As president of Educational Services
Exchange with China, I have observed, for over 25 years, how
students in China learn to speak English. I, myself, also learned
English as a second language and have gained much insight from my
mistakes. From those experiences, I have learned that there are many
myths about learning oral English. Those myths affect our ability to
learn the language. Today, I would like to point out seven myths for
you.
Myth #1: If I pass the English
exam, then my English is okay.
We often times think that by getting
a good grade, our English is passable. Obviously, this is not always
true.
Myth #2: Spending more time
memorizing vocabulary is the way to learn English.
This will not hold true all the time, either. Many Chinese students,
unfortunately, strongly believe in this myth.
Myth #3: Using the best and most
expensive curriculum and high-tech materials will improve my English
faster. To a limited
extent this can be true. However, we want to challenge this idea
today.
Myth #4: The advertisement says
there are short-cuts. I can learn English in very little time,
without putting in a lot of work. We want to tell you that the advertisement you hear on the radio or see
in the newspaper is false advertising.
Myth #5: I need to understand
every single word when I practice listening and speaking.
This approach to learning is not only very tiring, but also very
discouraging, because you lose every time you try.
Myth #6: Having a book-bound
approach—something I can hold on to, I can read, memorize and touch,
is the fastest way to learn the language.
We do not agree with this. We do not think this approach is
effective, nor efficient. Millions of Chinese students have each
spent ten years or more learning English. While that is a lot of
time invested, many still are not speaking or using English
effectively.
Myth #7: Practicing English with a
good speaker or with a partner who has better English than
me, will improve my English greatly.
We consider Myth #7 as the
worst misconception affecting Chinese students. In our 25 years of
setting up English programs in China we have committed all our
energies to discredit this very erroneous concept. We are glad to
say that the 120,000 graduates of ESEC English programs throughout
China can prove that Myth #7 is just that, a myth.
These seven myths have held back the
English progress of millions of Chinese students. We will come back
to these seven myths and provide more explanation later. In the next
section, I will expound upon the A-B-C’s of oral English. What does
A-B-C stand for? These are the three steps to learning oral English:
A—Attack Your Limitations
B—Build Your Confidence
C—Commit Yourself
What are the
A-B-C’s of oral English? First, attack your limitations. Second,
build your confidence. Third, commit yourself.
First,
attack your limitations. I have deliberately chosen to use the word
“attack”. This means that in order for the student to learn English
well, the student must have an aggressive attitude towards his or her
own limitations. Without this attack attitude, the student’s progress
will be limited.
Yes, Chinese students have many assets
and strengths. In the USA, most American professors will admit that
Chinese students excel. They study hard. They have high intelligence.
Most Chinese students are exceptional at memory work. As you know,
learning a language has a lot to do with memorization, therefore Chinese
students have certain advantages in the English learning process.
Then what are
the difficulties and limitations facing students in China?
Systemic Limitation
There are two
limitations that I want to call to your attention: One is a
systemic limitation.
The other is a
personal limitation.
First, the systemic problem. The problem comes from a mentality
of trying to grapple with the total system. It is also an accepted
approach that many Chinese students use to learn. To them, learning
necessitates the complete grasp of a total system. It is staggering to
recognize that to many Chinese students, English is Shakespeare and
literature, rather than simply a tool for communication. There is also a
tendency for these students to equate the English language to minute
grammatical rules and memorization of exotic TOEFL vocabulary. English
learning becomes a very involved exercise of textbooks, examinations and
many years of studying. Obviously, this systemic mentality and learning
approach, while effective in other academic disciplines, has failed many
English learners; for after many years of learning, more than a few
Chinese students still do not speak English at all. Yes, if you are an
English major, you definitely need to think about
literature and Shakespeare. But, if you are not, then English is
mainly a tool of communication for you. If you simply wish to speak
English, please realize that this systemic approach is detrimental to
your learning. It affects your learning results. Personally, I have paid
a high price to learn this important lesson.
I was born
and raised in Hong Kong. I went to a British school. My father paid a
very expensive tuition so that I could attend one of the best schools in
Hong Kong. My father knew that learning English would translate into a
good future for me. However, I can tell you that for my 12 years of
studying in that very expensive British school, I never spoke English
until I left Hong Kong and immigrated to the USA.
Why after all the years of work and money
was there still so little result? Well, because I learned English just
like most Chinese students.
