ChaseDream

标题: 出国留学:It’s all about language. [打印本页]

作者: schiang    时间: 2010-10-3 10:03
标题: 出国留学:It’s all about language.
出国留学:It’sall about language.

留学这个词我很讨厌,不如我们就用“念书”这样中性一点的词好了。我亲爱的朋友们,在现在这个国门开放,机会众多的时代,出国念书已经不是什么奇闻异事。似乎只要有足够金钱支持,只要你愿意,你就能出去。

出国的目的有很多种,我的这篇文章是写给那些我们出国念书,愿意真正学到东西,或者是希望在国外发展的朋友们的。

好了,你们的第一步是考toeflIELTS。有句话说得好,世上有个新东方,从此托雅随便放。有了我们著名的newOriental的诞生了以后,无数莘莘学子得以受益,顺利通过拦倒我们英雄好汉的英文考试,(无论是toefl还是IELTS还是GREgmat)成功得到对方学校的青睐,到达大洋的彼岸。好了,我们上岸了。很多人这么想的。事实是这样吗?那么接下来的故事是怎么回事呢?

我给大家说说。大家上岸了以后,首先,我们要找个地方落脚住下。你发现,无论是找房子,跟房东商讨,买任何东西,你都觉得都是我们英语课上的情景对话考试。好了,咱们开学了。这时候,你会发现何时何地,无论是上课,讨论,课下同学交流,路上偶遇同学老师,都是在进行托福雅思的听力口语阅读写作考试。你的托福考试只不过是三四个小时而已,不过这时候你是无论何时无论何地。而且现在托福考试基本上是只有英语和美语两种口音,但是事实上,你每天听到的可能是法国口音,越南口音,印度口音(这个基本上是无法避免的!),西班牙口音。而且全部都是只播放一次的实战考试,没有模拟题,每一道题目没有五秒钟的反应时间,全部都要求你在0.3秒之内给出回应。答错一次没关系,还有一到两次的回答机会。不过如果每次你都要求3次回答机会,或者更糟糕的是怎么也答不对,那么你很快就连题目都没得做了(人家就不跟你这个moron说话了)。说到写作。比如说,课堂限时间20分钟要求写一篇文章,300字或是400字。写不出来就算是旷课;写的错漏百出,影响成绩不说,同时在老师印象中形象大大降低(这个丢面子的事情大家明白)。

你们可能觉得我夸大其词。咱们过了托福600多分还是100分就行了嘛,其他的有什么可怕的。我这要告诉大家了,真的等你过来以后,你就知道托福真是算个小菜,咱们天天都在考托福呢,比这难得多了大把大把的。

我来说说我自己好了。我是在国内某著名重点大学念的本科,中文授课,专业与英文无关。本科期间去美国某市市政府实习工作了半年,期间顺便当了一下当地州立大学学生。回国毕业了以后在某专科学校当了两年老师。之后来了我现在所在的某商学院念书。托福不瞒大家,我是一回国就过了两个星期就考的(本来是在那边考比较容易,不过老是拖时间忘记了),做了两套还是三套模拟题就算是复习,作文看了题库(到底有没有写记不得了)。成绩具体就不说了,不过是申请世界上任何一所大学任何学位任何专业都完全没有任何问题了。后来考了gmat。状态稍微悲惨一些,不过也是申请任何大学绰绰有余。

我就基本是这个状态,来了这边,一样认为自己语言不足。我想参加学生会选举,语言不足;参加案例比赛,语言不足;参加志愿者,给孩子们念念书教教课,语言不足;公共演讲,语言不足;学生会志愿者,语言不足;课堂辩论,语言不足;小组数学会计统计金融经济讨论,语言不足;上bar跟男生女生热烈瞎侃,语言不足。所谓语言不足,不是听不懂,说不出,而是达不到自己希望的随心所欲的状态,达不到跟自己母语一样,可以忽略语言本身,着重内容的状态;达不到无论是学术环境还是社交环境,随意交往,说出自己的任何看法的状态。

