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

怎樣學英文 — 4個技巧幫您學習英文（及其他語言）。

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。歡迎來到Oxford Online English。 在本影片裡，

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

我要告訴您一些我的語言學習 經驗，我也會和您分享一些

before I started studying languages.

在我開始學習語言之前 我希望知道的事情。

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

我真的希望您會發現這些有趣和 有用的想法，您可以用它們

learn English or even maybe another language!

來幫您學習英文，或甚至是另一種語言！

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

首先，我來告訴您有關我自己的小 事情，以及為什麼我做我所做的，

this video.

為什麼我製作這部影片。

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

我總是對外語著迷。 我記得我第一次去國外。

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

當時，我九歲，我是去荷蘭。

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

我最喜歡的事情是聽到所有的 這些外國的聲音。之前，我從未

heard people speaking other languages before.

真正地聽過人們講其他的語言。

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

即使那樣，我認為講另一種 語言是一種能做的

able to do.

很酷的事情。

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

能夠打開您的嘴巴，並產生 所有這些外來單字並

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

能被實際理解… 對我一個小孩 而言，那看上去幾乎像是魔術！

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

我媽媽帶給我一本名為《How to learn Dutch》 的書。那沒用！我沒學

Dutch.

任何荷蘭語。

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

但是，我在學校裡學了很多年的 法語和德語。它們總是我

subjects.

喜愛的主題。

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

在我大約20歲時，我自己設定 一個目標。我要做環球旅行，

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

在我30歲的時候，我會 流利地講四種外語。

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

我不知道為什麼。那沒有太多的邏輯。 那看起來不像是最連貫的生活

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

計劃，甚至是現在。但是，那是 我決定要做的，因此我做了。

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

我在俄國住過，學習俄語並達到 高階。然後，我

I studied Chinese, including written Chinese.

搬到中國。我學中文，也包括寫中文。

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

當時，我30歲，我達到了我的目標 嗎？有點像是的。俄語、法語

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

和中文我可以說是講得好，我還說 一些德語，儘管不是太好。

Close enough—I don’t have any regrets.

足夠近了 — 我沒有任何遺憾。

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

無論怎樣，我在這條路上犯過太多的 錯誤。我做錯過很多事情。

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

我浪費了大量的時間和精力 在那些沒做到的事情上。

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

有太多我必須努力學習的教訓。

So, what were they?

那麼，它們是什麼？

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

我記得我的最初幾次俄語課程。 它們是糟糕的。我什麼都

learn anything.

不能做。我什麼都沒學到。

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

為什麼？因為我剛剛從大學畢業， 在我的內心裡，我仍然是在學校裡面。

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

當老師問我一個問題時，我答對了， 我想：”Great! I achieved

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

something!“即使我只是猜中 了答案，我也這樣想。

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

如果我理解錯了一個問題，我想，“I feel bad!”我感到尷尬。

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

如果我有做一個練習或一個測驗，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，我認為只要上課 考勤就夠了。畢竟，我沒有

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

對我所學的負責。老師盡職了。 那是老師的工作。

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，您實現我正在 說的這些事情，因為它們

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

完全是錯的，不是因為它們 是您想的那樣。

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

在課堂上回答問題正確或錯誤 自身不意味著什麼。

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

在一個考試裡得到高分自身 不意味著什麼。

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

上五節課、十節課或500節課 自身不意味著什麼。

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

只有一件事有關係： 您學到了什麼？

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

您可以做那些您之前不能做的嗎？

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

老師做的可能會有很大的區別，當然。 我曾經有過的一位最好的老師 (您好，Lola!)，

helped me to change how I think.

幫我改變了我要怎麼想。

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

取代覺得犯錯會很尷尬 的是，我認識到錯誤

chance to understand something new.

是一個理解某些新東西的機會。

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

取代擔心犯錯的是， 我開始體驗並運用語言。

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

取代看測驗和練習結果作為某些其他人的 目標的是，我把它們看做是一個

to express myself and explore my own strengths and weaknesses.

自我表達的機會以及探索我自己的 優點和發現自己的弱點。

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

我把這作為第一，因為那是對 學習來說最重要的事情。

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

那是我看到的英文學習者所犯的 最大的錯誤。我看到很多比

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

我年齡大的、術業有成的成年人， 表現得像是他們仍然在學校裡，

they’re in a lesson with a teacher.

僅僅因為他們是在和老師一起學習。

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

我曾經看到人們把答案要點複製到他們的 家庭作業裡。我看到人們 — 完全長大的、

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

成功的成年人 — 真正地在意他們 在課堂上的回答是正確或錯誤的。

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

這自身沒什麼關係。所有這些 — 在 課堂上的問題、在您的筆記本上、測驗裡、

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

考試裡、英文課程裡和證照考試裡的練習 — 它們僅僅是步驟；它們是工具。

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

您的目標是什麼？要得到一份文件 證明您說英文，或是

speak English?