To give you
an analogy, a lot of times when we, Chinese, speak English, our mind
works like a computer screen. There are all kinds of things popping up
on the screen. When I was at the British school in Hong Kong, I surely
wanted to speak English. But, unfortunately, every time I attempted to
speak, right away in my mind, on the screen, there would be a number of
questions popping up. Immediately, I was paralyzed. Just like any
Chinese student, the first question I would always ask, “Is my grammar
correct?” I would have to spend a few moments to mull over the question
in my head before actually speaking the sentence. Of course, my father
paid a lot of money for my education and I knew proper grammar. So I
would then tell my mind that my grammar was okay. But immediately, a
second question would pop up on the screen: “Is the accent proper?”
After that, “Is this British English? Is this beautiful English?” But
the last question always trumped me: “Are you confident? Are you sure?”
Then, I would have to rehearse the English sentence many times over in
my head before I could say anything! A simple sentence like, “Hello, how
are you?” would necessitate repeated processing and rehearsal. This
simple statement would be dissected, analyzed, revised, reviewed, tried
and retried many times in my head before a simple greeting would finally
burst out with confidence. Of course, by then, my friend was already
long gone. This is how most of us learn English, because our view of the
English language is too comprehensive and exhausting.
Personal Limitation
Besides the
systemic limitation, we also have a
personal limitation.
Not only are we limited by our view, we are also limited by our fear. To
become a speaker of English, we as Chinese, are confronted by another
major obstacle: The fear of losing face. We are a very face conscious
people. And this fear of losing face, has kept many mouths shut. In many
Asian societies, English is mainly a book language.
I am aware in
China that there is a movement called Crazy English. Though we don’t
teach it in our program, we can agree with its core concept: Just by
speaking English loudly, and “tearing down the face”, one can overcome
the internal barrier to learning the language. Go to the lake, go to an
open space, even if there is no one to speak English with, one can still
practice English. Speak it aloud. Speak it with confidence. Speak it
with the intention to break down your fear.
ATTACK your limitations:
Speak up!
Speak to someone!
Speak even if you have no one
to speak with!
Speak up, even if you do not
speak perfectly!
Speak your fear away!
Speak louder when your fear
of losing face attacks!
Fight back! If needs to, use
your gestures and volume to fight back!
Attack PHYSICALLY your
limitations!
This is the
first of a three-part presentation, the A-B-C’s of oral English .
Today’s topic demands that you take action. If you are to learn oral
English, you need to do something about how you view the language and
how you react to the language. Do you have the wrong view? Do you have a
fear of losing face? Please give some serious thinking to your
limitations. Make a decision to ATTACK these limitations. And ATTACK
them aggressively, please. Without such determination, your many hours
or years of learning the English language will be a gigantic waste.
I wish you good luck
in your efforts.
What are
the A-B-C’s of oral English? First, attack your limitations.
Second, build your confidence. Third, commit yourself.
In the
last section we talked about A— “Attack Your Limitations”. Today I
will continue with B—“Build Your Confidence”.
May I
invite you to give yourself a new mind-set about learning English?
In this section, I want you to think about learning English as a
rather simple process. Most of us have made English learning into a
monstrous and monumental task. Yes, this English program is
intricately designed, and teaching it effectively can be a
complicated task; yet learning it does not need to be. Today, my job
is to help you simplify the way you learn English. It is possible
that I may have oversimplified it, but if in so doing I can help you
to gain a new confidence in yourself, then I have done my job.
In the
last section, I shared with you my personal testimony of how I
learned the English language. In this section, I want to tell you
how my father learned to speak English. As I mentioned before, my
family lived in Hong Kong and later immigrated to the USA. When my
father arrived in the United States, he did not speak a single word
of English. My father never had much education. He never even
graduated from primary school. However, upon landing in San
Francisco, my father decided to start his own business and later on
became a real estate investor. My father was selling and buying
houses, apartment buildings and land.
One
particular summer, my father called me at school and asked me to
come home and spend time in his business. He hoped that someday I
might take over. I remember that we went to one particular meeting.
There he was trying to sell a piece of property to an American, a
Caucasian. Sadly or embarrassingly to say, I did not understand most
of what he said. Obviously my dad learned English by himself and he
learned it very badly.
I am
definitely not endorsing here his way of learning English. However,
I do want to let you know, even though my father spoke English very
badly, he closed that business deal and sold that property at a good
profit. Today I have taken over my father’s business, but sadly or
embarrassingly to say, I am not as good as my father in
profit-making.
