As for
our generation, Mute English is a very common phenomenon. Many of us have
learned English for many years, but we still can’t communicate in English. We
can read and write English, but whenever it comes to speaking English, we
become tongue-tied. There are many reasons contributing to this result.
First
of all, it’s because we’ve learned English in the completely wrong order.
Listening—Speaking---Reading---Writing---Translation, that’s the right sequence
for English learning. However, for our generation we get it all wrong. I still
remember the first English sentence I learned in School and how we learned it: This
is a pen. In the class, we read mechanically after the teacher: “This is a pen.
这是一支笔” again and again. That’s the way we remembered all
the English words. One time English, one time Chinese. So, we are forced to
learn Translation first! But it’s all wrong. For newbies, it’s also a mission
impossible. Translation must be based on a fully understanding of two different
languages and cultures. It’s not as simple as a Chinese A being equal to
English B. Old habits die hard. Once this kind of mindset has created, it’s
just difficult to break. When we try to speak in English, our brain starts to
function in this way: First, think what
we would say in Chinese. Second, translate it from Chinese to English. Third,
speak it out. However oral English is very
short time task. It requires quick immediate response and allows us no time for
such a long process. And even we could get it out in short times, it doesn’t
sound right. That’s where Chinglish comes for.
Second, learning materials are
also not right or at least not proper. Most articles in our textbook are paper
English. And back that time, there is no internet. We have limit access to
English films, English songs, or English novels. It’s almost impossible for us to
immerge in an English environment. Also we don’t have much opportunity to
communicate in English. Luckily for our kids, things have changed much better
now. Their textbooks are interesting with colorful pictures and interesting
stories. Chinese characters are almost nowhere to be seen. In this way, they
might be able to connect English phrase or words with images instead of Chinese
words.