要實際能說英文？

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

如果您在第一節課開始，在100節課結束， 那夠了嗎？您結束了嗎？

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

您想在英文考試裡得到高分， 或是您想說英文足夠好到您

that you never need to take an English exam?

再也不需要參加一個英文考試？

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

那麼，您的思想裡不要再有這些來自學校裡的 舊觀念。課程、練習、測驗和證照考試…

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

這些事都可以幫助您；這些事可以 給您格局和動機，

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

它們可以是重要的，但是它們 不是最終目標。

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

這些事情自身不重要； 它們的重要性在於能幫

you achieve.

您實現什麼。

Focus on what you can actually do.

關注在您實際能做什麼。

Because that’s all that matters.

因為只有那個有關係。

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

在我第一次搬到俄羅斯時， 我計劃停留六個月。

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

六個月後，我想我的俄語可以了。 但是，那當然是不夠的。

I decided to stay longer.

我決定待更久一點。

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

我認為多留個月的學習，我的俄語 會達到我想要的能力。

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

待個月後，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.

我又學了六個月。

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.

還有幾個像這樣的，但是您可以看到 這會到哪裡，我想。

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

甚至是當我離開俄羅斯時， 我能說高階俄語，

satisfied.

我不是很滿意。

It’s not just me.

那不僅是我而已。

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

您從來不會感覺到像是您學完了全部。 您總是會覺得有更多要做的，

more to learn.

更多要學的。

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

我向您保證，您學英文和這個一樣。 您從來都不會感覺像是，“I’m

done now.”

done now.”

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

通常，學生們問我像是這樣的問題，“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.

沒人想聽“Forever!”那不是一個 流行的答案！但是，那是真的。

Why is this?

為什麼是這樣？

I think there are two reasons.

我認為有兩個理由。

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

首先，總是有更多要學的。 我仍然通過教學、寫作和編輯

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

其他人的作品在學習與英文有關的 東西。我沒有結束學習英文，

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

就像您沒有結束學習英文一樣， 因為您從來沒有結束。

What about the second reason?

那第二個理由呢？

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

部分來說，那只是人類的天性。 我們關注在我們不能做什麼，

on what we don’t have.

就像我們關注我們沒有什麼一樣。

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

您沒有的是比您已經 有的更有趣，對嗎？

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

同樣的方式，您不能做什麼像是 比您能做什麼更重要。

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

在我們學一些新東西時，感到滿意只有很短 的一段時間。然後您把它忘記了。

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

您關注您不知道的東西；您關注 您不能做到什麼。

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

這是天性。我們所有人都是這樣。那時候， 我一直在學習俄語，我學得很好。

I was learning lots of new things.

我在學大量的新東西。

But, it didn’t feel that way.

但是，不是那種感覺。

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

我確信你們這些學了英文很長一段時間的人裡面有很多人 可以關聯到這個！

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

您一直都在學。您學習新東西， 但是您總是感覺到像是有

you can’t do.

某些事您不能做。

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

這就是那樣的。那種感覺 從來沒有完全地消失。

So, what can you do about it?

那麼，您可以做什麼？

Accept it. It’s not going to change!

接受它。那不會改變！

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

同樣，記住，感覺怎樣並不會總是 事實就是怎樣的最好指引。

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

就是因為您感覺您沒有做得 更好，那不意味著您沒有

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

做得更好。那不意味著您沒有 在學任何新的東西。

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

那只是您怎樣感覺， 以及您會怎樣感覺。

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

那不是停止或洩氣的理由。繼續 學習；繼續努力，您會提高，

even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

即使不會總是那樣。

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

我並不是很確切地知道什麼時候我 首次有了搬到中國的念頭。

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

但是，我知道什麼時候我下定了決心： 我讀了一本書，名為《River Town》。

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

那講的是一位花了兩年時間生活在 中國南部四川的美國小夥子。

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

他去那裡教英文並學習中文。 他生活在一個包括他在內

two non-Chinese people, including him.

只有兩個外國人的小鎮裡。

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

我喜歡那本書，在那時候， 我知道：我要去中國。

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

但是，我不像他那樣的勇敢。我不能 搬到一個沒有任何其他的講

English speakers. It sounded lonely.

英文的人的小鎮裡生活。 那聽起來很孤獨。

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

我搬到了上海，那有大約 50萬外國人。

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

我可以遇到很多來自不同國家的人， 我的社交生活圈大部分都是講英文的。

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

儘管是這樣，我不會懶惰。我學習很用功。 我真的想學得更好。三年後，

my Chinese was quite good.

我的中文已經很好了。

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 我不能做的事情。有太多

know.

我不知道的事情了。

Why am I telling you this?

