实现我正在说的这些事情， 因为它们

totally wrong, not because they’re how you should think.

完全是错的，不是因为它们 是您想的那样。

Getting a question right or wrong in class means nothing by itself.

在课堂上回答问题正确或错误 自身不意味着什么。

Getting a high score in a test means nothing by itself.

在一个考试里得到高分自身 不意味着什么。

Going to five classes, ten classes, or 500 classes means nothing by itself.

上五节课、十节课或500节课 自身不意味着什么。

There’s only one thing that matters: what have you learned?

只有一件事有关系： 您学到了什么？

What can you do that you couldn’t do before?

您可以做那些您之前不能做的吗？

Teachers can make a big difference, sure. One of the best teachers I’ve had (Hi Lola!),

老师做得可能会有很大的区别，当然。 我曾有过的最好一位老师 (您好，Lola!)，

helped me to change how I think.

帮我改变了我要怎么想。

Instead of feeling embarrassed about making a mistake, I realised that mistakes are a

取代觉得犯错会很尴尬 的是，我认识到错误

chance to understand something new.

是一个理解某些新东西的机会。

Instead of worrying about getting things wrong, I started to experiment and play with language.

取代担心犯错的是， 我开始体验和使用语言。

Instead of seeing tests and exercises as targets for someone else, I saw them as opportunities

取代看测验和练习结果作为某些其他人的 目标的是，我把它们看作是一个

to express myself and explore my own strengths and weaknesses.

自我表达的机会以及探索我自己的 长处和发现自己的弱点。

I put this at number one because it’s the most important thing to learn.

我把这作为第一，因为那是对 学习来说最重要的事情。

It’s the biggest mistake I see English learners making. I see adults, many of whom are older

那是我看到的英语学习者所犯的 最大的错误。我看到很多比

than me, very professionally successful, acting like they’re still at school, just because

我年纪大的、专业有成的成年人， 表现得像是他们仍然在学校，

they’re in a lesson with a teacher.

仅仅因为他们是在和老师一起学习。

I’ve seen people copying their homework from the answer key. I see people—full-grown,

我曾经看到人们把答题要点复制到他们的 家庭作业。我看到人们 — 完全长大的、

successful adults—really caring about whether they get a question right or wrong in class.

成功的成年人 — 真正地在意他们 在课堂上的回答是正确或错误的。

None of this matters by itself. All of this—questions in class, exercises in your textbook, tests

这自身没什么关系。所有这些 — 在 课堂上的问题、在您的笔记本上、测验里、

and exams, English courses, certificates—they’re just steps; they’re tools.

考试里、英语课程里和考证里的练习 — 它们仅仅是步骤；它们是工具。

What’s your goal? To get a piece of paper that says you speak English, or to actually

您的目标是什么？要得到一份文件 证明您说英语，或是

speak English?

要实际能说英语？

If you start at lesson one and finish lesson 100, is that enough? Have you finished?

如果您在第一节课开始，在第100节课结束， 那够了吗？您结束了吗？

Do you want to get a high score in an English exam, or do you want to speak such good English

您想在英语考试里得到高分， 或是您想说英语足够好到您

that you never need to take an English exam?

再也不需要参加一个英语考试？

So, get these old ideas from school out of your head. Classes, exercises, tests and certificates…

那么， 不要让您的思想里有这些来自学校里的 旧观念。课程、练习、测验和考证…

All of these things can help you; these things can give you structure and motivation, and

这些事都可以帮您；这些事可以 给您格局和动机，

that can be important, but they aren’t the end goal.

它们可以是重要的，但是它们 不是最终目标。

These things aren’t important in themselves; they’re important for what they can help

这些事情自身不重要； 它们重要在于能帮

you achieve.

您实现什么。

Focus on what you can actually do.

关注在您实际能做什么。

Because that’s all that matters.

因为只有那个有关系。

When I first moved to Russia, I was planning to stay for six months.

在我第一次搬到俄罗斯时， 我计划停留六个月。

After six months, I thought my Russian was okay. But it certainly wasn’t good enough.

六个月后，我想我的俄语可以了。 但是，那当然是不够的。

I decided to stay longer.

我决定待更久一点。

I thought that with six months more study, my Russian would be where I wanted it to be.

我认为多六个月的学习，我的俄语 会达到我想要的能力。

After six months, I thought, “My Russian’s alright, but if I just studied for another

六个月后，我想，“My Russian’s alright, but if I just studied for another

six months, it would be good.”

six months, it would be good.”