The point
I am trying to make is: The English language is a rather simple
matter. It is mainly a communication tool. English as a
communication tool is not Shakespearean literature, and to some
extent, it is not even grammar. I am not advocating “bad” grammar,
because when we give so much time and effort to learning the
language, we want to learn it properly. But if grammar is going to
sabotage your confidence, you need to remind yourself: English is
for communicating. The need and the determination to communicate,
that counts a lot more in communication than grammar and style.
You learn
English for a reason. You use the language to do something. Whether
you’ll be successful in what you do, or as in my father’s case,
whether he would sell the building or not, that is a matter of
determination and confidence. In a way, when you learn a new
language, you are learning something about yourself. If you believe
in yourself, you will overcome even the shortcomings of your
language ability. Others will understand the heart meaning of your
language despite your inadequacies. When your conviction and
confidence show (while your language may be lacking), others will
believe in you. In short, if you want to be successful in your life
or in your language learning, build confidence in
yourself.
With that
as an introduction, I want to tell you that English learning can be
simplified into three phases. And you can do something in each phase
to build your confidence. The three phases are:
1. the speaking phase,
2. the listening phase, and
3. the thinking phase.
1. The Speaking
Phase
I always
recommend that people start their learning process with speaking.
Why? Because, that is something you can control. In my illustration
earlier, you can see that was exactly what my father did. My father
probably did not understand most of what the other person was
saying, but that did not stop him from speaking English. And in
business negotiation, as long as he kept talking and the other party
was willing to listen, he had an advantage. In the end, my father
closed the deal.
If
English seems to be a very difficult language to you, don’t worry.
You have a solution. You have a secret weapon. You can choose
to speak. You can choose not to let the other person speak
too much. If you do most of the talking, at least you know what is
going on. Yes, the other person may not understand what you are
saying, but that is his problem, not yours, at least not yet. Of
course, you don’t need to be rude. You can apologize and ask for
understanding. You can even request, “Would you mind letting me
practice?”
The more
you speak out and repeat, the more you will be able to express
yourself clearly. The key is to find every chance to express
yourself. Find every opportunity to repeat and practice what you
have learned. According to research, if you repeat any word or any
sentence 60 times, that word or sentence will become your
native tongue. I remember several years ago, I was traveling in the
western part of China. As I was shopping in the open-air market, I
was somewhat taken aback by Chinese peddlers hollering in English
“Hello, hello! Good price! Look!” And they belted out the thank
you’s with such enthusiasm, confidence and enjoyment.
The
simplest way to learn English is simply to repeat. Find 60 occasions
to use that word or sentence. If you repeat it enough, it will
become your first language.
2. The Listening
Phase
The
second phase is listening. Of course, when you listen you don’t have
the same control as in the SPEAKING phase, for you no longer control
the conversation. Just as there are many dialects in the Chinese
language, there are many different ways of speaking English and many
kinds of speakers with different styles and personalities.
Therefore, the chance for you to understand everyone and everything
will be very slim. The way to practice listening is by listening a
lot. Just like in the speaking phase. But what is the secret of
effective listening? The secret is: Do not try to understand
every single word.
One of
the biggest myths in learning oral English is the impossible
challenge of trying to understand every word. We often think that we
need to understand fully in order to claim that we understand
English. This is not true. First of all, there are approximately
550,000 words in the English language, but most Americans do not
have a vocabulary of half a million words. No way! How then do
Americans communicate? Americans basically use about 2,000 words.
This inventory of 2,000 words covers about 95% of communication
amongst American people. Now, please recognize this: Chinese
students participating in this English course usually have a
vocabulary of more than 2,000 words! I hope this realization builds
up your confidence level, for you already have the basics of what it
takes. What you need in addition is the courage and determination to
use English and to be immersed in an English environment. Please
tell yourself: You can do it.
3. The Thinking
Phase
The third
phase is the thinking phase. Besides speaking and listening, you
also need to practice thinking in English. Actually, thinking in
English is not too difficult either. Why? Because as long as you
occupy yourself and surround yourself with the English language,
then you are bound to end up thinking in English. What you need to
do is to set up the environment. This is something you have some
control over. Our formula is simply this: Speak English. Speak more.