為什麼我要告訴您這個？

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

那是因為我的中文影響了我的生活： 我選擇搬到一個大的、國際化的

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

城市，我選擇在常用語言是 英文的混雜朋友圈裡社交。

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

所以，當然，我的中文沒有達到 它可以達到的等級那麼好。

I had a couple of friends who did things differently.

我有些做事不相同的朋友。

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

一個夥計通常做每件事幾乎都用 中文。他有中國人的室友，

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

他的朋友大部分是中國人， 他在一家中國公司工作。

His Chinese was perfect. Not just good, perfect.

他的中文講得太好了。 不只是好，是太好了。

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

那不是因為他學習比我還要用功 （儘管或許他學習很用功）。

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

那是因為他生活在中國人的圈子裡，而我沒有。

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

我看到這種英文學習者太多了， 大部分是在講英文的國家。

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

我遇到很多生活在英國的學生， 但是他們沒有講太多的英文。

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

他們有講他們自己語言的社交圈， 他們不會離開社交圈太多。

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

我也看到很多人說這個， “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 改變，像是搬到另一個

for everyone. I get that.

國家，對每個人來說不現實。我知道。

But here’s the thing.

但是，這裡有件事。

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

您不能把語言學習與您的生活 的另一半分隔開來。

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

如果您每周上兩次課，剩餘 時間裡不用英文或想

of the time, your progress will always be limited.

英文，您的進程 總是被限制了。

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

您想說完美的英文嗎？您想 精通英文嗎？是嗎？

Then you need to live your whole life in English.

那麼，您需要整個人生活在英文環境裡。

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

那也許不實用，但是，儘管 這樣，提昇您的英文（或其他語言）

changing your life.

意味著改變您的生活。

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

那也許意味著搬到另一個國家， 在另一個公司工作，改變您的

or other large changes.

社交圈，或其他大的改變。

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

是的，那可以是差別很大的！那 可能涉及到要做很大的犧牲。

that, but that’s how it is.

我理解那個，但是，那就是這樣的。

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

語言是您的生活的一部分。您生活 的方式影響到您可以學到什麼。

How dare you, Oli! I am special!

您怎麼敢，Oli！我是特別的！

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

我不是說您不特別。我不是 特別的。在學習一種語言

to learning a language.

時，沒人是特別的。

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

學習英文，或任何其他語言，是很民主的。 每個人都是在相同的位置。

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

您多麼聰明、您多麼有錢、 您多麼專業有成，

you are… None of that really matters.

那沒有關係… 那些都不重要。

Let me tell you the last part of my story.

我告訴您我的故事的最後一部分。

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

現在，我住在希臘。我 待在這裡大約三年了。

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

如果人們問我，我講希臘語嗎， 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.

我能用基礎語言溝通，我懂很多， 但是，我不會宣稱我會說希臘語。

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

在俄羅斯待了三年後，我的俄語講得很好。 在中國待了三年後，

I could speak good Chinese.

我的中文也講得很好。

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

那麼，有什麼錯了嗎？現在， 希臘語我肯定講得好，對嗎？

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

記住：我不是特別的；我們沒人是特別的。 希臘語我說的不好，因為

I haven’t done enough work.

我學得不夠多。

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

一部分來說，那是因為我比較 忙。如果我誠實地說，

sometimes.

我有時有一點懶惰。

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

好的，就這一點，我要說 感謝聽我講。這是一部

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

更個人化的影片，我 很感謝您仍然在觀看。

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

那麼，我用告訴您學語言的 秘密來結束本節課。

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

就那樣：我會給您學英文 或其他語言的秘密！

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

不要太興奮 — 那真的很無聊。

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

YouTube和網路就是人們所說的他們有 “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!”

正常來說，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

我沒有寫一本書，因為要寫一本書 的話，我會太忙了，所以我

secret. You can have it for free.

就告訴您秘密。您可以免費了解它。

It’s consistency.

那是持續的。

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

我在我的領域就這個要點 在數千個學生那裡得到應驗，

clear.

畫面是很清晰的。

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

那些持續地超時學習和工作 的人們，得到最好的結果。

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

做得最好的不一定 是最聰明的學生。

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

做得最好的不一定是 母語學習者。

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熱情 的，因為，熱情的人

to burn out.

容易燃盡熱情。

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

那是那些急需前進的人們；那些永不放棄的 人們；那些持續不間斷工作的人們；那些不停止的

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

人們；那些甚至是很難、很煩，他們沒有 在享受它，但仍然繼續前進的人們：

they do best. They get what they want.

他們做得最好。他們 得到他們想要的。

Boring, I know, but it’s true.

很煩！我知道，但是，那是真實的。

So, thanks again for watching and listening to me!

那麼，再次感謝觀看和聽我講！

See you next time!

下次再見！