如何學好英文 — 經驗談
© 我的自學工具
1. 電視影集、電影
大學剛畢業那幾年(VHS 錄影帶的時代),我看一部電影通常要花三到四個小時,因為得不時地倒帶,重覆聽劇中人物在這個場景下到底在說什麼?然後把對白寫下來,這些字句在日常生活中一定用得到,而且學的是實用的英語 / 美語,同時訓練聽力。
DVD 就更方便了。如果真的聽不出來,切換字幕即可。出國旅遊用得到的片語、單字,或是日常生活用語、職場英語等等,都能在電影 / 影集裡學到,經典且實用。
至今我還保有這習慣:隨時準備紙跟筆,聽到、看到漂亮、好的句子立刻寫下來!
2. 閱讀
1) ICRT 新聞稿
2) 英文書或雜誌:自己喜歡或有興趣的,每天花點兒時間讀幾頁,學幾個字詞都好。
任何雜誌或書籍的難易,自己去翻翻就知道。寫得 / 編得再好的書籍或雜誌,如果沒有每天想翻看的欲望(喜不喜歡),再多的推薦、或買再多都沒用。
3) 網際網路:大寶庫!但慎選內容。
Ø 個人最推薦的英文學習網站:Espresso English – espressoenglish.net
不是「業配」,真心喜歡它的教學方式與內容!況且,我又不認識站長!
3. 造句
根據你自己的環境及體驗與經驗造句,否則你不會知道怎麼用這個字,也記不住。
我幾乎從來不背單字,因為背了會忘(保證、一定會忘);記不得某個單字,代表我還不太會或不太知道怎麼用這個字。一旦對話或寫東西的時候用了某個字,幾次之後,自然而然這個字就記住了(I have memorized it.)。
另:如果不會唸某個字,這個字就一定不容易拼對、記住。所以發音很重要!發音很重要!發音很重要!因為重要,而且發音會影響你的聽力,所以說三次。
§ 以日常生活相關字詞為例:
1. turn on / turn off 開 / 關:只要有 on / off 開關的電器用品都可用
- turn on / off the TV, computer, the light, radio, DVD player, iPod...
2. take a shower 淋浴 / take a bath 泡澡
3. like + V-ing / like to + V
- I like watching movies. = I like to watch movies.
4. surf the Internet / Net 上網
§ 敘述你的日常生活 Narrate Your Daily Routine:
Normally, I get home at around 7:00 in the evening (7:00 pm). I don't really like to watch TV, so I usually turn on the stereo and listen to the music. I like listening to the music very much.
Generally, I surf the Internet after dinner for one or two hours. Most of the time, I take a shower before I go to bed and sometimes I take a bath if I feel like doing it.
§ 用英語思考:
每個人、每天腦袋裡會有很多的自我對話:Self-talk 。跟自己說話的時候,試著用英語,不要怕犯錯,一旦其他人有機會糾正你,你才會知道自己錯在哪裡。例如:
明天是聖誕節,你還沒有計劃,於是你心想:
- It's Xmas tomorrow and I don't have to work / go to school. What should I do? Maybe I should call Jack to see if he has any plans.
學文法跟學單字的道理一樣:造句,這樣會知道你是不是真的懂了。
© 學習、練習方式
以下是學習單字的方式,學文法也適用:
1. 讀例句:注意不同字意的用法(一個字常常會有不同的意思),以及在句子中的位置。
2. 造句:想像生活中,什麼時候、場合用得到這個字?你會怎麼說?
3. 有時間的話,看相關的字詞。
1. 讀例句
例:現在完成式 S + has / have + p.p.
看完說明,了解句型結構、使用時機等等敘述之後,讀例句—大聲唸出來;如果場合不適合大聲唸,就心裡默唸:
- Steve hasn't been to the United States before.
2. 造句:
根據上面剛讀過的例句造句:
- I haven't been to Japan before.
再試個例子:
- I've been to Hong Kong three times.
造問句:
- Have you been to Singapore before?
- Have you seen Jay Chou in person?
(to see somebody in person 見到本人)
剛開始不熟練,想說的時候可能沒辦法馬上脫口而出;但是一次、兩次、幾次下來,總會記住。
Ø Tip:從你每天做的事英文怎麼說開始,例如:
*take a shower 淋浴/ take a bath 泡澡
洗澡的時候就練習:
- I'm taking a shower. OR
- I'm taking a bath.