I studied for another six months.

我又学了六个月。

I thought, “Yeah, my Russian’s not bad. You know what I need? Six months’ more study.

我想“Yeah, my Russian’s not bad. You know what I need? Six months’ more study.

It’ll be really good with another six months.”

It’ll be really good with another six months.”

There were a few more like this, but you can see where this is going, I think.

还有几个像这样的，但是您可以看到 这会到哪里，我想。

Even when I left Russia, and I could speak to a high level, I didn’t feel completely

甚至是当我离开俄罗斯， 我能说高阶俄语，

satisfied.

我不是很满意。

It’s not just me.

那不只是我而已。

You never feel like you’ve finished. You always feel like there’s more to do, and

您从来不会感觉像是您学完了。 您总是觉得有更多要做的，

more to learn.

更多要学的。

I promise you, this will be the same for you with English. You’ll never feel like, “I’m

我向您保证，您学英语和这一样。 您从来都不会感觉像是，“I’m

done now.”

done now.”

Often, students ask me things like, “How long will it take to get fluent?” “How

通常，学生们问我像是这样的问题，“How long will it take to get fluent?” “How

long will it take to learn English?”

long will it take to learn English?”

No one wants to hear, “Forever!” It’s not a popular answer! But, it’s true.

没人想听“Forever!”那不是一个 流行的答案！但是，那是真的。

Why is this?

为什么是这个？

I think there are two reasons.

我认为有两个理由。

The first is that there is always more to learn. I’m still learning things about English,

首先是总是有更多要学的。 我仍然通过教学、写作和编辑

by teaching, writing and editing other people’s work. I haven’t finished learning English,

其他人的工作在学与英语有关的 东西。我没有结束学习英语，

just like you haven’t finished learning English, because you never do.

就像您没有结束学习英语一样， 因为您从来没有结束。

What about the second reason?

那第二个理由呢？

Partly, it’s just human nature. We focus on what we can’t do, just like we focus

部分来说，那只是人类的天性。 我们关注在我们不能做什么，

on what we don’t have.

就像我们关注我们没有什么一样。

What you don’t have is much more interesting than what you already have, right?

您没有的是比您已经 有的更有趣，对吗？

In the same way, what you can’t do seems more important than what you can do.

同样的方式，您不能做什么像是 比您能做什么更重要。

When you learn something new, it’s satisfying for a very short time. Then you forget about

在我们学一些新的东西时，感到满意只有很短 的一段时间。然后您把它忘了。

it. You focus on what you don’t know; you focus on what you can’t do.

您关注您不知道的东西；您关注 您不能做到什么。

This is natural. We all do it. All the time I was studying Russian, I was getting better.

这是天性。我们所有人都那样做。那时， 我一直在学习俄语，我学得很好。

I was learning lots of new things.

我在学大量的新东西。

But, it didn’t feel that way.

但是，不是那种感觉。

I’m sure many of you who’ve been learning English for a long time can relate to this!

我确信你们这些学了英语很长一段时间的人中很多人 可以关乎到这个！

You study and study. You learn new things, but you always feel like there’s something

您学习再学习。您学习新东西， 但是您总是感觉到像是有

you can’t do.

某些事您不能做。

This is how it is. That feeling never totally goes away.

这就是那是怎样的。那种感觉 从来没有完全地消失。

So, what can you do about it?

那么，关于那个您可以做什么？

Accept it. It’s not going to change!

接受它。那不会改变！

Also, remember that how you feel isn’t always the best guide to how things really are.

同样，记住感觉怎样并不会总是 事实是怎样的最好指引。

Just because you feel you aren’t getting better, it doesn’t mean you’re not getting

就是因为您感觉您没有做得 更好，那不意味着您没有

better. It doesn’t mean you aren’t learning anything new.

做得更好。那不意味着您没有 在学任何新的东西。

It’s just how you feel, and how you will feel.

那只是您怎样感觉， 以及您会怎样感觉。

It’s not a reason to stop or get discouraged. Keep studying; keep working and you will improve,

那不是停止或泄气的理由。继续 学习；继续努力，您会提高，

even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

即使不会总是那样。

I don’t know exactly when I first got the idea of moving to China.

我并不是确切地知道什么时候我 首次有了搬到中国的念头。

But, I know when I made up my mind: I read a book called “River Town.” It’s about

但是，我知道什么时候我下定了决心： 我读了一本叫《River Town》的书。

an American guy who spent two years living in Sichuan, in southern China.