Speak to anyone. Speak even if there is no one around. Listen as
much as you can, even if it is a tape. Practice your English with
someone who has good English. Practice English with someone even if
he or she doesn’t speak much English. The best way for you to
practice English is to teach someone whose English is not good.
Often times Chinese students believe that they must find a good
English speaker in order to practice. Nonsense! The best way to
improve your English is to find someone whose English is inferior
and you teach that person. Teach that person what you have learned.
What you need is to repeat. Remember? You have a quota of 60 times.
It doesn’t matter with whom. The challenge is to find someone who is
willing. When you find someone whose English is not as good as
yours, that person may even thank you for your help. When you speak,
when you listen, when you use the tape recorder, when you turn on
the English television program, when you use the video, when you go
to class, when you use the computer language lab, you are
surrounding yourself with many opportunities to think in English.
An
important side-note: You probably recognize that we have built into
our curriculum a Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) program.
This is a program you can access conveniently 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. Therefore, if you are enrolled in this program and
assigned a time slot, I challenge you to make good use of this
language opportunity. Use the “CALL” program every chance you
have.
One of
the most exciting language breakthroughs is when the student
announces to the class that he or she finally dreamed in English the
night before. This is an indicator that the English speaker is no
longer using the English language mechanically, but intuitively and
instinctively. But that will never happen unless you expose and
surround yourself sufficiently with an English environment. Any time
you have a free moment during the day, or between classes, you can
turn on the tape player. Even if you are in the bathroom, you can
listen or you can read. The key is to develop a habit of surrounding
yourself with the English language.
In
summary, learning oral English can be a simple matter, for the
matter is simply about building confidence. Tell yourself that you
can do it. And believe in yourself that you can do it. Then
go do it.
First, speak often. Repeat at
least 60 times. Second, listen much. There is no need to
understand every word. Third, think in English. This will
happen if you expose yourself sufficiently to an English
environment. You may end up even dreaming in English.
The three phases of oral English
correspond to the three major barriers to learning: (1) the
psychological barrier, (2) the sound barrier, and
(3) the mechanical barrier. By speaking often,
the first barrier, the fear barrier is broken. By listening a
lot, you will break down the second barrier. The familiarity of the
sound will break down the concern for complete understanding, the
attempt to understand every word. By thinking naturally in
English, you will break down the final barrier, the mechanical
barrier. Learning English is never again a mechanical exercise of
grammar and rules, thus English becomes a tool for communication.
Now, we have learned about
BUILDING CONFIDENCE. This is not just a lesson in language
learning. It is also a lesson for success and for life. Therefore, I
encourage you to dream. I challenge you to believe in yourself, and
I challenge you to believe in your future. I wish you success as you
take action in the pursuit of your goals, whether for your life or
for your language learning.
This is
the final topic on the A-B-C’s of oral English.
A—Attack
Your Limitations.
B—Build
Your Confidence.
C—Commit
Yourself.
To
what do you commit yourself? Commit yourself to five simple yet
effective practices in oral English.
In the
previous sections I wrote about ATTACKING your limitations,
both the systemic and personal limitations that can
really hinder your progress. I also wrote about BUILDING your
confidence. I gave very specific suggestions on how to overcome the
barriers and gain confidence as you speak often, listen
more, and think naturally in English.
Today I
want to talk about commitment, COMMITTING yourself to five
very simple practices that can revolutionize your way of learning
oral English. Before I do that, let me tell you one more story. I
have told you the story of how I learned to speak English. I have
also told you the story of how my father used his English. Now, as
the final story, let me tell you how my son, Nathan, picked up the
English language.
I grew up
in Hong Kong and my wife came from Taiwan. When Nathan was born in
Los Angeles, both my wife and I believed that our child should grow
up speaking Chinese. Therefore, before Nathan attended school, he
only spoke Chinese. We never used any English at home. So when
Nathan attended his first day of school, he had a real problem. He
didn’t speak a single word of English. Fortunately Nathan was too
young to realize that he did not speak English. I remember taking
him to school on that very first day. As a father, I was very
worried. I was concerned because I knew that he didn’t speak a
single word of English. So I dropped him off and stood far away to
keep an eye. I spent half a day there observing. To my surprise and
my relief, Nathan did not have any difficulty or trouble at all.
