香港新浪網MySinaBlog 精選話題工具
« 上一篇 | 下一篇 »
黃島主 | 16th Oct 2009, 10:15 PM | 島主生活日記 | (1970 Reads)

正在忙著執拾細軟,準備把物件搬到新居。

搬運公司職員來我家,視察報價過後,給了我二十個紙皮箱。在執拾的過程中,我發現有百份之九十的物件,原來都是書籍。原來我主要的物件,還是書。

在執拾中,發現了兩本中學時的英文工具書。牛津出版的,一本是《A Practical English Grammar》,另一本是《Practical English Usage》。

要學好英文,這兩本一定不可少。

由細到大,常常聽到要學好英文,是要「浸」出來。怎樣「浸」,說話者總是說不下去。事實上,要「浸」,不是易事。怎樣去「浸」?怎樣「開始」浸?

有人說,多聽多看英文台,多讀英文書和報紙,多講,就是「浸」。但您記得,在小時候,很多時一看英文台,一讀英文報紙,大多是一頭霧水。

要打好底子,只是硬去讀英文和聽英文,是不夠的。您一定要先知道人家的文法。您知道文法怎樣去用後,再去浸淫於英文媒介中,互相補助,英文程度才會慢慢,逐步被提升。

當然,若您是就讀名女校,名男校,英文程度已經在各年級上,被老師校方們潛移默化。練功五年後會考,一出校門,才知道外面的程度是那麼的遜,自己是如何的超班。

若不是在名校,怎辦?自己學校的英文老師又廢,怎辦?您又嫌文章上述兩本英文工具書太難,太深澀,怎辦?

我記得有一本好像叫《Essential English in Use》,劍橋出版社出的。那本,是我認為學英文文法中,最好的雞精書。

學英文,還有一個秘訣。就是不斷去看一些更高深的英文文章。例如當您可以高速看得懂《South China Morning Post》時,您就要練看《Time》。

我記得我人生上英文再上一個層次時,是互聯網的開始。那時一上網,中文網站實在不多,「www」大多的都是英文的。就是在互聯網上通訊,當時都是大量用英語來寫電郵和icq。當時,自己就活像活在外國一樣。

相反,現在的年青人,上網多是打中文。而打中文也不打緊,還要打一大堆港式俗語和潮語,兼加一大推火星文。這其實,是浪費了使用英語的好機會。

要記著,學好英文,不是只付錢給補習天王,就以為自己真是學好了英文。


[1]

最容易的是搵個外國人女友囉! 哈哈!


[引用] | 作者 C | 16th Oct 2009 11:52 PM | [舉報垃圾留言]


呢個theory係菜瀾都話正既。要學好某國語言,最好就是媾那個國家既女仔。

我....我要學好日語!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[引用版主回覆] | 作者 黃島主 | 17th Oct 2009 12:04 AM

[2]

其實好多學生都唔鍾意學英文語法,覺得悶... ...

你所講的GRAMMA書我全部都有,但我從未詳細睇過,反而我不斷反覆睇一本由LONGMAN出的,封面有一隻帆船(突然想唔起書名),係學校教科書,一有疑問就CHECK... ...其實大部分人都係重覆犯錯,無論小學生、中學生、大學生都係犯0個D語法錯誤

其實網上英語都係一個好好的學習材料,學到好多最新英文用語,唔怪得你英文可以更上一層... ...

名校學生同普通學校叻學生的高下,0係"會話"係好明顯... ... (我係普通學校的普通學生)


[引用] | 作者 AC | 17th Oct 2009 12:11 AM | [舉報垃圾留言]

[3]

我就是你所講那些「浸」出來的人

曾經我自命英文很好
跟鬼佬social 完全無難度
睇西劇不用字幕,睇小說不太需要字典

直至要寫官式書信
問題就來了
那些in, on, at from
present continuous tense 之類的,我只能靠經驗或感覺
心中是沒有譜的,有時別人問我應該用那個字,我只能靠感覺判別,雖然都有些許準繩,但辦公事不能靠感覺吧?

島主講的三本雞精書,打算買回來,聖誕假惡補一下,書到用時方恨少


[引用] | 作者 黑人 | 17th Oct 2009 12:53 AM | [舉報垃圾留言]


您的情況和我很多在外國留學的朋友一樣。他們很會講,很會溝通英語。但要他們用正統文法寫書信,也有一定難度。這證明,無論是講,或寫,都是要鍛鍊的。

[引用版主回覆] | 作者 黃島主 | 17th Oct 2009 1:54 AM

[4]

在香港名校英文中學讀, 英文水平一般都比普通學校高, 這是必然的事, 因為這類名校很花錢請洋人作老師來提高學生英文水平o 不過, 出身名校, 出到外國, 英文水平卻可能變成三四流, 因為在香港學英文的環境跟在外國學英文是完全兩回事, 我覺得所謂學好英文要浸, 即是把英文生活化, 在外國, 有心操好英文, 隨時隨地都可以, 身邊到處都是外國人, 生活上有很多事物都要靠懂英文才行, 英文水平不自然提升才怪, 這情況跟香港很不同, 是為學英文而學英文, 在學校我說英文, 在家及在朋友相聚中, 我又打回原形說中文, 所以, 英語水平進步比較慢o


[引用] | 作者 | 17th Oct 2009 1:37 AM | [舉報垃圾留言]

[5]

Hi 黃島主,

I disagree with some of your points.

