Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[tcxch]

My English Learning Philosophy

By Christopher Xie from China
I am a Chinese who speaks and uses English as a second language. My English learning method was not totally created on my own but came from a mixture of reasonable and useful language learning philosophies I have encountered. I think my learning method could help everyone who wants to study a foreign language.

First of all, consider the acronym �ESL�. It is the abbreviation of �English as a second language�. In my opinion, this term does not precisely indicate the situation that most English learners experience. Instead, the learners should be identified in two categories: EFL and ESML. The first is easy to understand, as it has the same last three letters as �TOEFL�. Right, it means, �English as a foreign language�. The second one may be a little confusing. It is �English as a second mother language�. You probably get the idea already. The first class of learners may use a dictionary to translate the English words into their native tongue and can hardly do anything without interpreting from one language to the other. The second class of learners, ESML, boosts its vocabulary and use of the language by listening and reading purely English materials.

Is it really important to divide into different classes learners who are studying generally the same language? Well, actually not. But the current language-learning situation is that most learners attempt to learn a foreign language (especially English) through memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules. This approach is perhaps the longest and the most difficult of all. Students who do this and succeed in passing English exams are abundant, but also plenty of these students�at least in China where I am located�have a really tough time communicating with native speakers of English.

What�s the reason for this? The most important reason is that their English learning and educational structure misses the point. All the exams are focused on the CORRECTNESS of the language but fail to take into account the ACCEPTABILITY of using what is learned. This is a serious problem, especially in China.

I am a learner of English as a non-native speaker, and I have done some talking with native speakers from the US, UK and Australia. I speak with limited vocabulary and so-so grammar, but as long as I can be understood and not try the patience of the person I�m talking with, then I am not doing a bad job of communicating.

You may ask me: Why, then, is the traditional method a bad one, and how I do change my method? I will answer the first question. There are some books that have pretty good learning methods but are too long and too hard to understand. Instead, I shall cut to the chase and write in a paragraph what most good linguistics books teach. There are theories about right-brain and left-brain differences in learning English. These theories are correct but are so abstract that they are useless for the average language learner. A language is always a language and as such is different from subjects such as math and physics. Even native speakers do not use so many words as they talk with one another on a daily basis, and certainly they make mistakes, too. In studying theories, we are RESEARCHING the language, which is NEEDLESS! If we have a perfect knowledge of grammar but can hardly use it in conversation, the grammar is lifeless.

Native speakers often speak too quickly for �EFL� learners to understand. That�s because �EFL� learners need internally to translate what they hear into their native tongue, then they have to form a response in their mind and translate it into English. Otherwise they cannot form a sentence at all. But for �ESML� learners, they have an English thinking structure already in their mind, probably right beside the location in the brain used by their native language. So, a native speaker can easily communicate with them as long as s/he does not use terms that are too difficult. Even if there is some new vocabulary in the native speaker�s statements, an �ESML� student can get the meaning of the words by connecting them with the other parts of the conversation.

It is all about our way of thinking. If we can think the same way that a native speaker thinks, we can learn the language by using and absorbing useful information from materials prepared for native English speakers. We normally do not buy a vocabulary and grammar-learning book to prepare for tests in our native tongue. Similarly, we can always learn something new from daily newspapers, novels and other reading materials. The same is true with the study of a foreign language. We only need to send signals or input information of the language we are learning and let the brain do all the digesting and structuring. Otherwise, we will never react naturally and comfortably when we express ourselves in English.

So, my meaning is simple. In brief, we do not have to listen to �ESL� lectures or lessons in our native language; instead, what we have to do is just listen and read, just let it go and let all the language organized naturally. Language is meant to be useful; it�s a tool�like an axe. We generally learn little about using an axe by reading a book introducing its components. What does help is to watch people use an axe and practice using it ourselves after we get familiar enough with it.

Please remember others who are now learning the very same language as I am: absorbing--digesting--structuring--mastering. These are important things in the process of learning any language. The speed we learn is not only up to our natrual talent in learning language, but also involves learning smarter and better method.

This my English learning philosophy, as drawn from my experiences as a learner. If you have anything we can discuss about feel free to contact me at [email protected].

[Yinglish]

Thank you. Very well written and informative.

[tcxch]

just up my own topic

[Philo Kevetch]

Hello Tcxch - Why not post it in the "sticky" at the top of the page?

It's great advice and it will be around longer for all to benefit from..........

AND.....you won't have to keep bumping it up yourself! Philo:)

[tcxch]

I have put all of my understanding of english into this article and I believe it is very advanced way already but not many people seems to be interested in it.

[Philo Kevetch]

Dear Tcxch -

Please allow me to more fully express my admiration for your excellent article.

I am quite certain that many people have benifited, and will continue to benifit, from your insightful thinking.

Please do continue to furthur develop your ideas and share them with all of us here in this forum.

I thank you, and I am sure that many other people do as well.

I am looking forward to your next article!

With sincere admiration....Philo :)

[tcxch]

[fuyunlovepeng]

Tcxch,I agree with what you say,＂absorbing--digesting--structuring--mastering＂is very important for those students of learning English .I'm a student of collage and English is also important for me,I will join the CET6 after some days.