我讨厌这样的感觉。

这样是作公共演讲需要写稿子然后熟读,而本地同学只需要写出一个大纲就可以出去踢球了的感觉;这样是写作业需要多花一半时间的感觉;这样是当地同学热热闹闹达成一片上某某家喝啤酒看电影弹吉他,而自己完全搞不清楚他们热烈讨论对象的感觉(比如说某某球类,某某小说,某某电影,某某明星,某某政客,某某食物,某某餐厅);这样是看案例需要来回看两次才能写出大纲,而本地同学已经开始讨论进入正题的感觉。

什么文化冲击,什么人际交往,说穿了,不就是语言问题。同志们,你们知道美国跟加拿大不是一个国家,自然文化不同。可是咱们听说过美国人在加拿大受到文化冲击无法适应的问题吗?美国人可能在加拿大抱怨几句,然后暗地里嘲笑枫叶国落后迟钝,但是对他们来说,去加拿大就跟我们出省没什么两样。咱们北京人去天津是不是会有文化差异?可是是不是没有几天就适应了?顶多抱怨两句罢了。一个道理。语言没有问题嘛。

我一点也没有夸张。It’sall about language.

朋友们,在国内把语言练好再出来,才是真正革命的本钱。否则你会非常被动。我的同班中国同学之中有完全听不懂课的;有听不太懂总是向本地的同桌同学请教,结果我在背后听到他的抱怨的;有基本不能参加任何讨论和回答问题的;有在小组作业中基本处于被忽略地位的。我不知道他们的痛苦。我觉得听课是正常行为,某些boring的课我甚至会神游天外;我觉得课堂讨论很容易,从来不能插不上话,从来不需要pardon他人repeat;我从来不觉得跟自己室友对话只有”hi,thank you, good-bye”的。我以为他们跟我一样。我的苦恼是我觉得我不能向本地同学那样自在,自在交往,自在学习,自在娱乐。

到底要什么程度才行?我举最简单例子。以下词语(词组),大家能听到知道意思(所有常用意思),不用翻译中文,知道各种时态语态动词形容词名词,知道用法吗?

Conglomeratecongruentloiterboostaggrandize augment;derogatoryunanimoushybridhypothesishierarchical;hibernate; exude; tamper; volatile; utility; synopsissynchronizeencyclopediaantiseptic alignmentmitigatedisclaimermechanism; emblemembroider conjunctiongynecologistbenevolentexonerateetc.

你觉得奇怪,怎么会有这些奇奇怪怪的词?你永远想不到对方会说什么东西。可能突然变成传染病学,自闭症;人工智能;纳米技术;言语失调症;或是地理;自然资源;机械制造;慈善,自然动物,逻辑学,物流还是人类学。在这里,没有什么四级六级词汇,什么托福词汇。什么考研词汇。事实上,我觉得所有托福以及gmat词汇都是常用词汇。甚至,GRE词汇都是常用词汇。到底需要多少词汇量?这是一个无底洞。我也不知道。也许我现在有20000词汇,可是真正活学活用的,不是只在阅读和听别人说话时才反应过来的,又有多少呢?

地名。人名。书名。电影名。学术专业词汇;流派。军事,体育,娱乐,俚语,挖苦讽刺。什么都有。任何软件都是英文,并且他人期待你马上上手。

如果你对这些一无所知,你会非常被动。你觉得被忽略了,你觉得被边缘化了,你觉得自己的价值能力实现不了,你觉得自己不能被他人理解和帮助,你觉得生活很无聊,无目的,无意义。

再次告诉亲爱的朋友们,出国念书,还是工作(根据我的经验看来,这会更加有挑战性),请准备好自己,武装好自己。不是那么舒服的,不是那么轻松的,不是那么容易的。当然,如果你家里有着大把大把的票子叫着嚷着要跳出来,要被花掉,那么不用犹豫,赶快揣好兜好了,彼岸有着用钱的好去处。你一定不会遗憾。
作者: 小小沙子11    时间: 2010-10-4 23:10
谢谢楼主的分享,很真实,也很有启发!

