Studies serve fordelight, for ornament and for ability. This is the word from Francis Bacon, ascientist in 18 century. Begin by this famous words, my topic is let’s study.Let’s study something. Whatever, no matter, for I majored in English, so I takeEnglish for example to show how to learn a thing.
Firstly, studyserve for delight , so let’s study pleasantly. I want to ask which method do youuse to learn English? Reciting vocabulary? Reading a lot of English books?Listening to VOA or BBC English? Watching films and drama? No matter which youuse, only you can get fun from it and because its pleasure and a sense ofaccomplishment, you will keep forward and you are more willing to put moreenergy and time into honing it, strengthen it and have fun in it.
Take me forexample, I tried many ways to learn English. I see the English movies anddrama. I listened to English songs. I read English literature. And I also talkwith foreigners when I have chance to talk with them. I tried all of them tofind the way that gives me the great pleasure .For reading English novel, Iliked the best. I read the Scarlet Letter to know the symbolism and the Scarletletter A means a lot. The scarlet letter A symbolize shame and humiliation atfirst and then it becomes the symbol of ability and angel when the heroinestrikes to be better and let others say what they want. I read Jane Eyre to knowthat self-respect is more cherished when a woman is in her lowest point. I readthe traveling around the world in 81days to know how big is this world and thevariety of human society. The book is a world more bigger and broader than theactual world where we all live in. When I read the books, I turn over theleaves as if switch the scenes of a world. In this world , I sob when characteris crying. I chuckle when the character is smiling. I ponder when the characteris speaking. I fall into silence when the character is thinking. We areconnected by these simple words, linked with thoughts and enchanted by similarity.
Reading Englishliterature give me fun so I can’t help myself to read more, learn more and domore.
Secondly, studyserve for ornament. It lies in speech and communication. You read, your speechwill be more profound and people is more willing to hear you. When you describea person beauty, you are not the guy that can only say it’s beautiful, you cansay that shall I compare thee to a summer’s day, yet you are more lovely andmore temperate. When I put this example into Chinese version, the contrast willbe more sharp. You can not only say that“你真漂亮”, you can say that ”巧笑倩兮，美目盼兮”，or“翩若惊鸿，婉若游龙”.
Thirdly, studyserve for ability. Understanding of this words is very simple. Histories mathman wise; poet witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moralgrave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.
Because studyserve for delight, for ornament and for ability. So let’s study.
