ON THE PROCESS OF THE ACQUISITION OF THE SECOND LANGUAGE

    Nowadays, English becomes the second language and the first foreign language in China. A huge of Chinese people can speak English, most of which can speak it very fluently. I have learned English since I was in Grade Five in primary school. So far I have learned it for ten years. In these years, my English is better than some other subjects, such as mathematics. I have passed the CET-4 for just once, and now I’m ready for the CET-6. Now, I have some thoughts about the process of learning English, our second language.

    In fact there isn’t an easy way in learning English. It is important to have the continuous interest. It’s true. Although I did not recite books for many times, or insist on listening to the programs of the VOA and the BBC everyday, as some English masters did before, I can speak that learning English is also very important to me, daring not to neglect.

    To study English well is a procedure of learning and self-proving. First, the learner must take his time and patience to learn English. So this is the first step to be successful. It is said that intelligence doesn’t determine the learner’s achievement. If the learner wants to have a good achievement, he must work hard. Second, if the learner wants to speak a quiet good oral English, it takes his courage and determination to speak it out either with native speakers or just the learner’s classmates. Third, never just do the exercises given by the teacher. Language is a practical career. The learner will never know his ability until he has tried it in the practice. Someday at the airport in U.S, one learner asks a native speaker a question and he can understand the learner, meanwhile the learner can understand him and then I can say the learner will learn English well.

    Listening is the base of saying. It is impossible to learn English well without a good listening ability. The reason is that if we don’t have a good listening ability, it is impossible to speak out in English for us who aren’t native speakers. Wide listening can help us build the sense of listening, and careful listening can train our ability in listening. For oral speaking, I think, on the base of listening ability, we should look for a place to speak up bravely. English corner is a good choice.

    Reading is the base of writing. The same reason, the writing exercises are limited without lots of reading. However, for us who aren’t English-professional students, it is enough to read only one passage from newspapers and magazines in English everyday. For writing, it is sure to write fluently with lots of reading. When reading, try to notice the structures of the sentences and the passages what the authors made.

    So are my thoughts of learning English. I think that learning English is for better communication. If one day our nation is strong enough, we’ll make foreigners all learn Chinese to communicate. Finally, I wish every student get a good achievement in the coming CET-4 and CET-6. Good luck to everyone!

  注：本文成文于2006年6月11日，在写作过程中参考了一些网络上的中文资料（自简译为英文），这里从略。