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随着2008年奥运会的临近，民众越来越关心“中国”品牌的树立，学习英语的热情也被点燃。越来越多的外宣干部和业内同行向我们表达了期待看到双语栏目的期望。因此，我们从2006年第一期起开办了《双语视窗》栏目以满足广大读者的需求。
看看周围的媒体，《北京青年报》、《参考消息》、《国门时报》上有许多精粹的小短文，像一只只啄木鸟，善意地提醒了中国人习以为常的行为背后“尚未和国际接轨”的细节，读后让人回味不已，在获得借鉴意义的同时，也带来更深入的思考。我们效仿中英文对照的版面形式，旨在通过外国友人的视角来看中国，从中折射出东西方观念、习俗的异同。通过一篇篇这样的文章，让读者在领略异域文化的同时，也能达到学习英语的目的。
怎样才能提高英语水平？自从两年前我到了北京，一直就有人向我提出这个问题，提问的有英语专业的学生，有街上的陌生人，有站在报告厅中间勇敢的发问者，也有某天晚上英语角站在我旁边的人。
这似乎是非常正常而简单的问题，可又是个让我厌烦的问题。
我厌烦它，是因为它看似十分合理，实际上却是个陷阱；它看似很容易回答，实际上是个能难倒俄狄浦斯的谜语。何况我还不是俄狄浦斯。
这个总是由认真的学生提出的问题本身是无辜的，每次听到这个问题时，我感到这一诚挚的请求必须得到明确的答复，而我，作为一名英语教师，就应该知道这答案。每当我不得不承认我不知道时，我总是感到失职。
噢，对此我是有答案的，我手忙脚乱地琢磨着怎么答复，希望学生们不会注意到我实际上对这问题是多么吃不准。我有答案，可没有学生们所寻求的那种答案。
不管他们真正询问的是什么，这一问题让人觉得他们需要的是一个速成方法，在轻松的六步之内就能更正所有的错误并能扩大词汇量。我提供不了这种答案。事实上，只有一个容易的办法来学语言：在你两岁到四岁时置身于那一语言环境中。语言学家告诉我们，在这一年龄段，儿童不是在学语言，而是像染病一样“染上”语言，他们是在无意识的情况下学习语言的。
过了这一不可思议的时间段，学习语言就要花气力了。有时这是件令人兴奋并有趣的事，但也是件需要自我约束和长期努力的事。有些人天生就学得比别人好；有人天生就喜欢学习语言，就像有人天生就喜欢慢跑或做数学题一样。我觉得多数问我“怎么才能提高英语水平”的人已经知道这一点。虽说他们也会跟我一样肯定希望我会给出什么秘诀，但他们大概也不会期望很高，像我担心的那样高。我通常给他们如下的忠告：
1．别指望有捷径。学习语言的惟一途径就是使用这一语言，一天接一天地练习。像疯狂英语这样的教程是很不错的，它适合很多人，这是因为其内容很有意思，而且人们也喜欢学，使学习变得有趣对学习是非常有激励性的。但是，不要以为李阳的成功之路也会成为你的成功之路，因为你不是他。每个人的成功之路只是属于他（她）自己的。
2．找出你自己的成功之路。请记住，像李阳这样的人今天获得了成功是因为他们发现了适合自己的学习英语的途径，他们总结出了对他们自身最有效的方法。现在他们想让你跟着他们已经辉煌过的足迹走，而此时你要做的，则是以他们为榜样，走出你自己辉煌的路。
这并不是说每个人都需要去重新发明车轮。教科书与语言学习课程都能提供有用的帮助。我学中文就是从一本教科书学起的。疯狂英语可能对你十分有效。多数语言教育都基于这一事实：人们在某些方面是有共性的，人们以相似的方式学习，因此对我奏效的方式对你也至少是部分地奏效。但是我们每个人又都是各自不同的人，因此要了解你自己，使你的学习方法适合你自己。
我的汉语是在课堂里学的，通过教科书到做作业，按照要求与计划去做，学得也不错。所以说，我的学习是从一本教科书开始，然后记汉字卡片，把它们积累成好几本，而且每天增加新卡片，并加以复习。
既然我已经掌握了一些初级汉字，汉字卡片就显得乏味了，我现在更有兴趣来做广泛的阅读，看报纸、听中文歌曲、看电影。你的计划要有灵活性，要知道你的弱点和强项，要使你的计划适合你正在学习的语言，允许你的计划有所改变。但是，一定要有计划！
（本文作者为北京大学英语系外教）
原文：
Ever since I arrived in Beijing almost two years ago I have heard this question: from an English major, from a stranger on the street, from a brave soul standing in the middle of a large lecture hall, from a dark shadow beside me one evening at an English corner.
It seems a perfectly fair and simple question, and it’s a question I hate.
I hate it because it seems completely reasonable but is actually a trap, because it seems so easy but is actually a riddle to stump Oedipus. And I’m no Oedipus.
It is an innocent question invariably asked by earnest students, and every time I hear it I feel that this sincere plea must admit of a clear answer and that I, as an English teacher, should know what this answer is. I always feel I have failed somehow when I have to admit that I don’t.