Very
quickly, Nathan realized that the teacher was the one in charge, so
he went straight up to the teacher, clinging and hanging on to her
dress as he spoke to her. And he spoke in Chinese! He gave the
teacher a non-stop talk, about something. The teacher happened to be
very experienced and so she simply listened. After a few minutes of
talking, Nathan felt satisfied and went off to play. He went off to
play with some new friends. There with his new friends he did it
again: talking to them in Chinese. He invited them to play in the
sand pit. These friends, apparently understood what he was saying.
They shared the sand buckets and spades. They built something
interesting in the sand pit and had a wonderful morning. In less
than 2 or 3 weeks, my son was speaking English, without even knowing
it. Soon, he was fully integrated into the classroom. My problem is
no longer getting him to speak English, he is grown-up now. My
challenge today is getting him to speak Chinese.
From the
childhood story above, I have gained several insights: First,
communication is more than just words. Second, the easiest way to
learn a new language is via communication. Third, the fastest way to
learn is to learn like a child.
Learning
oral English can actually be very simple. The complication is you.
You as the adult learner, tend to make the learning very
complicated. You want something sophisticated, something worthy of
an adult. Let me assure you, if you are willing to learn English
like a child, you will learn much faster. You can actually learn
oral English in 2 to 3 weeks. Unfortunately, we do not accomplish
this goal because we are unwilling to become child-like. As an adult
we have too many concerns. We have too many barriers. We have too
many limitations. Therefore, your first task as an English learner
is that you must attack your limitations. Shatter any mental
chains that bind you and bog you down. Your second task is: build
your confidence to match that of a child, for a child knows not
“the height of the sky nor the depth of the earth”. Tell yourself
that you can do it. Hammer into your head that this is not a
difficult task. Learning oral English is as simple as being in
kindergarten. Though now you are no longer in kindergarten and you
are learning English as an adult, let me assure you, it can still be
a simple matter. What you need to have now is commitment: The
ability to stick with it though you may consider it too simple, the
ability to stick with it when you feel tired or discouraged, and the
ability to stick with it even when you do not like it.
Five Simple
Practices
There are
five simple practices that you need to commit yourself to. But first
let us imagine a briefcase, a briefcase for learning English. These
are the five items you should carry in your briefcase.
1.
A Notebook: Keep it in your briefcase or shirt pocket. Carry
it everywhere you go. Anytime you come across a new word, phrase, or
sentence you don’t know, write it down. Of course, you can learn
English from a dictionary, but that is not as fast as whipping out
your pocket notebook. (It should be your goal that this notebook is
to become your dictionary.) Everyday as you go about your routine,
collect many words and phrases by jotting them down in your little
notebook. Aim to fill one notebook per week. This is the easy way to
learn English. When you don’t have much to do, when you are on a
bus, when you have a moment of quiet, and definitely, when you come
to the end of the day, take out your notebook and review what you
have jotted down. In so doing, you attempt to surround yourself with
the English language.
2.
Repetition: In my briefcase I always carry a pocket watch. Let
this watch be a symbol of repetition. The hands of the watch move in
endless circles. A circle signifies 60 seconds or 60 minutes. This
is an appropriate reminder of what I said before: Repeat the phrase
60 times and it becomes your native tongue. Find and utilize every
opportunity to apply an English word or sentence. Find a language
partner who is willing to let you repeat and is willing to meet with
you daily. If not, talk to a tree, or shout out to a lake. Actually,
if you can turn the learning process into a game, just like a child
would do, you may not even need to repeat 60 times for it to become
a first language. Any means to use the language repeatedly and
creatively is encouraged.
3. An
English Magazine: Carry it in your briefcase. When you are tired
of listening and speaking, do some reading. Keep the magazine handy.
The purpose is to surround yourself in an English environment. When
you have done too much speaking and listening, and you have no
energy left to think actively about English anymore, continue to
take in the language, even though passively. Simply read, and the
thinking is done for you.
4. The
Computer: Go to the computer lab. Be faithful in your
attendance. You need to have a reality check, a way to verify that
your pronunciation is proper. Besides, you need many opportunities
to speak and listen to native English even if you do not live in Los
Angeles or in New York City. The computer lab is the cheapest way
for you to surround yourself with a genuine English environment
without flying to America.
5. The
Journal: In the briefcase there is a calendar book where you
record the activities of the day. Each day, before it ends, write a
short journal piece. Of course, write in English. Write out what you
have done during the day. If you run out of ideas for writing, take
out your pocket notebook, transfer the words you have recorded for
the day and tell how and what you have learned.