祝福楼主在米国的锤炼之中打造应用自如的英文表达,打破那层玻璃,真正进入到米国真实的大房间里:)
作者: leavesgirl    时间: 2010-10-5 01:55
很贴切,我目前的状态就觉得被边缘化, 作业上好像没有可以贡献的,本地同学的词汇量感觉都好学术,写起PRESENTATION的时候更是夸张。 想想很傻的,站在台上没有机会表达。
作者: lucymouse    时间: 2010-10-5 21:43
语言确实是王道,马克一下,好好看IETLS去。
作者: kaja240382    时间: 2010-10-8 15:54
写得好真实啊!以前在莫斯科和马德里读书时候也有同感,当你感觉运用越来越自如的时候,离毕业的时间也不远了。 今年人28,去年回到国内,感觉不是很适应,选择去美国,先是语言。几乎10年没用英语了,报过新东方,没有领悟感。自己在家复习。痛苦挣扎中啊!!!想想未来是美好的。
作者: a363684582    时间: 2010-10-9 03:23
楼主能领悟到这种语言的障碍说明本身的英语水平已经达到一个高度了,native speaker和 foreigner 的主要区别就在这里:用语言思考,接下来就是一个时间磨合的问题了,这是一个漫长的过程,希望你能尽快加速这个过程。
作者: eaglecar    时间: 2010-10-9 11:00
很久没来CD了,上来就看到楼主的好帖。楼主的帖子描述的是如此贴切,简直就是曾经我肚子里的虫虫(现在已经没有虫虫了)。我每天都在受折磨,每天都在提醒自己,It is all about language. 其实MBA的很多课程,可以自学,知识学习对我来说,没有什么难度。很多案例分析,第一时间我就有完整的构架出来,但是没有用。屁用没有!因为说不出来。我不能要求老外讲话慢点,我也不会要求他们重视我,也不会要求他们有耐心猜我的烂句子,我只是知道,我说话的权利是靠我自己挣来的,不是乞求来的。所以虽然我说的很烂,但是我会说更多,虽然小组开会他们会听不懂,但是我会提供打印好的图片和文字帮助他们理解,虽然他们热火朝天聊啥我不知道,但是我会拿本子把听不懂的记下来。

我QQ,MSN 的签名是:打通任督二脉,我就是武林高手。一脉是听,一脉是说。 It is all about language.
作者: mba11    时间: 2010-10-10 03:07
can't agree more!
作者: flowerbaby    时间: 2010-10-10 11:37
未来足够美好~
明白lzmm无非抱怨一下暂时的不适应感,这跟谈恋爱一样,磨合期一过,什么都好了。
can ba de~
作者: Arnica37    时间: 2010-10-12 13:13
同意
作者: joyhere    时间: 2010-10-12 15:41
Agree.
What's of more value may be finding out the way of breaking this wall.
If possible, find a good boyfriend, that should be the easiest and quickest way I can think of.
Or a close nice native friend may also help a lot.
作者: guo6jinlong    时间: 2010-10-14 00:34
楼主说的有道理,有没有一本介绍米国同学常用口语词汇和常用典故的东西呢?
作者: cyan66    时间: 2010-10-14 03:42
楼主说的真好,后悔没在国内把语言练好了,现在比起来,gt只是小得不能再小的菜了
作者: cyan66    时间: 2010-10-14 03:43
楼主说的有道理,有没有一本介绍米国同学常用口语词汇和常用典故的东西呢?
-- by 会员 guo6jinlong (2010/10/14 0:34:28)



