That Can Be You, Too
For all these years I have never doubted that I am a person who cannot be more ordinary than any others, busy shuttling between office and home every day. Sometimes I simply wonder if I have what it takes to get ahead in this medical field
, that is, ambition, capabilities, and maybe connections… I just don’t seem to have been given any of these. I know how you may think I must have missed my
calling, but deep inside I am aware of how much I have been desired to be different, to stand out in life. Five years ago I decided the very straw I could grasp at was English, and I immediately took the plunge and have been trying my very
best ever since.
Knowing that I couldn’t make any difference if I was only able to read, like most English learners here, I realized attention should be paid equally to the main four aspects of English study, say, reading comprehension, writing skills, listening comprehension and speaking ability.
“Ample reading produces fluent wring”; this is what our ancestors admonished us. The amazement is this old saying proves to be perfectly applicable to English language, too, when it comes to how reading and writing are linked. The simple truth is you won’t have any problem putting down your ideas if you keep on reading. Three years of constant reading will help you acquire a big-enough vocabulary, and learn how all words are properly positioned and used in contexts. Probably you would begin with some childishly plain writings, but don’t give up yet. Soon you realize to express some more complicated ideas and thoughts is not
as difficult as it seemed to be. Now you are over the hump. You begin to enjoy reading and writing more and more. And who says somebody is doomed to be, or
doomed not to be, a novelist, an editor, or a journalist? That can be you, or me, too. Having your head on the air alone won’t help, though, and you just have to come down to earth and take action if you are to materialize your dream.
At the very beginning, however, English, as well as any languages, was an audiolingual thing, spoken and heard to exchange ideas. What is the use of the language if you have to depend exclusively on pens and paper to communicate with the outer world, instead of your very ears and tongue? They are the most instant “tools” you have with you all the time, after all. And you must have been embarrassed now and then when asked to act as an interpreter, confessing that you can
only read and write? If you feel annoyed by the situation, trust me, you need to train your ears and tongue. Not as tough as you may imagine, though, as long
as you can hear and speak Chinese (your mother tongue if you happen to be neither Chinese nor English native). Don’t underestimate the flexibility of your organs.
It’s sure no bed of roses, though. In addition to persistent imitation and practice, maybe the most scary part here is to overcome your nervousness and timidness when you are (luckily) on occasions where foreigners are available! For some reason I never seem to have to suffer that kind of phobia despite the fact that I am quite a taciturn man if you talk to me in Chinese. I was excited, but not afraid, when I knew I had a chance of having a face to face talk with a native
English speaker, Tina. You already know how our gathering went if you read my
previous article. It was exciting, and inspiring. Last Thursday I managed to make another gathering happen and it was more enjoyable and pleasant. Realization comes to me that the more I get along with native speakers the more confident
I am in myself, in my spoken English.
This morning, I again telephoned our dear David (I tried yesterday but failed to
get through). Having had free conversations with Tina twice, I was brimming with confidence before the phone was answered, and I could feel David’s surprise
and happiness after we talked for a few minutes. I don’t remember when we phoned last time, probably a few years already. Feeling like talking with an old close friend, I really enjoyed our conversation on the phone. It’s amazing that
I had only little (if not “no”) difficulty understanding him! I well remember
how nervous I was when we talked last time. Though for all these years I have
been learning American English, I found David’s English (accent) very familiar,
very dear, to me, too! I was told I now sounded more like a native than last time, with far less strong Chinese accent, and was much easier to understand. See what happens after these years of constant practice!
So folks, do seize every single opportunity when you have native speakers around
and try to speak to them. They’d be glad when they realize you are speaking to them in their mother language and will thus be very friendly and helpful. Trust me. Be courageous. Be sincere. Tell them you can speak a little English instead of “my English is very poor”, which foreign friends have already had enough of; that is how you can seem different. Diligent people are welcome in all
cultures, including all English-speaking countries; so if possible, show them you are studying hard (be sure you really are) and you are improving! That way you not only get help with English study, you make true friends with them. Isn’t
that wonderful?
Keep practising; and never give up. Do not get depressed if you do not have foreign friends available; I didn’t, either, but I now do, and I know I am going to make more friends. Just keep listening to your tapes or MP3 player, and keep
imitating what they say. Your day is sure to come! Remember what they say about every dog has its day? It’s an age that is becoming more and more globalized
; so get ready, my friends.
When you come to enjoy making friends with foreign visitors, remember to thank me for this article.
Panpanpan.
