Part One   Advantages & Disadvantages

  Up to now, I have been learning English for about 8 years. In the process of learning, personally speaking, I gain some achievements, as well as a lot of failures. However , to some extent, I still have advantages over others.

  As the saying goes, “hobby is the best teacher”. As to English learning, it is not an exception. To be honest, I love learning English. When I hear a sound of English, I feel more than excited. I have a desire for learning English, not only the language itself but the culture, the technology and so on.

  So, I develop a habit of skinning the English newspaper like the English Weekly, in which I learn more than what I achieve in class. Besides, I try my best to develop my speaking skills. That is, I participate in the class activities actively and after class I always try to find opportunities to talk with my partners in English.

  In order to train my reading and listening skills, I try to do a lot of reading and listen a lot. Through reading, I find my weaknesses in vocabulary and this contribute to my preparations for the CET 4. Some wonderful words, expression_r_r_r_rs and useful sentences stand out while I’m reading.    While listening, I learned what the speakers say in a narrative or a dialogue, and form pictures in my mind at the same time. After it I try to imitate the speakers’ pronunciation and intonation, which in turn do good to my listening ability and my spoken-English.

  After a period of learning, I do some summaries on the last period’s learning. Summarizing the successes and the failures, I will do some even slight alteration when I plan for the next period’s learning. Now, you see, I do have some advantages over others in learning English.

  However, in some aspects I haven’t done very well.

  Most important of all, the amount of vocabulary is much too small. There is no doubt that I’m always coming across some new words. It is an absolutely big block to my reading. Meeting new words, I am prone to refer to my e-dictionary. There are too much new words for me to finish a reading exercise. After all, looking up words in a dictionary costs lots of time.

  In addition, I’m weak in writing. Partly because I’m not good at organizing the words in mind, and thus it cost me more than 40 minutes to finish writing a composition.

 All in all, the advantages and disadvantages exist at the same time. In my mind, I should spend more time and energy in memorizing the new words and try new ways of memorizing. Besides, doing more writing is a necessity. Only by writing a lot can I improve my ability in using the new words and expression_r_r_r_rs.

  Taking all factors into consideration, there is also a long way to go for me in English learning. I should set the advantages to zero and place the emphases on disadvantages. Being confident, I will go further in English learning way.

Part Two     My Beliefs about English Learning

  “One thousand readers lead to one thousand Hamlets.” It is also true to English learners. English learners do have learning beliefs different from each other. Some, I think, are reasonable some negative, and some hard to judge.

  Some learners hold that “I don’t have any talent for learning English, it’s difficult for me”. Of course, I think little of this negative attitude. It’s indeed a fact that some people are more talented than others, but everyone can learn, as long as you find a suited learning method and work harder.

  Some think that the key to learn English well is to be equipped with a rich vocabulary. As far as I’m concerned, it’s far from being a successful English learner. Vocabulary is vital, but knowing how to use the exact words and expression_r_r_r_rs in certain occasions is more important.

  I disagree that you have to live in an English-speaking country in order to speak English well. I know many people who speak excellent English but they have never been abroad. But it doesn’t mean environment is not important. Being in an English-speaking country, you can not only be exposed to the language but also learn the culture of the country, which is helpful to you. However, not everyone has a chance to go abroad. So, in our English learning process, we should speak more. As what I believe, “Don’t be shy! Just try!”

  Yes, don’t be shy, and just have a try. No matter what we do, mistakes can’t be avoided. All we should do is learning from the mistakes, and trying to correct them in the next.

There is a saying goes, silence is gold. However, when it comes to English learning, it turns into that silence means nothing. If we are always being afraid of making mistakes, we    will achieve nothing in the end.

In another word, confidence is important to our English learners. So, being given a chance to speak, you should seize it and speak out. Don’t be shy. Just try. Only after you speak out can others know your opinions. All you should do is not worry about making mistakes, but try to express your opinion clearly. So, just speak out. Besides, speaking itself is so good a chance to test and improve your Spoken-English.

So, be confident when speaking English. At first, you may feel anxious; but after you speak more you will realize that you are able to express yourself clearly.

Now, you see what my beliefs are in English learning.

Part Three      My Views on the Oral Class

  After stepping into the university, I feel happy with the colorful English class. Different from that of senior high school, the English class in university contains oral class besides the pure teaching and learning class.

  During the oral class, the teacher will lead us review our self-learning online, which is always made by asking us retelling the stories or imitating the dialogues. Of course, this is only one part of the oral class.

