Several friends asked me to share my English learning experiences with them, which I didn’t feel like to do at first, as my English proficiency has not reached a level  entitling  me to write home about.  What’s more, my way of learning is especially unfit for young students who are preparing to pass such tests as TOEFL or CET. As I have promised sincerely two friends to tell my story, now I have to make it, both as a reminiscence and a rediscovery of those old days.

When I entered college, I had little hesitation in choosing the only class of the Department of Medicine, which took six academic years, and about which some of the young friends might not have heard.  Memorizing medical terms  during the first two years occupied most of my time which had little bearing on my everyday English.  Then the break came when I stumbled across a book titled “ Word Power Made Easy”. I am not sure whether the book is still on sale, but it really enkindled my interest in the fascinating power of words. Words like” loquacious, altruism, incorrigible, chronic, glib, etc.” were the first batch which renovated my poor vocabulary. Later on my sister sent me a paperback edition of Longman English Dictionary which was over a thousand pages in length. As is recommended, thinking in English is important in mastering English, so this dictionary was opportune for me. I would look up any words I was not familiar with in it and within a year my improvement was dramatic, as it seemed that I not only had little difficulty in understanding words in English but that my appetite would not stop at that. Actually I desired to read the dictionary like a book, word by word, page by page. Ludicrous to many then, but I would not tell anybody else about my fanciful goal lest my enthusiasm sapped under criticisms. So at the third academic year, I made up of my mind to cracking up the dictionary.

From then on I would spend time reading my dictionary daily in intervals, sometimes several minutes, sometimes half an hour. It took me approximately 2 or 3 years to finish reading it for the first time, six months or 1 year the second time, 3 or 4 months the third, etc..  Now I do not remember how many times I have read the dictionary, the only trace left is that it is in a pitiable state, the bounding loosened, finger stains everywhere, and the pages being full of different marks and notes.

Poring over a dictionary alone helps little without the simultaneous reading of lots of other works. Like everybody else, I started reading classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, David Copperfield, etc.. Before taking the GRE and TOEFL test, I spent nearly half a year concentration on my study. During that period,  I became such a voracious reader, if my memory doesn’t fail me, that I would finish one novel a week, the volume of the novel averaging about that of Emma and Rebecca. Heavy ones like War and Peace took a much longer time. It was then that I began to form the habit of not consulting the dictionary for any new  word met  during the reading process for fear that the continual diversions might extinguish the flames of zest. Sure enough those books were swallowed whole with no chewing or digestion, but  those frequently used words in classics would become familiar ones when I encountered them later  in the dictionary, most of which I would try to learn by heart. Gradually the vocabulary of GRE seemed to be dwarfed by my  enterprise. It is the height of folly if one is to reach a conclusion that I was trying vainly to recite the dictionary. It was only a process of appreciation. I would never have chosen a foolish way like that if I had the ready resource we have now. Online and E-dictionaries are much more convenient and time-saving.

By then I had only made some progress in reading, but my writing and speaking skills were very poor. I admired those young students who had such an excellent command in their verbal English and their confidence was really admirable. Speaking breakthrough is beyond me, and writing is rather difficult, so I have  to decide on the lesser evil, but whose writings are contemporary and worth imitating?  Once more God showed his grace! In a book I found an article titled “ What I Have Lived for”, the author of which I didn’t know then. I thought that passage was exemplary and inspirational, and I still think so now. As I was very busy and my interests were broad, I merely memorized the passage to quench my thirst. One year later, when I was browsing in Beijing Foreign Languages Bookstore, I accidentally opened the Autobiography by Bertrand Russell, and was amazed to find that the passage I have been cherishing was actually the prologue of Russell’s autobiography. It is none other than a bonanza to me. Everything changed from then on.

A winner of Nobel Prize in literature, a philosopher, a mathematician, Bertrand Russell was renowned for his prolific writings covering an extensive range of subjects. I have bought and thoroughly read several of his books, including Why I Am Not  a Christian, Power, In Praise of Idleness, and his Autobiography. The more I read, the more I am convinced  that his works are worth being chewed and digested; but the dilemma is, am I endowed with the ability to digest and absorb his colossal works? So reality brought me back to my senses and I contented myself with merely collecting and reading his books. Still writing was a block to me.

The chance of working in Macau gave an unexpected  boost to my English learning. First, the documents were in English, so I had to write in English.  Secondly, here I could watch many English channels on TV. Fox News, History, Biography, Discovery, CSI, BBC were among my favorites. I spent daily 3 or 4 hours watching TV, and daily immersed in the English environment proved beneficial. Words like “quintessence, iguana, psalm, espionage” ,  the pronunciations of which I was previously uncertain about, are now becoming common. Above all, I have gradually known what are the most used words and phrases of everyday English. For instance, “the benefits of the doubt “ is commonly used in the detective scenes or in a talk show and  Bill liked to use the word” opine”.  Lots of new experiences!

In order to keep abreast of the TV programs and update my knowledge, I turned my attention on  history and biography books, which were more lucid and more entertaining. My favorite books include FDR, Einstein, Eisenhower, Truman, Nixon and Kissinger, and D-Day. They were a boon to my writing. By the way, I have spent some time reading a second time my favorite novel” Gone with the Wind”,  and several passages and sentences from it were incorporated into my vocabulary.

The other pieces of the puzzle could be easily found in the other blogs. Maybe my friends were wondering why I should have spent such a great deal of time on English. When I was in good spirits, my answer is certain: I have been learning English for years out of passion rather than for pay; when I was low, I would say as a pastime. I love music, especially the musicians who,  like a magician creating myriads of wonders by flourishing his wand, produce beautiful melodies by simply striking the mystic keys with their graceful fingers. Just as truly as being a virtuoso is the result of constant and continuous practice, so is being an expert in English. Many of us just can’t afford to singe-heartedly study English at the time being, so there is no need to worry about the level as long as it meets our requirements. Especially our motherland today is in a ferment of fortune-making and fame-hunting; survival takes precedence over anything else.  I have a relatively stable work and I have no appetite for luxury, power or fame, so it is a blessing that I have inadvertently cultivated this hobby which I hope to splurge on. As an amateur, I will not waste time on too recondite subjects, if so, only dabble for pleasure.

Now you know my story, my friends, and you are smart enough to know that I am really a sluggish learner.  Each and every one of us is unique. The majority of the friends coming here have a better command in English than many others. Once you set your heart on your goal, success is beckoning to you.  Learning English is at least an affordable hobby, isn’t it?

A list of my favorite books

1.    The Holy Bible.

2.    The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell.

3.    History of England by Babington Macaulay.

4.    Gone with the Wind.

5.    Pride and Prejudice.

6.    Sons and Lovers.

7.    A Passage to India.

8.    Candide.

9.    The Call of the Wild.

10. The Old Man and the Sea.

11. Hamlet.

12. The Taming of the Shrew.

13. The Merchant of Venice.

14. A Woman of Substance.

15. The Conquest of Happiness.

16. In Defense of Women.

17. Rainbow.

18. Einstein by Walter Issacson.

19. The Picture of Dorian Gray.

20. Robinson Crusoe.