Once you saw this article, you are starting the journey of being a native English user. I'm not kidding, I'm very serious. You can understand this after finishing the lines.
After I listened to the following record from Xiaolai Li which actually is his advertisement for an activity on internet, I suddenly realized that the real reason why my English could not improve a lot after so many years' studying. So I strongly recommended you to listen to this, actually I listened 3 times or more.
http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/iN83vpObXwHiWVdBN0KWBg
The reasons are like these:
First, minus-based, zero confidence
This is about the attitude, or mind of using English. According to Xiaolai's view, most people are minus-based English users, not zero based. YES, you are right, minus-based. That is because most of us don't believe ourselves can handle English, don't believe ourselves can be a fluently English user. That is like lossing the confidence before the battle. So in this case, how can we success? The zero-based person should at least have the faith that I can overcome this difficulty, for sure. Or I'm not afraid of learning English. Someday, I can handle it as my mother tongue. I can read books, papers, watch movies or newspaper, shopping on the foreign internet, etc. I can do everything related with English, because I am a native English user. The future picture is amazing, right? If you believe so, then you can achieve, or at least have the possibility.
Second, putting English on a pedestal
This is still something about attitude. English is a tool, but we often misunderstand this. Studying is just studying, study hard but after this process, we just drop it away, never use or seldom use it. So I call this, putting English on a pedestal, that means we didn't consider it as a tool, we didn't make it serve for us but just change it to a punishment. Sounds ridiculous, but ask yourself, you have been study English for years, did it serve you as a tool? Or just help you to get a high score in the exam? Did you use English to get more updating information in your career, or did it help you to enjoy a good movie or book that haven't been translated into Chinese? If your answer is No, you should think it over, and let your English goes down to the pedestal and be your real friend.
Third, study hard but never use
This is much similar with last reason, so I give you an example. I read English every day, especially after I start a learning group on We Chat 5 months ago. In this group, 20 members learn English everyday. We make a record and share in the group. But after these days, I can see some improvements but far less than my expectation. So I try to find why. Here is the reason, obviously, we learn but we did not use. Just learning is so much different from use. English is not some thing mysterious, but a tool like chopsticks or some skills like driving. The only way you can handle it is using it, or practicing, more and more, just like you are naturally a native English speaker.
After realizing this, I changed my way, I try to write comments under some English articles, and speak English with my little girl, and try to write in English, read China daily, etc. It feels great, and it makes me more confident. Although it is a little bit strange to people around me, and my English may sounds strange to them, I did not interrupt them, so what? That is my way, I will take the responsibility, not they.
So, how to be a native English user?
1. Come to the zero-base
2. Let English go down from the pedestal
3. Use, use and use
Once you see this article, you are starting to use English.
Once you start to use English, you begin the journey of being a native English user.
Once you begin the journey of being a native English user, you open a door to a new world.
Don't give up!