These are
the five simple tools that you carry around in your
briefcase. Why so simple? So that no one says: “I cannot do it”.
Please tell yourself: “I can”. There is nothing mysterious or
complicated about learning oral English. Use these five items and
you will see progress.
Why do
such simple steps work so effectively? Because you are now your own
teacher. You are no longer limited by the availability of your
classroom teacher. No one can slow you down anymore. You respond
24/7 to your environment. Now you can learn fast. Obviously, I have
nothing against the classroom teacher, the classroom textbook, or
the classroom itself. Just don’t limit your English learning to
those occasions. You need much more to create that total English
environment. Believe in yourself. You are your own best teacher, for
you know how you learn best.
Three Kinds of
Power that You Can Use
I grew up
in a religious environment. I have been taught that human beings are
gifted with three kinds of power. But if you are a non-religious
person, you can still easily agree with me that these are the three
kinds of power within each of us:
1. the power of change,
2. the power of positive
thinking, and
3. the power of
sacrifice.
Now we
have covered the A-B-C’s of oral English. The A-B-C’s ideas are
simple, but they do touch on three profound issues:
1. Attack
your limitations: Learn
humility. Recognize your weaknesses. You can change for the better
and when you do change, you change the world around you. There is
amazing power in the dynamics of change.
2. Build
your confidence: You can
do it. The odds may be great, but believe in your potential.
Exercise the power of positive thinking. You will make a
difference.
3. Commit
yourself: When you believe in something, you give of yourself. You give your
best, and even more. That is why you need to make commitment.
Release the good and the gifts within you. Learn to sacrifice.
Do things that you may not like or enjoy. Do things that demand more
of you. Do things for the long-term gain. Do things for the good of
other people. You will be surprised how you can change yourself and
the world.
This is
the final section about the A-B-C’s of oral English. In summing up,
will you please remember: Commitment makes the difference
between success and defeat. Commitment is the voice within
urging you, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again”. Only
in the dictionary does “Success” come before “Work”. In life, it
takes work, often-times hard work, to bring about success.
Therefore, make the commitment and stay at it, particularly
when the assignment seems so plain, unimportant, or boring. Thomas
Edison, the famous inventor, once said, “Success is 1% inspiration
and 99% perspiration.”
Yes,
success involves making a commitment to give what it takes.
Will you
make that decision now?
In my opening remarks, I presented seven myths which greatly affect the
learning proficiency particularly of Chinese students. In my closing
remarks, I would like to remind you of those myths and call your
attention particularly to Myth #7. It says that we as Asian learners of
oral English have a psychological habit to practice English only with
those whose English is better. This, from my experience, is the biggest
problem confronting Chinese learners. If you can overcome this problem,
more than half of your learning difficulties will evaporate into thin
air. But many Chinese learners disagree with me on this issue. They
think that if you don’t practice with a native speaker or with someone
who has better English, you will learn bad English. Or some go to the
extreme and ask, “Why would you even need teachers after all!” Allow me
to provide an explanation to the above assertion.
It is my opinion that Chinese
depend too much on the teacher, much to the detriment of their oral
English. In over-relying on the teacher for our English, we run into a
couple of problems, the biggest of which is teacher availability. Often
the teacher is only available to the students in the classroom. In
addition there is a usually high student-teacher ratio, with as many as
40 students to one teacher in a Chinese classroom. Only the most
aggressive students get some of the teacher’s precious time or attention
for individual practice.
Another
problem is the seeking out of a better English speaker. That is not easy
to find! But if you are lucky enough to find one, you still have a
psychological problem because your English is not good enough in
comparison. That comparison will undermine your confidence. And you will
become tense. This is opposite to the ideal setting that you need for
learning English. To learn more easily, a non-threatening, comfortable
and somewhat enjoyable environment works the best.
Let me
expound further on this: “What is the ideal environment for learning
English”? Most Chinese students are accustomed to a teacher-centered
approach towards learning. As the name implies, the teacher is the
center of the classroom. The classroom environment is established and
formal. The teacher does most of the speaking and delivers a lot of
information. The learners spend a lot of time digesting the teacher’s
notes and studying the textbooks. But as I previously explained, this is
not the ideal approach towards oral English.
Instead, the best way to learn oral
English is the student-centered approach. This approach puts the
student at the center of the classroom where the learner takes full
initiative and full responsibility for the learning process. In the
learning of oral English, this means that the student does most of the
speaking.