要打好底子,只是硬去讀英文和聽英文,是不夠的。您一定要先知道人家的文法。您知道文法怎樣去用後,再去浸淫於英文媒介中,互相補助,英文程度才會慢慢,逐步被提升。

I don't think this is true if you use English primarily for verbal communication. Many Hong Kong and even Asia student are relatively strong in their grammar and vocabulary because of the education system they have. They learn how to 'memorize' the rules and they're good at passing the tests. But when they're put in a situation where they have to communicate with another English speaking person often times they struggle. They may find that all those grammar and vocabs they learned before don't help their listening and speaking abilities very much.

I believe the key to English 'communication' skill development is very simple -- don't be afraid of making mistakes and keep practicing. Watch English TV programs. Listen to English music. Talk to foreigners in English whenever you can. This may sound very simple but usually people ignore the basic simple stuffs. Do many people have the perseverance and patience to blend English learning in their daily life? No doubt it's not easy to do, but of course it's hard or else everybody can do it.

學英文,還有一個秘訣。就是不斷去看一些更高深的英文文章。例如當您可以高速看得懂《South China Morning Post》時,您就要練看《Time》.

I think for average people, the key is to begin with something that can generate their interests first. Sometimes could still be too boring to many of them. Maybe they can start with or . It's much easier for people to learn if they find the subject matter interesting.

要記著,學好英文,不是只付錢給補習天王,就以為自己真是學好了英文。

On this one, I agree with you 1000% though. 補習天王 may be able to help people pass the tests (I know that's all matters in HK's education system) but it maynot help you ace your job interview or serve your English speaking customers. Textbook English and Everyday Business English are two totally different species.


[引用] | 作者 Jeff | 17th Oct 2009 2:25 AM | [舉報垃圾留言]


正所謂條條大路通羅馬,同檯食飯,各自修行,達者為先。

[引用版主回覆] | 作者 黃島主 | 17th Oct 2009 9:52 AM

[6] Re: Jeff

For some reasons some of my words were truncated probably due to a special HTML character I used in my original post. I meant to say this:

----------------
I think for average people, the key is to begin with something that can generate their interests first. Sometimes 'Time' could still be too boring to many of them. Maybe they can start with 'National Geographics' or 'Reader's Digest'. It's much easier for people to learn if they find the subject matter interesting.
-----------


[引用] | 作者 Jeff | 17th Oct 2009 2:40 AM | [舉報垃圾留言]


Further, i dun see u have any different views on my points. what u said to be explored more in front of the English media, and be strong to communicate, dare to make mistakes, are totally agreeable to me.

nevertheless, i admit that my points on grammar are somethings for exam purpose for the students.

[引用版主回覆] | 作者 黃島主 | 17th Oct 2009 9:59 AM

[7] Re: Jeff
Jeff :
Hi 黃島主,
I disagree with some of your points.
要打好底子,只是硬去讀英文和聽英文,是不夠的。您一定要先知道人家的文法。您知道文法怎樣去用後,再去浸淫於英文媒介中,互相補助,英文程度才會慢慢,逐步被提升。
I don't think this is true if you use English primarily for verbal commun...

正所謂條條大路通羅馬,同檯食飯,各自修行,達者為先。

黃島主
[引用] | 作者 黃島主 | 17th Oct 2009 9:53 AM | [舉報垃圾留言]

[8]

同意...學語文,真的沒有一步登天的事。
追女仔,可能也是一樣。


[引用] | 作者 sugarcatcat | 17th Oct 2009 10:50 AM | [舉報垃圾留言]

[9]

基礎東西, 其實早在中一時已經學完. 拿出中一的教科書, 想不到原來是那麽到位, 要學的都在裏面, 甚至有一半還未學! 替妹妹買電腦時, 很想買台英文版的, 但想想, 那只會打擊她用電腦的意願, 便買中文版了. 要學好一種語言, 環境還是最重要, 有選擇, 不一定是好事:)


[引用] | 作者 嚴明 | 17th Oct 2009 5:23 PM | [舉報垃圾留言]

[10]

島主講個兩本我都睇過;我都借機分享一下我學英文的心得, 雖然我的英文未算很好,但總算比以進步了。

我同好多非名校出身的學生差不多, 原本英文都極差對英文近乎恐懼;記得CU讀MPhil時寫paper時比老細拍枱大閙。 我睇完好多本grammar書都唔係好明更唔識用。