*surf the Internet / surf the Net 上網
別人問你在做什麼,你可以說:
- I'm surfing the Internet and chatting with my friends / playing on-line games.
*text, verb, 傳簡訊
- I texted Maggie to say I missed her.
- How could you spend hours texting friends every day?
- Text me when you get to Taipei.
- Text me and let me know when you're available next week.
*a text (message) 簡訊
- Jessica's so sweet. She sent me a text message to say happy birthday.
- I'll send you a text as soon as I hear from Jack.
不需要花時間背。你每天做、經常做的事,只要常掛在嘴邊就不容易忘掉。
不管你看文章或看電視、電影、影集或從事其他任何活動,只要你聽得懂、看得懂就表示你真的懂了;下次在適當的場合說出或寫出正確的句子,代表你記住、知道怎麼說了!
§ 以 presentation 為例:
1. 例句:
- Presentation is important if you want people to buy your products.
- The speaker gave an interesting presentation on how to teach yourself
English.
2. 造句:
- A: What are you doing? You've been sitting at the computer for two hours.
B: I have a presentation on Taiwan's movie industry tomorrow. I want
to be as prepared as possible.
- Jack did a great presentation on tennis learning yesterday.
3. 相關字詞
*present, verb, 呈現 / 發表
- Jack presented the sales forecast to the board of directors at the
meeting.
- All the data are presented in Table 6.
- All the reports must be carefully vetted before presenting to the CEO.
*present, adj., 目前的 / 現在的
- Give me your present address so that I can write you from time to time.
- Please fill in your present address and telephone number.
*present, adj., 出席
- How many people were present at the meeting?
- How come Jack's not present?
*present, noun, 禮物
- Do you like your birthday present?
- What can we get Jack for his birthday present?
有機會就練習這個字(例句),你不是「背單字」,但遲早會記得;你同時也訓練自己用英語思考,而且不知不覺學到句子的結構(文法),一舉數得。
§ 以 advertisement 為例:
1. 例句:
- She copied the job advertisements in the paper.
- a television / newspaper advertisement for a new car / new cars
2. 造句:
- Did you see the advertisement of BMW new 5 series in United Daily(聯合報) today? I love it. I think I'll sell my TOYOTA and get a BMW 525.
- I'm going to put an advertisement on the Net for my ‘98 TOYOTA.
3. 相關詞:
*advertise v.
- We advertise our TOYOTA in the local newspaper.
- I'm going to advertise for my TOYOTA RAV4.
§ 以 ride (騎 / 乘) 為例:動詞變化 ride, rode, ridden
1. 例句:
- I ride bicycle to work.
- I learned to ride a bike when I was six. (注意動詞變化 learned, was)
* bike = bicycle
2. 造句:
- I ride bicycle to school.
把 bicycle 換成 motorcycle:
- I learned to ride a scooter when I was fifteen.
bicycle 可換成 motorcycle / motorbike、scooter、electric scooter、electric bicycle 或 moped(長得像腳踏車的光陽 50)。
² 註 1:motorcycle / motorbike(機車/摩托車)不是光一般人所說的「檔車」,雖然到目前為止大部分 motorcycles 都不是自動換檔。例如:野狼 125、Triumph Bonneville T100。(在 Google 圖片輸入 motorcycle / motorbike 就明白了!)
² 註 2:motor scooter / scooter(速克達 / 小綿羊),例如:Vespa,KYMCO Racing 125。而重型速克達叫做 maxi scooter。(在 Google 圖片輸入 motor scooter / maxi scooter 就明白了!)
用這個句型造其他句子,說不同的事。例如:
- I learned to walk when I was two.
- Steve learned to drive when he was eighteen.
- I learned to play Mahjong when I was fourteen.
(play Mahjong 打麻將)
3. 相關詞:
*ride, noun 名詞:
a) to give somebody a ride 載某人去...
- Can you give me a ride to Steve's? (Steve's:Steve 家)
- It's late. Let me give you a ride home.
b) to go for a ride 兜風
- It's sunny out there. Let's go for a ride.
-I went for a ride with my family at Houfeng Bikeway on Chinese New
Year holidays. (Houfeng Bikeway 后豐鐵馬道)
上文中的 bicycle、motorcycle、scooter 或甚至 horse都可以互換,接著再用 he / she / they / we / you 或你同學、親朋好友的名字來造句。
以上是個人自學英語的經驗,您如果找到最適合自己的學習方式,而且「愛上」英文,也算在下的功德一件了!
Have fun!