Oh, I have answers, and I stumble around in my response, hoping the students won’t notice how unsure I am. I have answers, but I don’t have the answer, not the answer I think they’re looking for.
Whatever they are really asking for, it feels like they’re asking for a quick fix, a magic bullet which will fix all their mistakes and expand their vocabulary in six easy steps. I can’t provide that. The truth is there’s only one easy way to learn a language: you must be immersed in that language from the time you are two years old until you are four years old. These are the years, linguists tell us, during which children don’t learn a language, but rather catch it like a disease. They pick it up without conscious effort.
After that mysterious time, learning a language is work. It is exciting and fun work sometimes, but also a matter of discipline and time-work. Some people are naturally better at this work than others; some naturally enjoy this kind of work as others might naturally enjoy jogging or doing math problems. I suspect most people who ask me that question“How can I improve my English?” already know all this. Though they no doubt hope as I would that I might have some secret knowledge to offer, they are probably not expecting as much as I fear they are. I usually give them the following advice:
(1)Don’t expect to find and easy way to learn. The only way to learn a language is to use a language, to practice day after day. Programs like Crazy English are great and they work for a lot of people because they are fun, because people enjoy them, and making work fun is a great incentive to learn. But don’t think Li Yang’s success story will be your success story because you are not him. Everyone’s success story is his or her own success story. So:
(2)Find your own success story. Remember, people like Li Yang are only successful now because they found their own way to study English; they figured out a method that works best for them. Now they are trying to make you follow the trail they have blazed when what you should be doing is following their example by blazing your own trail.
That’s not to say everyone need reinvent the wheel. Textbooks and language learning programs can provide a useful service. I started learning Chinese with a textbook. Crazy English may work great for you. Most language education is based on the reality that people are people, that we share some things in common, that we learn in similar ways, so what works for me might work. at least partly, for you. But each of us is also unique, so know yourself and make your study methods suit yourself.
I learn well in a classroom setting, from textbooks and homework, with rules and schedules, so I began with a textbook and from there went on to make notebook after notebook of Chinese character flashcards which I add to and review every day.
Now that I have mastered a small Chinese “alphabet” of characters, the flashcards are getting dull and I’m more interested in trying extensive reading exercises, looking at newspapers, listening to Chinese songs, watching movies. Keep your plans flexible; know your weaknesses and strongpoints; make your scheme match the language you are studying; allow your scheme to change sometimes; but do have a plan!
（感谢《北京青年报》“双语视窗”栏目张爱学编辑对本文提供的支持。）
责编：周瑾
随着2008年奥运会的临近，民众越来越关心“中国”品牌的树立，学习英语的热情也被点燃。越来越多的外宣干部和业内同行向我们表达了期待看到双语栏目的期望。因此，我们从2006年第一期起开办了《双语视窗》栏目以满足广大读者的需求。
看看周围的媒体，《北京青年报》、《参考消息》、《国门时报》上有许多精粹的小短文，像一只只啄木鸟，善意地提醒了中国人习以为常的行为背后“尚未和国际接轨”的细节，读后让人回味不已，在获得借鉴意义的同时，也带来更深入的思考。我们效仿中英文对照的版面形式，旨在通过外国友人的视角来看中国，从中折射出东西方观念、习俗的异同。通过一篇篇这样的文章，让读者在领略异域文化的同时，也能达到学习英语的目的。
怎样才能提高英语水平？自从两年前我到了北京，一直就有人向我提出这个问题，提问的有英语专业的学生，有街上的陌生人，有站在报告厅中间勇敢的发问者，也有某天晚上英语角站在我旁边的人。
这似乎是非常正常而简单的问题，可又是个让我厌烦的问题。
我厌烦它，是因为它看似十分合理，实际上却是个陷阱；它看似很容易回答，实际上是个能难倒俄狄浦斯的谜语。何况我还不是俄狄浦斯。
这个总是由认真的学生提出的问题本身是无辜的，每次听到这个问题时，我感到这一诚挚的请求必须得到明确的答复，而我，作为一名英语教师，就应该知道这答案。每当我不得不承认我不知道时，我总是感到失职。
噢，对此我是有答案的，我手忙脚乱地琢磨着怎么答复，希望学生们不会注意到我实际上对这问题是多么吃不准。我有答案，可没有学生们所寻求的那种答案。
不管他们真正询问的是什么，这一问题让人觉得他们需要的是一个速成方法，在轻松的六步之内就能更正所有的错误并能扩大词汇量。我提供不了这种答案。事实上，只有一个容易的办法来学语言：在你两岁到四岁时置身于那一语言环境中。语言学家告诉我们，在这一年龄段，儿童不是在学语言，而是像染病一样“染上”语言，他们是在无意识的情况下学习语言的。
过了这一不可思议的时间段，学习语言就要花气力了。有时这是件令人兴奋并有趣的事，但也是件需要自我约束和长期努力的事。有些人天生就学得比别人好；有人天生就喜欢学习语言，就像有人天生就喜欢慢跑或做数学题一样。我觉得多数问我“怎么才能提高英语水平”的人已经知道这一点。虽说他们也会跟我一样肯定希望我会给出什么秘诀，但他们大概也不会期望很高，像我担心的那样高。我通常给他们如下的忠告：
1．别指望有捷径。学习语言的惟一途径就是使用这一语言，一天接一天地练习。像疯狂英语这样的教程是很不错的，它适合很多人，这是因为其内容很有意思，而且人们也喜欢学，使学习变得有趣对学习是非常有激励性的。但是，不要以为李阳的成功之路也会成为你的成功之路，因为你不是他。每个人的成功之路只是属于他（她）自己的。
2．找出你自己的成功之路。请记住，像李阳这样的人今天获得了成功是因为他们发现了适合自己的学习英语的途径，他们总结出了对他们自身最有效的方法。现在他们想让你跟着他们已经辉煌过的足迹走，而此时你要做的，则是以他们为榜样，走出你自己辉煌的路。