後來發現, 原來每個人吸收知識的方法都不同, 有些人可以先背頌記憶條文而不須要明白背後的原因;以上兩本好似字典一樣的Oxford grammar書都會非常好用。 但係我的學習方法卻是每事一定要好似數學定理咁明白背後道理先識用, 如果一開始就看上面兩書本就會好痛苦。

直到係樓上書店揾到一本很好很間單又合附我的學習方法的台灣英文文法書:"旋元佑文法-英文魔法師之文法俱樂部" (我唔係賣廣告, 因為出版社已結業而成為絕版,我而家係台北都搵唔倒)

除了grammar, 仲有英文單字, 如果無認識足夠的英文生字, 就好似就算識得微積分但係唔識123,都係無用。 所以到我要去外國讀書,要真真正正操英文考TOEFL; 咁我就每日讀一本台灣出的單字書, 叫“單挑1000 (Times 1000 keywords)” 。 先唔好逼自己識用D字, 認得同知點解就可以啦, 同時間要看"Times" , 你會發現Times 完來都幾易睇 (911前的,仲幾好睇), 幾個月後就會發現英文閱讀能力進步了很多; 有了基礎單字同信心之後, 聽寫再進一步就唔太難。

仲有一本好經典(有百年歷史, 又好細本,半天可以看完)的英文書是 William Strunk 的 "The Elements of Style" (網上原版 http://www.bartleby.com/141/)


[引用] | 作者 powermac | 17th Oct 2009 9:01 PM | [舉報垃圾留言]

[11]

I agree with Jeff. The most commonly use tense if SIMPLE PRESENT, then SIMPLE PAST. The purpose of language is for communications. Dont mind the grammar in the first step. My English teacher even taught us not to mind the vocab.


[引用] | 作者 Candy | 17th Oct 2009 9:28 PM | [舉報垃圾留言]

[12] Re: 黃島主
黃島主 :

Further, i dun see u have any different views on my points. what u said to be explored more in front of the English media, and be strong to communicate, dare to make mistakes, are totally agreeabl...


Hi 黃島主,

I was typing my original reply while having lunch in the office and talking to other people, so I was a bit distracted and less organized when composing my reply and ended up missing some points when I said I disagreed with you.

I work in the adult English e-learning industry and have a little bit of insights on different people's learning styles and what's considered the better learning model for today's working professional.

Back to the grammar point. I guess for someone in your profession, you have no choice but need to perfect all facets of your English skills, especially your writing and reading skills. These 2 skills come hand-in-hand, and you indeed new excellent command of grammar and a deep library of vocabs to do them well.

But for 'average' people, the bar set for their English skills is not as high as yours. Of course the more senior you're in any fields, the requirements for better English is higher. Someone working in a Tsim Sha Tsui McDonalds' only need to speak very basic English -- even broken English can do it, but those people working at the reception counter of the Pennisula Hotel may need to have near-fluent English skills to serve their guests.

I was born and raised in HK and was a victim of HK's English teaching system. I was doing great with my 'textbook' English and did great in exams, so I thought my English was so bad. When I first moved to the U.S., I quickly realized all those English skills I thought I had were pretty useless to help me even get through everyday conversation. Average people I ran into don't care much about your grammar as long as you get the message across. The 'standard' greeting line I learned in HK 'How do you do' followed by the 'standard' 'I am fine, thank you. And you?' rarely took place in real life. More often I heard 'How're you', 'What's happening', 'How's your day been treating you', etc. This is what native English speaking people speak to start a conversation, but I wondered if these variations are taught in HK nowadays.

As long as HK continue to teach 'textbook' English but not 'practical' English, most HK students will continue to struggle to 'communicate' with people in English in real life.

And look no further than the latest discussion on Donald Tsang's comment that 'Bow Tie Keep Your Campaign Promise' should be 'Bow Tie Keeps Your Campaign Promise'. I really don't see anything wrong with the original slogan because it's a slogan. Bow Tie's 'correction' not only tweaks its meaning and also grammatically wrong. If he really wants to add an 's', it should read 'Bow Tie Keeps HIS Campaign Promose' instead.

Sorry for my long post. :-)


[引用] | 作者 Jeff | 18th Oct 2009 1:07 AM | [舉報垃圾留言]

[13]

大學裡, 我念英文的.多年前初來美國留學時, 有一陣子好鬱悶.文法應標準之外, 必須適應當地的生活節拍, 語言習慣, 甚至不同的口音.所以, 學習口語, 環境很重要. 至於閱讀,更是進修的關鍵, 既豐富知識又有益寫作. 雜誌方面, 佳文很多的有New Yorker (比較文學),The Economist(比較政治,經濟...obviously!)和Harper's(比較綜合--文學,歷史,哲學,宗教).
Happy reading!


[引用] | 作者 藍詩詩 | 19th Oct 2009 11:59 PM | [舉報垃圾留言]