The next task, I named it listening and imitating. That is, after a piece of standard dialogue, we are requested to develop a dialogue or make a short speech by ourselves. While doing it, we had better try to use the expression_r_r_r_rs and sentences appeared in our listening, as well as imitating the pronunciation and intonation. In this way, we have to spare no effort to finish the task, listening and looking carefully. In the task, all we should do is deliver the dialogue smoothly and our opinion clearly. The preparation itself is a course to improve our expressing skills.

The discussion, if any, is very interesting. A topic is given, and then every group develops a discussion on the topic, at the end of which, one of the group members will be asked to make a summary about the discussion. In this task, every one has a chance to speak out his idea.

In conclusion, our oral class is like what I said above. In my eyes, it’s interesting and lively. Most important of all, we’re able to improve our oral expressing skills in a relatively lively atmosphere.

Nevertheless, everything has two sides. So our oral class also has its shortcomings. First, in the class, only a few students have the chance to speak out to all the students. It’s partly because of the limit of time. So, I suggest a longer oral class with fewer students.

Besides, during the class, our teacher should play a role of guide. For example, in which occasion we ought to use which expression_r_r_r_rs, the intonation should be higher or lower. If with the teacher’s guide we can avoid many mistakes in our speaking. In addition, as to students’ behaviors, the teacher can give her or his opinions, helping the students correct their mistakes in time.

What’s more, a summary for the whole class is also necessary.

Of course, the above is just my own opinion. As a whole, our oral English class is satisfactory. As long as we take active part in the class, everything will be OK. The issue for us is speaking out in front of our classmates. 

Part Four      English Learning Strategies

  Having been learning English for almost 10 years, we all have formed our own learning strategies. Now, let us see.

  As to listening, some are always trying to understand everything, which, I think, is unwise. It’s neither necessary nor possible for us. As far as I’m concerned, the questions following the listening always start with “what”, “when”, “where”, “how” and so on. The tasks for us are understanding the main idea of the passage or dialogue and caring about the details accordingly.

  When it comes to listening materials, the opinions are divided. I think it’s just a matter of choice, according to one’s own situation in English learning. The most important thing is that you must choose the materials that are fit for you, neither too difficult nor too easy.

  Personally, we should guess in order to understand when we miss information. If you don’t understand something, it’s useful to try to guess from the context. That is what you have to do in a real situation. I find it will give us confident, especially we guess right. Besides, skinning the questions listening is of great significance. After it, when listening we can have targets. Otherwise we may miss too much useful information to answer the questions.

  Sometimes I may find myself indeed can’t understand the materials. Now I will refer to the transcript. Remember that only when I indeed can’t understand will I do like that. I think little of the deed of listening purely with the help with the help of the transcript.

  So, now you see, when listening, we should concentrate on the sounds, comprehend, and pick the useful information accordingly.

Compared to listening, reading is as important. To some extent, the strategies are similar. 

Not all the details should be understood. The main idea is vital. Furthermore, if we can use the words to work out the meaning of the unfamiliar words, it will be better. I don’t agree with mouthing the words, which makes your reading slow and not efficient.

The real reading is reading in a unit of groups of sentences. Of course, it is hard to do. Only with a rich vocabulary can one reach such a degree in reading. But there is no reason for us to be negative. After all, most of the listening is within most students’ abilities.

Like that before listening, we should also predict the content of the text on the basis of heading, pictures and the introductory sentences.

Doing as what is said above, you will find it easy to read. 

Nowadays, speaking is becoming more and more important. Because of the closer and closer contacts between the countries, there are a lot of chances for us to speak to the foreigners. First, we should understand others. It’s unwise to pretend to understand when not. Then you must speak out to make yourself understood.

As I have mentioned in the Part Two, don’t be shy. In my opinion, you can concentrate on the accuracy and pronunciation first and then try to speak fluently. The point is that you can be understood.

As we all know, writing is a necessity for us. Speaking for myself, I always try to use the words I have just learned when I’m writing, which makes my composition fantastic and in turn helps me to remember the new words. Besides, an outline is of great help. In learning English, I like to read a lot. And I have developed a habit of reciting the wonderful sentences. I will use them into my works, making them bright.

Sometimes, if any, I will try to recite a wonderful piece, especially the lighting spots of it. All these do good to my writing.

All road leads to Rome. Whatever the strategies are, as long as they suit you and helpful, they are good strategies.

In conclusion, there is a long way to go in English learning way.