Chinese
students traditionally learn English using mostly the left-brain. We
Asians tend to approach the language logically and mechanically, in
search for content and information, and in need of an authoritative
figure and definitive answers. Unfortunately, this left-brain approach
is not the best way for learning oral English. As my son’s experience
illustrates, we can make much faster progress if we use more of our
right brain and learn English like a child. The right-brain learning
style is the more relaxed, creative and profitable way of learning
English. It is an approach that does not focus on searching for
someone who is “better”. Instead, the focus is on
YOU. You
demonstrate your commitment by taking the initiative and in assuming the
responsibility for learning. You find enjoyment in the learning process
rather than in the content alone. (I am so pleased that in China the
“Second Classroom” concept that ESEC has promoted since the early 80’s
is now taking root and becoming popular.) In summary, if you wish to
learn English well, place yourself in the center of the learning
responsibility.
Have you already noticed our logo: “English”
with a big “i”
in the middle? That means:
I
am responsible for my learning and the
results.
I
have to take a lot more
initiative.
I
need to think harder and get more
involved, instead of sitting back and taking notes.
I
must speak to many people. Many more.
I
will overcome my fears and limitations.
I
have confidence in myself.
I
can do it.
And
I commit myself.
I
will carry in my pocket a notebook (and a
magazine in my briefcase).
I
will find every opportunity to practice
and to repeat.
I
will go to the language lab.
I
will write my journal daily.
I
will do the above activities even if the
teacher does not require them of me.
I
will learn even if I won’t get a grade
for it!
Then what is the
use of the teacher?
We have never said that the teacher is
unimportant: they just have a different function. As the students
grapple with the English language, the teacher plays a most important
role: He or she is a motivator, an encourager, a guide, a facilitator
and, at times, a disciplinarian. The teacher’s responsibility is to hold
the students responsible for their learning. The teacher should also
challenge the students to overcome their limitations. And most
significantly, the teacher helps build the confidence of the students.
Students: Do not let anyone undermine and
destroy your confidence! If you find someone who has better English and
is willing to build you up, you are fortunate and you will learn fast.
But if that person limits you, or undermines your confidence, please
remember: In the student-centered approach, you are the
key to the learning process. You may not even need the teacher after
all!
The Four Laws
of Oral English
In the student-centered approach, there
are four laws that govern your relationship with English. These laws are
simple ideas. But they are the result of 25 years of working with
English programs in China. If you work with these laws, as a Chinese
proverb says, you “double the result with only half the effort”. But if
you work against these laws, you have “half the result with double the
work”.
Law #1: Speak to each other!
Chances are that you
are participating in this English training through a class. Make a
commitment now with your classmates that during a designated time period
every day you will speak English
only. Find at
least 6 people and make this commitment with one another. Yes, some
people may not want to speak to you, and they will affect you negatively
and ruin your learning opportunity. Please don’t let them drag you down.
Instead, find someone who has the same desire as you. Find a winner,
someone who wants to succeed! Don’t let the losers and negative people,
those who think they have better English, distract you or draw you away
from your goal and commitment. Once you have found the 6 winners, sign a
Commitment Card
with each other to carry out the promise.
It is important that
you make a commitment to one another, thereby creating an obligation
that you aim to stay within. You need that accountability to stay
afloat, for in the beginning weeks of this learning process, you may
become discouraged. Or you will be very frustrated. You may even be mad,
especially at yourself. Why? Because in the beginning, your English may
not be good enough for expressing yourself clearly. You may be pouring
your heart or even tearing your hair out, but no one seems to fully
understand you. You will be tempted to use Chinese to explain. But don’t
give in and don’t give up! Keep expressing yourself. Keep the pressure
cooking. Let it boil over. All of a sudden, “Whammo”! An explosion and
an amazing breakthrough. This is not something that can
happen in a normal classroom process of learning English. This happens
only when there is enough pressure building from within oneself. So hold
one another accountable and keep the pressure on!
Law #2: Speak to everyone. (Don’t
waste time looking for a better English speaker.)
Stop for a moment and
think about this logically: If everyone looks for a better English
speaker, what will be the outcome?
Well, it means that
no one will speak to you. If all Chinese learners assume that their
English will be ruined if they talk to another person with less ability,
then the person you are looking for does not want to talk to you.
