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老桑说
一直以来，
都有很多朋友向我咨询，
学习英语的方法和技巧，
如何可以有效地提高外语水平。
为此，
我特意准备了这个视频来教你学外语。
视频里有学习英语的5个小窍门。
These methods are tried and true
（这些是经证实有效的方法）。
我也在用这些方法学汉语。
欢迎收看，希望能够对你有所帮助。
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「 朋友，你好，我是老桑。」
https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=l0516uvvk5i&width=500&height=375&auto=0
【最初发表：2017年6月19日】
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今年年初，我曾去到了坐落于费城的天普大学IELP语言项目中心。
那里是分享我们这个主题的最佳地点，我们在那里告诉你学英语的5个诀窍。
选在那里，是因为天普大学已经有40多年的英语教学经验了，在学习方法和模式上的权威性不容置疑。
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提高英语的五个方法
我的很多学生都曾跟我说如果他们没把语言组织完美，他们就不会去主动说英语。
然而，实际上学习语言最好的办法就是说出来，看看对不对，在错误中进步。
我学习汉语和西班牙语很多年了，每次老师、朋友纠正我的错误的时候，都是我觉得自己进步最大的时候。
这种纠正给我带来的进步，也在不断地增强着我在语言上的自信。
相比于每周只在周六下午连续学习六个小时，其实坚持每天练习30分钟要更有效果。
比如，在天普大学IELP语言项目中心，老师会给你制定一个学习英语的时间表。
这样，你就可以按照时间表的安排去保持每天的学习，能够及时有效的提高英语水平。
在进行英文阅读时，要首先确保理解了大致意思。其实你并不需要理解透每一个单词的含义也可以读懂文章大意。
在大意清楚后，再去读细节。然而我见过很多学生都存在这样的误区。
他们首先一字一句的细读文章，时不时地翻翻字典，但如此费力地读完了这一段话后，还是不懂它的大意。
所以，我鼓励我的学生先理解全文大意，然后再去查反复出现的一些关键词语，这样能够更加有效地进行阅读。
这也是我学习外语时的阅读方法。
学英文的时候，四个方面都很重要：听、说、读、写。他们缺一不可，都得同时掌握。
很多不是在说英语的国家长大的学生都表示他们不愿意用英语口语交流练习，他们觉得跟其他英语非母语者说话，很可能被别人的错误所影响。
但是，我觉得恰恰相反。英语口语，至关重要，就算和母语不是英语的人用英语交流也是学英文的重要途径。
这尤其是在你身边没有母语是英语的人的时候更为关键。
天普大学IELP语言项目中心有听说读写专项课程，这些课程可以有针对性的帮助学生提高英语能力，各个方面协同发展。
最后，多花些时间来读英语文章，尤其是读你喜欢的内容，俗话说“兴趣是最好的老师”。
如果你喜欢篮球，试试看NBA官网读英语新闻；如果你喜欢文学，从英语儿童读物开始读起，慢慢增加阅读难度。
以我自己为例，我喜欢研究中国茶道，所以我经常会读相关的中文书和看视频来了解中国茶文化。
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所以童鞋们，
这就是我们的5个诀窍
不要害怕犯错，
每天学习英语30分钟，
先抓住主旨，
听说读写共同发展，
通过兴趣学英语，
读些你所感兴趣的英文文章。
如果你能掌握这5个诀窍，
我确信你的英语可以快速提高！
天普大学的主校门：天普大学欢迎你和你的家人
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谢谢收看《老桑说》。
给你启发，激励你上进，陪伴你坚持。
敬请期待下一集。
【Originally published June 19, 2017】
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「 Hello, my friend,
I’m John Smagula. 」
Many people ask me how to study and improve their English. So, I prepared this video to teach you how to study English. These methods are tried and true. I also use them to study Chinese. I hope you find them helpful.
Earlier this year I visited Temple University's Intensive English Language Program (IELP) in Philadelphia. It's the perfect place to share with you five tips to improve your English, as Temple's IELP has been teaching English for over 40 years.
— 1 —
Don't be afraid to make mistakes
Many of my students say that if they can't say it perfectly, they won't say it at all. The reality is, one of the best ways to learn a language is to receive feedback. I have studied Spanish and Chinese for many years, and many of the breakthroughs that I have achieved have been when friends and teachers have corrected me. This revision process actually built my confidence.
— 2 —
Practice every day
30 minutes each day is so much better than, say, six hours on a Saturday afternoon. At the IELP they have a study plan to help you stay on track so that you can meet your goal of learning English.
— 3 —
Focus on the main idea
Read for the general meaning first. You don't need to understand every word to catch the main idea. Then go back and read for details. I see this with my students all the time. They carefully read a paragraph word by word, look up words in the dictionary, and then after finishing the paragraph, don't necessarily understand what they have read.
So, I encourage my students to focus on the main idea, and then look up key words that appear several times in the paragraph. This is how I read in foreign languages as well.
— 4 —
Practice the four skill sets
When studying English, it's important to practice the four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. They all need to be studied so you can improve. Many students who do not live in English-speaking countries say they do not want to practice speaking with others, thinking they may just learn other students' errors.
My experience has been the opposite. Speaking is very important, and practice with non-native speakers is also a valuable part of your study if you do not have access to native speakers. The IELP offers courses in all of these four skill areas, helping students to improve from their current level.
— 5 —
Read materials you enjoy
Finally, take time to read materials in English on subjects that you enjoy. Motivation is one of the key reasons students succeed in their studies. If your hobby is basketball, then read news on the NBA web site. If you like literature, start with children's novels and then gradually increase the difficulty. My hobby is Chinese tea, and I regularly read books and watch videos in Chinese on tea culture.
Temple University Student Activity Center
So, my friends, these are our five tips: feel free to make mistakes; study English every day in 30-minute blocks; focus on the main idea when you read; make sure you study the four skill sets of reading, writing, listening, and speaking; and finally, have fun with it. Enjoy English content on subjects that you enjoy.
If you adopt these five practices, I am confident that your English will improve quickly.
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Thank you for watching me to inspire, encourage, and accompany you.
See you next time.
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老桑说
John Smagula
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