那讲的是一位花了两年时间生活在 中国南部四川的美国小伙子。

He went there to teach English and study Chinese. He lived in a small town where there were

他去那里教英语并学习中文。 他生活在一个包括他在内

two non-Chinese people, including him.

只有两个外国人的小镇里。

I loved the book, and at that moment, I knew: I was going to China.

我喜欢那本书，在那时， 我知道：我要去中国。

But, I wasn’t as brave as him. I couldn’t imagine living in a small town with no other

但是，我不像他那么勇敢。我不能 搬到一个没有任何其他讲

English speakers. It sounded lonely.

英语的人的小镇里生活。 那听起来很孤独。

I moved to Shanghai, where there are about half a million foreigners.

我搬到了上海，那有大约 50万外国人。

I could meet people from many different countries, and mostly my social life was English-speaking.

我可以遇到很多来自不同国家的人， 我的社交生活圈大部分都是讲英语的。

I wasn’t lazy, though. I studied hard. I really wanted to get better. After three years,

尽管这样，我不懒。我刻苦学习。 我真的想学得更好。三年后，

my Chinese was quite good.

我的中文已经很好了。

But, it wasn’t perfect. There was a lot I couldn’t do. There was a lot I didn’t

但是，那不是完美的。有太多 我不能做的。有太多

know.

我不知道的了。

Why am I telling you this?

为什么我要告诉您这个？

It’s because my Chinese was a reflection of my life: I chose to move to a big, international

那是因为我的中文影响了我的生活： 我选择搬到一个大的、国际化的

city, and I chose to hang out in mixed groups where the common language was English.

城市，我选择在常用语言是 英语的混杂朋友圈里混。

So of course my Chinese wasn’t as good as it could have been.

所以，当然，我的中文没有到它 可以达到的程度那么好。

I had a couple of friends who did things differently.

我有些做事不同的朋友。

One guy in particular did almost everything in Chinese. He had Chinese roommates, most

一个伙计通常几乎做每件事都用 中文。他有中国人的室友，

of his friends were Chinese, and he worked for a Chinese company.

他的朋友大部分是中国人， 他在一家中国公司工作。

His Chinese was perfect. Not just good, perfect.

他的中文讲得太好了。 不只是好，是太好了。

It wasn’t because he studied harder than me (although maybe he did). It was because

那不是因为他学习比我还要努力 （尽管也许他学习很努力）。

he lived his life in Chinese and I didn’t.

那是因为他生活在中国人圈里，而我没有。

I see this a lot with English learners, particularly in English-speaking countries.

我看到这种英语学习者太多了， 大部分是在讲英语的国家。

Many of the students I meet live in the UK, but don’t speak much English. They have

我碰到的很多生活在英国的学生， 但是没有讲太多英语。

a community of people who speak their language, and they don’t go outside that much.

他们有讲他们语言的社交圈， 他们不会离开社交圈太多。

I also see this a lot with people saying, “I want to learn English, but I don’t

我也看到很多人说这个， “I want to learn English, but I don’t

have chances to speak!”

have chances to speak!”

To be clear, I know that big life changes, like moving to another country, aren’t realistic

要弄清楚，我知道大的生活 改变，像是搬到另一个

for everyone. I get that.

国家，对每个人不是很现实的。我知道。

But here’s the thing.

但是这里有件事。

You can’t separate language learning from the rest of your life.

您不能把语言学习与您的生活 的另一半分隔开。

If you go to class twice a week, and don’t use English or think about English the rest

如果您每周去上两次课，剩余 时间里不用英语或考虑

of the time, your progress will always be limited.

英语，您的进程 总是被限制了。

Do you want to speak perfect English? Do you want to master the English language? Yes?

您想说完美的英语吗？您想 精通英语语言吗？是吗？

Then you need to live your whole life in English.

那么您需要整个人生活在英语环境里。

That might not be practical, but even so, improving your English (or any language) means

那也许不实用， 但是，尽管 这样，提高您的英语（或其他语言）

changing your life.

意味着改变您的生活。

It might mean moving to another country, working in another company, changing your social circle,

那也许意味着搬到另一个国家， 在另一个公司工作，改变您的

or other large changes.

社交圈，或其他大的改变。

And yes, that can be very difficult! It can involve making big sacrifices. I understand

是的，那可以是差别很大！那 可能涉及到做很大的牺牲。

that, but that’s how it is.