China as a whole is
now stuck because of this teacher-centered mentality. Everyone is
looking for someone better. For that reason, the Chinese government and
schools are hiring many foreign teachers. Unfortunately, speaking as an
organization that is considered one of the major teacher-sending
agencies to China, the bad news is: “There aren’t enough foreign
teachers!”
However, if
everyone changes their mentality from a teacher-centered to a
student-centered approach, we can actually fix this problem. This leads
to Law #3.
Law #3: Teach someone.
If you are willing to
speak with someone whose English is not as good as yours, that means you
will have many opportunities to practice your English. There are many
benefits if you are willing. First, help someone and you end up
helping yourself. Remember that you need to fill a quota of 60 times
in order for a new word or phrase to stay in your head. Volunteer
yourself to help a lower class. Avail yourself to those who need
assistance. Second, if you teach someone, I can assure you that you
will learn much faster. If you do the teaching, the experience will
impress yourself to the extent that you may speed up the learning
process. Third, the teaching experience not only helps you to remember
easier, learn faster, it also builds up your confidence. This is
absolutely crucial to your language success.
If every English
student in China is willing to speak to someone with less English
ability, guess what will happen?
Everyone will be
practicing with someone who has better English.
Law #4: Use the tapes often.
The student-centered approach is very
good for learning oral English, but there is a problem: What about
the mistakes you make and the corrections you need?
If you happen to be working with a
teacher, ask the teacher to help with the corrections. Use the limited
availability of the teacher for improvement purpose rather than for
teaching content, something which you can easily master by yourself.
Or if you have a language lab with voice
recognition software, use that! Technology does help.
But if you don’t have a teacher, nor is
the technology available to you, you still have a very workable and
effective solution. Listen to a tape repeatedly, or even try to memorize
a speech. Tape record yourself and listen to the difference. If you do
this over and over again, you will recognize your errors and hopefully
be able to correct them on your own. Also, ask others, including native
English speakers, to listen to your recording. If you are willing to ask
for advice, most people will be generous. They will even respect you for
that.
“English”
with a big “i”
“English”
with a big “i”
is not rocket science. The concept is designed to dovetail with
Chinese learning psychology. But the idea is not complicated. It can be
as simple as A-B-C. “English”
with a Big “i”
changes your attitude towards oral English. This formula can be
presented as follows:
“English”
with a big “i”
= 3 steps + 4 laws + 5 practices
The Three Steps are:
Step #1: Attack Your Limitations.
Step #2: Build Your
Confidence.
Step #3:
Commit Yourself.
The Four Laws are:
Law #1:
Speak to each other!
Law #2:
Speak to everyone.
(Don’t waste time looking for a better English speaker.)
Law #3:
Teach someone.
Law #4:
Use the tapes often.
The Five Practices
are:
#1:
A Notebook
#2:
Repetition
#3:
A Magazine
#4:
The Computer
#5:
The Journal
The above formulation
and the entire presentation are to convince you that you can do it.
If you follow these very simple ideas, you will have amazing results.
They are not at all difficult to follow, but you must do it. The entire
learning process can be controlled in your hands. You are not at the
mercy of a better English speaker or teacher. Put these ideas into
practice, and you will be successful in achieving your learning
goals.
Many years
ago I was given a very beautiful saying about success. It has
stayed with me through the years. I would like to share this as a
parting thought with you.
“Success can be attained if:
You
care more than others think is wise.
You
risk more than others think is safe.
You
dream more than others think is practical.
You
expect more than others think is possible.”
Blessings!
Here is to your future
success!
Have a wonderful time
learning English!
Commitment Card
I
____________________________________
commit myself to speak English
everyday from ____________ AM/PM to ___________ AM/PM
with the following people:
1.
______________________
2.
______________________
3.
______________________
4.
______________________
5.
______________________
6.
______________________
7.
______________________
8.
______________________
9.
______________________
10.
______________________
11.
______________________
12.
______________________ |
“English”
with a big “i”
The
Three Steps:
Step #1:
Attack your limitations.
Step #2: Build your confidence.
Step #3: Commit yourself.
The
Four Laws:
Law #1: Speak to each other!
Law
#2:
Speak to everyone. (Don’t waste time
looking for a better English speaker.)
Law
#3: Teach someone.
Law
#4: Use the tapes often.
The
Five Practices are:
#1:
A Notebook
#2:
Repetition
#3:
A Magazine
#4:
The Computer
#5:
The Journal
|
|
Educational
Services Exchange with China, Inc.
