How Do You Learn a Foreign Language?

你是如何学习一门外语？

“I’ve been studying English for 10 years, but I still can’t speak a word!”

“我已经学习英语十年了，可是我还是不能说英语！”

Somehow, these words seem to have become commonplace in China – yet rarely do people understand their significance.  Just imagine if you were studying mathematics for ten years, but could not do a single algebra problem.  Obviously, the issue isn’t motivation.  The issue isn’t exposure.  The issue is method.

这句话在中国可以说见怪不怪，大家也没有意识到这个问题的严重性。想象一下如果你学习十年的数学，还是不能解决一个最简单的代数问题。显然，动力不是根本原因 – 是学习方法错了。

You can’t learn a language like you can learn science and mathematics.  If our goal was to teach you Physics, you could come to class two hours a week, we would teach you Physics and you would leave class knowing more Physics than when you went in.  This direct instructional approach (used in almost all Chinese educational institutions) works great for areas of study with set rules and fixed knowledge bases.  This is why Chinese students are among the best, if not the best, math and science students in the world.

学习一门语言，和学习科学和数学是不一样的。如果你每周来上两小时物理课，我们教授物理原理知识，在你离开课室之后，你的物理知识比之前就增加了。这种直接教导的方法(也是中国教育系统最常见的方式)只适用于教授固定条规和知识原理，这也是为什么中国学生往往是数学和科学类最顶尖之一的学生们。

But it’s not the way you learn a language.  Think about how you learned Chinese.  You were born, and then you sat around and listened for a couple years.  Then, when you were ready, you started speaking, “爸爸! 妈妈!”.  Your Spoken Chinese got better and better, until one day you went to school and you learned how to read and write.  And yet, for some reason, as step one of studying our second language we get shoved vocabulary lists and grammar books!

然而你不能用同一种方法论去学英语。 想想小时候是怎样学中文的? 出生之后，开始的一两年你听身边人们的说话，然后，你开始叫“爸爸！妈妈！”你的口语越来越好，直到上学之后，老师教会你如何读和写。反而当我们一门外语的时候，我们被推进茫茫的词汇表和语法书籍里！

So let’s go back to the fundamentals.  By far, the most important thing a student can give themselves is a language environment.  Now, you don’t need to fly to New York City or London in order to get exposure to a language environment.  You don’t need to find a foreign boyfriend or girlfriend.  You simply need to be in an open, low stress environment where you are given the opportunity to use the language that you know.

所以，回到基础点上，学习语言最重要的是让学生给自己提供一个语言环境。你不需要飞到纽约或伦敦，或找一个外教男友或女友来学习。你只需给自己制造一个开放式，低压力的语言学习环境。

Here at Jiahua, we strive to give you the language environment that you need to learn English effectively.  We have activities and English Corners for all levels of students, from elementary to advanced.  Here, you are encouraged to take a deep breath, relax, and communicate.  All we ask is that you leave your preconceived notions at the door.   

在加华，我们为你尽全力提供学习英语所需要的环境。我们为所有程度的学生提供英语角：你只需深呼吸，放松身体，用英语沟通。我们只希望你把以前上学时的那套学英语的方式放在一边。

Now, in conjunction with having a language environment to practice in, classes can be a powerful tool.  You can learn something, and then immediately apply it.  This is why some of the Chinese people with the best English are those that have gone to university abroad.  We offer a variety of classes for students of all levels and interests.

还有，和大语言环境紧紧相关的一项，上课也是十分重要的一个工具。你可以把学到的东西立刻运用出去；这也是那些留学海归的学生们往往说流利的英语。我们为各种学生提供各种水平和目的的课程。