Blogs
English is an art
I was not falling in love with English until last year when I started writing blogs. English is a creative art so that I can write anything on my mind without considering how other people think about it.
No worries, just post it no matter how many stupid mistakes I’ve made, who cares about the negative comments, I only focus on the positive ones.
If people give a like, leave a nice comment, or forward to their friends, that’s the best reward I’ve got.
So far so good, there are increasing numbers of followers joining.
I am having fun with English writing; reading also gives me confidence and pleasure.
It’s like a friend of mine, I used to enjoy texting with friends online, but now I have to say: “Sorry, I must go right now, I have too many things to do.”
Yeah, I can never find enough time to read countless books where I can absorb positive energy from inspiring words.
Leo Babauta said: “You lose track of time and are completely caught up in what you’re doing. That’s the popular concept of “flow”, and it’s an important ingredient in finding happiness”.
That’s the happiness I’ve got from reading and writing, time goes fast, and I have no time being bored.
Probably this is the way how you learn English, find something which fascinates you, and won’t regard it as an obligation.
You have to finish assignments to get a certificate or a diploma. You have too many purposes; you are not relaxing.
It’s like me; I was under enormous pressure the time I studied English in China. Because I needed a diploma and the high score of IELTS, then I did research how to cope with exams.
I found a lot of examination paper from previous years and did it over and over, I was a professional in knowing how to deal with exams, I could get high marks, but I’ve got no idea how to use English as a tool of communication in real life.
In the Uni, I’ve learnt how to use format to write an English essay which includes Introduction, the body of the article, three main points with supportive sentences and examples, again the connection words between each sentences, the last part is conclusion. That’s what I’ve been taught how to pass IELTS.
It’s like a copy machine, remember the format, and add different sentences in it, that’s the essay we are supposed to write, as long as we know how to follow the instruction, we’ll be okay.
There’s no soul and no heart, there’s no creative and no freedom.
To be honest, I didn’t enjoy writing at all. I hated it; I did hate it. English writing was the worst subject in the Uni; I could get finance subjects A, B, English writing was D, just passed.
I was stressed out, instead of reading books writing down my opinion with beautiful words; I tried to use the format I’ve learned and used the supportive sentences from other people’s writing.
I was doomed to fail.
In the past 20 years, I have never read a proper English book except for exam purposes.
So how can my English be improved, that’s quite impossible, all I did multiple-choices, filling in the blanks, true and false.
Again in speaking and listening English, I’ve learned how to cope with exams.
The first time I attended English oral test in China, suddenly, my brain went blank, when the English teacher asked one question, I was extremely nervous and closed my eyes without speaking out one sentence.
Then, I failed.
I have experienced a lot of frustration in language learning, because I wasn’t learning English in a relaxing way, mainly, it was only for the exams.
Even after I arrived Australia, I was still worried about not passing the language, then I could never go to the Uni, and I couldn’t get PR without going through IELTS.
Therefore, English only gave me tremendous pressure instead of enjoyment.
In a job market, it’s not helpful; no one will ask what score you’ve got in IELTS, they only care about your communication skill.
It’s not you prepare interview questions when a job agency guy asks exactly the one, wow, how lucky!! You know how to give the perfect answer.
In the end, the recruitment guy will find out your real English speaking skill; you are not talking in a natural way like anyone else does.
I guess the majority of my Chinese followers have been learning English for more than ten years; you admire people who can speak fluent English, that’s cool, why it’s not you.
I would like to tell you the truth if you have already got enough certificates, then please don’t waste time on it anymore unless it’s essential.
Finding a way which suits you the most, it will be more helpful.
One of my followers, a guy from China, I was surprised how could be his English so good.
After communicating with him, I realize he has the passion for learning English Bible, singing English songs, writing English articles, and he also enjoys chatting English with friends online.
He’s not worrying about a certificate; instead, he’s finding an efficient path in learning English.
Therefore, my Chinese friends, you can do the same, finding something which fits you the most while enjoying the process.
For example, watching movies with subtitles, after a while, you listening and reading skills will get better, meanwhile, please write down beautiful sentences from the movies and memorize it, gradually, they will become your language.
You gotta find a way you lose track when you learn English, and only at that time, your English will be better than most of the competitors.
English is an art; it’s like when start painting a picture, you have to love it, you do it in a free way which gives you satisfaction.
No matter how many certificates or how high degree you’ve got, there is one thing matters, you can speak fluent English when talking with foreigners, you understand the general meaning, and they can understand you.
You have no problem in reading English books; you can watch English movies without translation and write English emails or articles freely so that clients can know what you are trying to say.
In China, most students are relieved after they’ve got certificates and completed Uni degree; they don’t wanna have a look at English again.
What a waste of time, you still gotta use it. When you travel overseas, you don’t have to rely on a traveling agent; you will have no problems order Western meals from a local restaurant and can plan your trip Itinerary; there’s lots of freedom if you can talk with locals.
Once you’ve got benefits from English, you will enjoy it, and then you don’t wanna give up.
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