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What is English?
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All we have to admit that English is the language that dominates the world. News, papers, movies and others, even the keyboard has 26 letters. Which brings us the convenience to use English and communicate with people all over the world.
We have been studying English for more than ten years. While we still have to admit that most of us are just on the level of ABC. How to define that? That is the question. ABC does not mean that we are lame. Actually, we have already mastered the basic knowledge of grammar and words which are enough for us to explore more than what got on textbooks. You see, the purpose of school does not want us to be how good we are at, it actually teaches the skill of learning, the self study is quite essential for everybody of us, particularly, at the time when we are leaving school and getting to work. Then we realize how importance the key point of learning at this fast developing society with updated knowledge everyday. If we really master that kind of self study, we see no problem of English learning.
Another point is the difference between knowledge and skills. Knowledge we can acquire from books, while skills never come to us unless we have it by practicing a lot. Obviously, it is very important that a person should own the ability of constant training. Only by doing so, it is possible to be proficient on something. Therefore, it also works on English. This the very language that most of us are with the complicated feeling on it. We like to enlarge the vision and expand the horizon, while we do not want be restricted by doctrines and terminologies, grammatical rules and a large vocabulary. This happened to me before which confused for some time. One day, I realized that I just had to move. Because, usually I have been thinking over seriously. The road is right over there. Walk and go.
What it gives us?
It benefits us on the convenience of communication with foreigners, it also makes us more efficient to view and look for information online. The first hand materials and the fast delivery of messages that we acquire them in a short time with no bothering of racking brain of the meaning and translation. If we really are OK with it, we feel no problem to have all of these things.
Besides, we have the chances to get promotion and seek for better position. Especially, in those joint venture companies, multinational companies and foreign companies, we definitely absorb experience and gain growth there if we are offered the opportunity.
Seize the chance and do not miss it easily. What if the English level is still not so good to be adequate in such a good position? Never mind. It is workable while on the way to learn and improve in the course of working. By the accumulation of wiring commercial Emails and simple communication and greetings, it would be fine within a year when you turn into another brand new self. By breaking the shell as in the rebirth of a baby, all is new then. Supposing that one day, you just feel terrific to speak English to your colleagues and clients, even at the meeting room to foreigners for a long and severe negotiation, all of them has no companion of a translator. Do not wait for it too long if there is the chance and surely you are so ready.
This the time full of challenges, do not fear of it.
What if there is no chance to a good company? Never mind again. It does not rotten unless you really dump it. At least you feel confident that you are ready enough, only if you got the chance you could take that.
Apart from the work, it gives us the chance to read more good books and online news. Then we know more things that we never meet before. Internet is so nice for us to search information in the vast ocean of knowledge and news. We are lucky living at this age.
P.S. Very good to see beautiful flowers these days. Though it is a little bit cold today, some remote rural places here even snowed last night. While it just can not stop the footprint of spring.
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Post comment Comment (13 replies)
- Reply sunnyv
- My opinion is that Chinese people are quite smart in learning English. The Chinese leaders and government knows the value of English, therefore, in the 1990's they have encouraged students to learn English. Accordingly, now we have quite a lot of graduates who have adequate knowledge in English. There are some graduates who are not so advanced in English but they can catch up if they need to. With sufficient knowledge of English, it would be easy to conduct research and development. Most of the essential research material are in English because most of the advanced technologies are from Western countries. With sufficient English knowledge, Chinese people can acquire high tech material from western countries. In addition, knowledge of English are essential for overseas trade and business. It is the trade with Western countries which enabled China to prosper in the past decade. One problem with China is that they fail to properly educate students in oral English, so we have a situation where [people can write well but cannot speak well but I found that when given the chance to practice spoken English, they can speak quite well after a short time.
I am quite frustrated in my business visits to Korea and Japan because very few of the nationals have sufficient English knowledge and they find it very hard to learn English.
With sufficient English skills and an internet connection, everyone can have access the the world's largest library and knowledge pool. Just press a few keys and you can get whatever information you need. That is really amazing and the potential is unlimited. With sufficient English knowledge China can compete with any country in the world. Lets keep it going.
- Reply Rosanna
- English speakers are more educated and highter opportonities to find the good jobs in China,I like my kid to study English as early as she can, after she graduates from the school she may have the chance to go aboard to see how does the world like.
- Reply sunnyv
- Intelligent mother with far
Rosanna: English speakers are more educated and highter opportonities to find the good jobs in China,I like my kid to study English as early as she can, after ...
vision.
