Part II English level
I divide English learners into three groups according to motivations and goals in the last paragraph. I can’t classify it in the same way according to English level. I don’t know the specialized sorting in linguistics. I divide English level into three levels according to application by my instinct to language. The first level is to communicate with others in English (include reading, writing, listening and oral English). You might communicate with native speakers or other foreigners, even Chinese. For example, not all English teachers go abroad and can speak fluent English, but their English are good enough to teach students or coach other English learners. Some jobs demand basic listening and oral English, such as receptionists, tourist guides. Some demands high reading comprehension, such as all kinds of specialized engineers. Of course, it’s better if they could discuss details about engineering with others in English face to face.
The second level is to use English freely. It varies a lot. The basic demand is that you can negotiate with foreigners and express yourself in most situations. At first you should catch what foreigners say exactly, then you should express yourself very well. It’s my dream to communicate with native speakers freely. I know it will be difficult for me to achieve the goal, but I’ll try my best to make it.
Many of my colleagues have gone to Japan, Europe and America. They draw a conclusion that engineers in those countries (not include English native speakers) could discuss detail problems in English fluently. On the contrary, most of Chinese engineers couldn’t. They could only speak simple specialized items for part. My English is better among colleagues. I couldn’t even understand what foreign engineers were saying when I went to Belgium for a project, though I could express my ideas according to drawings. The fact is that I could only discuss some simple problems with them directly. I confess that Belgium engineers don’t speak good English, but they could communicate with others in English very well. Several weeks ago I attended a special topic meeting about steel structure with foreign experts. I can understand the interpreter’s words, but I couldn’t catch up with the speakers. I prepared to speak in English directly, but the meeting is very important and time is limited, I gave up my idea and spoke Chinese at last. Now I have confidence to talk with foreign engineers about project details directly, because I have a “cane” on hand – drawings and drafts.
The highest level of learning English doesn’t lie on language itself, but on cultures. I wish I could reach the level. When your English is excellent enough and get accustomed of thinking in English, what you should learn is to study the culture differences between Chinese and western countries. We learn English to communicate with foreigners. Different countries have different culture backgrounds. You will never know the pith and marrow of English if you don’t study western culture. Dear Mary ever posted several articles about origin of western civilization. Those background materials are crucial for one to master English. I learn that many Chinese students in America can speak fluent English, but they often feel desolated because of culture barrier. We can find many funny stories about culture differences on learning English. Here come some typical examples.
Chinese are fond of holding meetings. A small town was caught by flood. The town leaders reported it to city leaders immediately. City leaders held meetings to have a way to salvage villagers. After several days’ meeting, they reached an agreement at last. When the rescue workers went to the town, almost small half of the villagers have been drown. Well, let’s back to our topic. You might agree with sequence of my narration. Actually it’s so different in English. People in Eastern counties (include China, Japan, Korea) always emphasize the important thing at the end of a meeting. They prefer to present the marrow at last. On the contrary, western people are more straightforward. They announce the result or the most important thing at first, then followed details. Western people begin to know more about eastern customs. When they read a business letter from Chinese, they expand the letter to the last page and read the result first. Then he read from beginning if time is permitted. Many Chinese are fond of listening to novel narrated by speaker. A paragraph always is ended with a suspending enigma. Suppose an American listens to such kind of story, he/she must have been tortured to death by such narration.
The culture difference makes trouble sometimes. It’s said that a female postgraduate majored in English accompanied with an American to visit the Great Wall. The American wanted to go to toilet, but he was shy to tell her directly. At last he couldn’t resist it. He put one hand on the belly with face flushed. “I’d like to go to ‘somewhere’….” The American demanded. He thought it’s too absurd to speak out directly, so he used “somewhere”. The girl was confused. She didn’t know where he wanted to go, but she knew he must want to go to a certain place. “But he’s already on the Great Wall, he could go to anywhere he wants to.” The girl pondered. “Well, you can go anywhere!” She replied. The poor American looked at the people around him, he gave up the idea to piss anywhere.
There’re so many similar stories in real life. Here comes another example about learning English. Chinese often say modestly, “My English is poor, I’m afraid I couldn’t do it well.” However Americans seldom speak in such way even if they are really poor in English. They will speak proudly, “I’m learning English, and I will try my best to help you!”
(To be continued ......)
Azure