我理解那个，但是，那就是这样。

Language is a part of your life. The way you live influences what you can learn.

语言是您的生活的一部分。您生活 的方式影响到您可以学到什么。

How dare you, Oli! I am special!

您怎么敢，Oli！我是特别的！

I’m not saying you’re not special. I’m not special. No one’s special when it comes

我不是说您不特别。我不是 特别的。当学一种语言

to learning a language.

时，没人是特别的。

Learning English, or any language, is very democratic. Everyone’s in the same position.

学习英语，或任何语言， 是很民主的。 每个人都是在相同的位置。

It doesn’t matter how smart you are, how rich you are, how professionally successful

您多么聪明、您多么有钱、 您是多么专业有成，

you are… None of that really matters.

那没有关系… 那些都不重要。

Let me tell you the last part of my story.

我告诉您我的故事的最后一部分。

Now, I live in Greece. I’ve been here for around three years.

现在，我住在希腊。我 待在这里大约三年了。

If people ask me if I speak Greek, my answer is “Not really.”

如果人们问我我讲希腊语吗， 我的回答是“Not really.”

I can communicate in a basic way, and I understand a lot, but I don’t claim to speak it.

我可以用基本方式来联络， 我理解很多， 但是我不声称我讲希腊语。

After three years in Russia, I could speak good Russian. After three years in China,

在俄罗斯三年之后，俄语我讲得很好。 在中国三年之后，

I could speak good Chinese.

中文我也讲得很好。

So, what went wrong? I should speak good Greek by now, right?

那么，有什么错了吗？现在， 希腊语我肯定讲得好，对吗？

Remember: I’m not special; none of us are special. I don’t speak good Greek because

记住：我不是特别的；我们没人是特别的。 希腊语我说得不好，因为

I haven’t done enough work.

我学得不够多。

Partly, that’s because I’m busier. If I’m honest, I’ve also been a little lazy

一部分来说，那是因为我比较 忙。如果我诚实地说，

sometimes.

我有时有一点懒。

Okay, at this point, I want to say thanks for listening to me. This is a more personal

好的，就这一点，我要说 感谢听我讲。这是一部

video, and I appreciate that you’re still watching.

更个人化的视屏，我 很感谢您仍然在看。

So, let me finish by giving you the secret to learning a language.

那么，我用给您学语言的 秘密来结束本节课。

That’s right: I’ll give you the secret to learning English, or any language!

就那样：我会给您学英语 或任何语言的秘密！

Don’t get too excited—it’s really boring.

不要太兴奋 — 那真的是很无聊的。

YouTube and the Internet are full of people saying they have “the secret to learning

YouTube和网路就是人们所说的他们有 “the secret to learning

fluent English,” or “a way to learn English in ten days.”

fluent English,”或“a way to learn English in ten days.”

Normally, the secret is “buy my book – 99 dollars!”

正常来说，秘密是“buy my book – 99 dollars!”

I don’t have a book, because I’m too busy to write one, so I’ll just tell you the

我没有一本书，因为要写一本 我会太忙了，所以我

secret. You can have it for free.

就告诉您秘密。您可以免费了解它。

It’s consistency.

那是持续的。

I’ve taught thousands of students at this point in my career, and the picture is very

我在我的领域就这个重点 接触到了数千的学生，

clear.

画面是非常清晰的。

People who study and work consistently, over time, get the best results.

那些持续地超时学习和工作 的人们，得到最好的结果。

It’s not necessarily the smartest students who do best.

做得最好的不一定 是最聪明的学生。

It’s not necessarily the natural language learners who do best.

做得最好的不一定 是母语学习者。

It’s not necessarily the most enthusiastic learners who do best, because enthusiasm tends

做得最好的不一定是最有热情 的，因为，热情的人

to burn out.

容易燃尽热情。

It’s the people who just keep going, who don’t give up, who work and work and don’t

那是那些继续前进的人们；那些不放弃的 人们；那些工作再工作的人们；那些不停止的

stop, who keep going even when it’s hard and boring and they’re not enjoying it:

人们；那些甚至是很难、很烦，他们没有 在享受它，但仍然继续前进的人们：

they do best. They get what they want.

他们做得最好。他们 得到他们想要的。

Boring, I know, but it’s true.

很烦。我知道，但是，那是真实的。

So, thanks again for watching and listening to me!

所以，再次感谢观看和听我讲！

See you next time!

下次再见！