- Reply teadrinking
- Only can I say is haha. Are you here for the purpose of reading or just being picky for those so called complexity? Please, define Lower, by the way.
ada23: these days the complexity of passage lower
- Reply teadrinking
- Thank you, good luck to you too.
freefu55: English is for great guy to achive his aim, wish you are and luck with you.
- Reply teadrinking
- It is a nice choice if she is ready to go abroad. There would be more chances for her to see and study better.
Rosanna: English speakers are more educated and highter opportonities to find the good jobs in China,I like my kid to study English as early as she can, after ...
- Reply teadrinking
- Yes, it is prevalent right now. I studied English at my middle school. While now, it is improved a lot, English is introduced to primary school, even a kid learns English at his kindergarten. I have read my nephew's English textbook, he is now in senior high school. I found that the content of the book seems more advanced than what I learnt before in high school. This trend keeps the direction of the globalization.
sunnyv: My opinion is that Chinese people are quite smart in learning English. The Chinese leaders and government knows the value of English, therefore, in th ...
The widely used field is the international trade. Therefore, English is the vital for those who engage in that foreign trade. Though the economy now is not that ideal, while it does not change the domination of English. We still have to face that.
There are many people with different English accents. What we usually use and speak is the American English, of course, British English is another one some others are pursuing for. Whatever the accent is, as long as it can use to communicate, especially the spoken English we can use well, would be enough for us. There are also many other accents, Japanese accent, Korean accent, Indian accent, Canada accent, Australian accent, etc. Thus, when we are to talk with other people who are neither speaking American English nor British English, most of us may feel it hard to comprehend their accents. We can easily to tell what those people write in paper, while it is really hard to us to recognize them, particular Japanese accent, Korean accent and some others.
Further more, we can try to resort English to read more and see more, and experience more.
- Reply sunnyv
- You got quite an accurate assessment of the use of English in China. I used to teach conversational English in Guangzhou and I found that the students are over anxious and unnecessarily embarrassed about using the wrong words. When I calm them down and make them feel relaxed, the could speak better and after some time they could carry on a conversation smoothly and happily. Thereon, they could speak quite freely and with confidence. This shows practice frequent usage of English does allow students to speak English confidently.
teadrinking: Yes, it is prevalent right now. I studied English at my middle school. While now, it is improved a lot, English is introduced to primary school, even ...
I also noted the trend of American English which is influenced by American movies. British English is used throughout Europe, so which version of English to use depends on the region a person intends to communicate with. However, the different versions of English does cause confusion in tests and examinations.
Teaching English in China is quite a satisfying job as the students are serious about learning and the remuneration for teaching is quite good. The pay is not bad with a car, servant and luxury flat, but they require a two year fixed contract which contradicted with my business activities, therefore, I gave up teaching and concentrated in my business.
- Reply ada23
- the content and the way of expression. i am a pedestrian.
teadrinking: Only can I say is haha. Are you here for the purpose of reading or just being picky for those so called complexity? Please, define Lower, by the way.
- Reply teadrinking
sunnyv: You got quite an accurate assessment of the use of English in China. I used to teach conversational English in Guangzhou and I found that the students ...
You got the rich experience of English teaching at one time. It is really good, since we are looking for life which we always assume it to be colorful. At sometime, we have to make the choice. Though hard it is, we have to, since we almost can not grab two things at the same. That is the reason we always say SOMETHING GAINED, SOMETHING LOST.
The thing what you mentioned is quite right that students feel shy and timid at the first beginning, they speak well and dare to say something after several minutes later once they are encouraged.
Apart from pronunciation, actually we almost neglect the intonation. We just read and repeat words from mind yet not really talk naturally as native speakers. It acts like a robot without fleshy voice, even a little bit weird. Though we can understand that, it just seems there is something wrong we are to figure out and fail to find the right answer. Even some people who graduated from a foreign language school, they studied English well, but it turns out that is not exact the native sound when they speak out. How to improve that? There is no shortcut. Practice. The amazing thing is that somebody really can speak good English that we really can not tell he is a Chinese who has never been to abroad. If we are not given the imply and just listen to the voice and dot not see the man, we might even think that guy is a native over there. The process of being excellent is hard, while somebody got that. This the best powerful evidence that the so called environment is not the final decision to judge if a person is really going to master a language. As long as he wants, he can do well too.
That is what I believe and what I am to be more strict with myself. Though there is no perfection, I am on the way to perfect myself.
Today is sunny, quite well weather, there are so many people are now go outing for admiration of flowers and beautiful scenery.
Have a good weekend. Friend.
