How to Be a Successful Language Learner?

怎樣才能學(xué)好一種語言？

"Learning a language is easy. Even a child can do it!"

"學(xué)會(huì)一種語言是很容易的。甚至一個(gè)小孩子都能學(xué)會(huì)！"

Most adults who are learning a second language would disagree with this statement. For them, learning a language is a very difficult task. They need hundreds of hours of study and practice, and even this will no guarantee success for every adult language learner.

正在學(xué)習(xí)又一種語言的大多數(shù)成年人往往都不會(huì)同意這種說法。對(duì)成年人來說，學(xué)習(xí)另一種語言是很難的事。他們需要數(shù)個(gè)小時(shí)去鉆研去練習(xí)，結(jié)果即使是這樣，也不一定保證每一個(gè)語言的成年人都能學(xué)成功。

Language learning is different from other kinds of learning. Some people who are very intelligent and successful in their fields find it difficult to succeed in language learning. Conversely, some people who are successful language learners find it difficult to succeed in other fields.

學(xué)習(xí)語言跟學(xué)習(xí)其他事物是不同的。有一些人很聰明，在他們自己的專業(yè)領(lǐng)域里很有成就，可是卻發(fā)現(xiàn)很難學(xué)會(huì)第二種語言。有些人學(xué)習(xí)語言方面很成功，可是卻發(fā)現(xiàn)要在其他專業(yè)領(lǐng)域取得成就確非易事。

Language teachers often offer advice to language learners: "Read as much as you can in the new language." "Practice speaking the language every day." "Live with people who speak the language." "Don't translate - try to think in the new language." "Learn as a child would learn; play with the language."

語言教師常向?qū)W習(xí)者提出建議："盡可能地用你新學(xué)語言文字去大量閱讀"。"每天都練習(xí)說這種語言"。"與操這種語言的人生活在一起"。"不要通過翻譯--晝用新學(xué)的語言去思考"。"像小孩學(xué)話那樣；用這種新語言去做游戲"。

But what does a successful language learner do? Language learning research shows that successful language learners are similar in many ways.

那么，凡是能學(xué)會(huì)一種新語言的人都是怎么學(xué)的呢？語言學(xué)習(xí)的研究表明凡是能學(xué)會(huì)一種新語言的人很多方面都是相似的。

First of all, successful language learners are independent learners. They do not depend on the book or the teacher; they discover their own way to learn the language, Instead of waiting for the teacher to explain, they try to find the patterns and the rules for themselves. They are good guessers who look for clues and form their own conclusions. When they guess wrong, they guess again. They try to learn from their mistakes.

首先，凡是學(xué)語言學(xué)得成功的人都是獨(dú)立自學(xué)的人。他們不領(lǐng)帶書本也不依賴?yán)蠋?。他們總是要去發(fā)現(xiàn)適合自己的學(xué)語言的方法。他們不是等著讓教師來解釋，而是 自己新自去發(fā)現(xiàn)各種和各項(xiàng)規(guī)則。他們能找出線索善于猜測，善于形成自己的結(jié)論。若猜錯(cuò)了，他們就再猜。他們從錯(cuò)誤中學(xué)乖。

Successful language learning is active learning. Therefore, Successful learners do not wait for a chance to use the language; they look for such a chance. They find people who speak the language and they ask these people to correct them when they make a mistake. They will try anything to communicate. They are not afraid to repeat what they hear or to say strange things; they are willing to make mistakes and try again. When communication is difficult, they can accept information what is inexact or incomplete. It is more important for them to learn to think in the language than to know the meaning of very word.

其次，凡是會(huì)學(xué)習(xí)語言的人都是積極主動(dòng)的去學(xué)的。因此，學(xué)得成功的人都不是坐等機(jī)會(huì)來了才去使用這種語言。他們主動(dòng)找尋使用這種語言的機(jī)會(huì)。一旦他們說或 寫錯(cuò)了，他們就去請(qǐng)操這種語言的人給予糾正。他們千方百計(jì)地去溝通。他們不怕重復(fù)聽他們所聽過的事物。他們非常愿意出了錯(cuò)以后再設(shè)法改正。如果溝通有困 難，他們也能接受不大確切或不大完整的信息。對(duì)他們來說，學(xué)會(huì)用所學(xué)的語言來思考比學(xué)會(huì)每個(gè)單詞的意思更重要。

Finally, successful language learners are learners with a purpose. They want to learn the language because they are interested in the language and the people who speak it. It is necessary for them to learn the language in order to communicate with these people and to learn from them. They find it easy to practice using the language regularly because they want to learn with it.

最后，凡是會(huì)學(xué)習(xí)語言的人都有一個(gè)明確的學(xué)習(xí)目的。他們之所以要學(xué)這種語言，那是因?yàn)樗麄儗?duì)這種語言和操這種語言的人民都感興趣。對(duì)他們來說，學(xué)會(huì)這種語 言以便同這些人交際拼向他們學(xué)習(xí)是非常必要的。因?yàn)樗麄兿雽W(xué)會(huì)這種語言，所以他們認(rèn)為不斷地練習(xí)實(shí)際應(yīng)用這種語言是輕松愉快的。

What kind of language learner are you? If you are a successful language learner, you have probably been learning independently, actively, and purposefully. On the other hand, if your language learning has been less than successful, you might do well to try some of the techniques outlined above.

您是哪一類型的學(xué)習(xí)語言的人呢？如果你在學(xué)語言上是很有成就的，那也許你就正是這種能獨(dú)立自學(xué)，能積極主動(dòng)并有明確學(xué)習(xí)目的的人。反之，假如你學(xué)語言學(xué)得不大成功，那你最好試一試上述列舉的這些學(xué)習(xí)的方法或技巧。