这并不是说每个人都需要去重新发明车轮。教科书与语言学习课程都能提供有用的帮助。我学中文就是从一本教科书学起的。疯狂英语可能对你十分有效。多数语言教育都基于这一事实：人们在某些方面是有共性的，人们以相似的方式学习，因此对我奏效的方式对你也至少是部分地奏效。但是我们每个人又都是各自不同的人，因此要了解你自己，使你的学习方法适合你自己。
我的汉语是在课堂里学的，通过教科书到做作业，按照要求与计划去做，学得也不错。所以说，我的学习是从一本教科书开始，然后记汉字卡片，把它们积累成好几本，而且每天增加新卡片，并加以复习。
既然我已经掌握了一些初级汉字，汉字卡片就显得乏味了，我现在更有兴趣来做广泛的阅读，看报纸、听中文歌曲、看电影。你的计划要有灵活性，要知道你的弱点和强项，要使你的计划适合你正在学习的语言，允许你的计划有所改变。但是，一定要有计划！
（本文作者为北京大学英语系外教）
原文：
Ever since I arrived in Beijing almost two years ago I have heard this question: from an English major, from a stranger on the street, from a brave soul standing in the middle of a large lecture hall, from a dark shadow beside me one evening at an English corner.
It seems a perfectly fair and simple question, and it’s a question I hate.
I hate it because it seems completely reasonable but is actually a trap, because it seems so easy but is actually a riddle to stump Oedipus. And I’m no Oedipus.
It is an innocent question invariably asked by earnest students, and every time I hear it I feel that this sincere plea must admit of a clear answer and that I, as an English teacher, should know what this answer is. I always feel I have failed somehow when I have to admit that I don’t.
Oh, I have answers, and I stumble around in my response, hoping the students won’t notice how unsure I am. I have answers, but I don’t have the answer, not the answer I think they’re looking for.
Whatever they are really asking for, it feels like they’re asking for a quick fix, a magic bullet which will fix all their mistakes and expand their vocabulary in six easy steps. I can’t provide that. The truth is there’s only one easy way to learn a language: you must be immersed in that language from the time you are two years old until you are four years old. These are the years, linguists tell us, during which children don’t learn a language, but rather catch it like a disease. They pick it up without conscious effort.
After that mysterious time, learning a language is work. It is exciting and fun work sometimes, but also a matter of discipline and time-work. Some people are naturally better at this work than others; some naturally enjoy this kind of work as others might naturally enjoy jogging or doing math problems. I suspect most people who ask me that question“How can I improve my English?” already know all this. Though they no doubt hope as I would that I might have some secret knowledge to offer, they are probably not expecting as much as I fear they are. I usually give them the following advice:
(1)Don’t expect to find and easy way to learn. The only way to learn a language is to use a language, to practice day after day. Programs like Crazy English are great and they work for a lot of people because they are fun, because people enjoy them, and making work fun is a great incentive to learn. But don’t think Li Yang’s success story will be your success story because you are not him. Everyone’s success story is his or her own success story. So:
(2)Find your own success story. Remember, people like Li Yang are only successful now because they found their own way to study English; they figured out a method that works best for them. Now they are trying to make you follow the trail they have blazed when what you should be doing is following their example by blazing your own trail.
That’s not to say everyone need reinvent the wheel. Textbooks and language learning programs can provide a useful service. I started learning Chinese with a textbook. Crazy English may work great for you. Most language education is based on the reality that people are people, that we share some things in common, that we learn in similar ways, so what works for me might work. at least partly, for you. But each of us is also unique, so know yourself and make your study methods suit yourself.
I learn well in a classroom setting, from textbooks and homework, with rules and schedules, so I began with a textbook and from there went on to make notebook after notebook of Chinese character flashcards which I add to and review every day.
Now that I have mastered a small Chinese “alphabet” of characters, the flashcards are getting dull and I’m more interested in trying extensive reading exercises, looking at newspapers, listening to Chinese songs, watching movies. Keep your plans flexible; know your weaknesses and strongpoints; make your scheme match the language you are studying; allow your scheme to change sometimes; but do have a plan!
（感谢《北京青年报》“双语视窗”栏目张爱学编辑对本文提供的支持。）
责编：周瑾