不知道林达的美国四部曲有没有对这个国家的文化有比较表面的理解,可惜是中文,变成英文人名后还是看不懂
作者: samwzhang    时间: 2010-10-14 13:17
You really don't need most of those GRE words to express yourself freely in California, based on my experience... I would suggest that Chinese students dig deeper into popular local culture and familiarize themselves with names such and Lindsay Lohan and Michelle Rhee. The nuance of everyday American life, such as raviolis or wasabi, you WILL pick up. BUT the opening up of your mind set, a key to integrate into mainstream America
, might not be so easy. For example, I had a hard time with dudes worshiping the Dalai Lama at USF…
作者: kittyocathy    时间: 2010-10-16 18:59
引用一下你的文章,发给我同学看看,让我们这些为出国考试准备的人有点准备
作者: 叶子mj    时间: 2010-10-21 15:51
好贴!TG只是练兵,真正的战场在前方等着
作者: anyadai    时间: 2010-10-22 15:19
标题: 严重同意lz观点
总觉得我自己好好学英语时已经没希望练就英文思考了。高中那会学的垃圾英语对我现在的英语学习负面影响很大。
趁还没有出国,好好create an English environment,为了将来出国的实战打点基础。
作者: kissxkiss    时间: 2010-10-22 21:36
那平时杂练呢
还有两个月就要来了
作者: Eva2016    时间: 2010-10-24 12:18
深有同感,很多时候甚至觉得要不是语言这道坎我们很多事情能比native-speaker做得要好。现在觉得自己听力才最是问题,口语有时候有错误别人也能懂,当然最好还是要学着讲得更地道些不要有太多错误。同时发现自己的英文思维正在形成,而中文竟然开始说不好了。。。后悔没带本词汇书来这样每天通勤时可以背背。
作者: schiang    时间: 2010-10-24 14:19
谢谢你的鼓励。你还真聪明啊。我确实就是这个意思。抱怨抱怨,然后给后面的同志们说说感觉,打打预防针。

不过其实我本身的英文能力是很高的了,应该叫做“nearly” close to native speakers。我在文章中说的一些不是我的经历,是我整合了同学们的一些感觉写的。我来这边有参加过选举,参加过比赛,也有组织过活动。无论是和老师政府官员还是同学一般工作人员打交道,基本没有任何问题。

我的感觉是,大家不妨应该要把英文练到至少我目前的水平才行(当然是越高越好了)。不然我可以想象是很痛苦的(我的一些同学确实是挣扎中。他们比我聪明的多了,可是我也无法帮助到他们)。因为到时候就连遇到困难想要找个人帮忙都有问题。上课完全靠自己。不要依靠本地同学。他们表面上耐心,但是如果老是问问题,打断他们听课,他们会在后面抱怨(至少我都听过其中同学的抱怨。我真的很为她不好意思啊)具体我是什么水平,我也说不清,至少就是听力没问题,如果是普通文科课程和日常交流,理解率在95%以上,普通数字类课程(数学会计统计)理解率在85%以上吧。自己的观点问题基本上可以说得出口,讲得明白。课堂回答问题OK。

我觉得同班的印度同学其实很厉害。他们是从小英文教学,虽然有口音,但是表达的流利程度很高。
作者: schiang    时间: 2010-10-24 14:25
深有同感,很多时候甚至觉得要不是语言这道坎我们很多事情能比native-speaker做得要好。现在觉得自己听力才最是问题,口语有时候有错误别人也能懂,当然最好还是要学着讲得更地道些不要有太多错误。同时发现自己的英文思维正在形成,而中文竟然开始说不好了。。。后悔没带本词汇书来这样每天通勤时可以背背。
-- by 会员 Eva2016 (2010/10/24 12:18:06)



本来中国人就是智力非常高的民族(由于在体格上没有优势,上帝是公平的。我从来没有见过一个不聪明的中国人。我本身在国内属于中等水平,常常被父亲说一根筋不开窍,可是来了这里还是脑子挺好使的)。而且西方国家的人民由于优裕富足生活安定法制健全,思维固化得厉害。我们国内的环境与竞争压力都让我们得到很好的锻炼,同时普遍适应能力很好(废话,如果能在中国适应良好,全世界基本上哪里都能适应!)。如果没有语言问题,我们中国学生恐怕要称霸全世界任何大学了。

语言不应该是此消彼长的。你要注意锻炼自己的中文。我永远不会放弃中文的。无论我的英文到达什么程度。两个理由:
我国的强大与发达程度提高;
这是我的文化特征与教育来源。

祝你一切顺利
作者: schiang    时间: 2010-10-24 14:27
Agree.
What's of more value may be finding out the way of breaking this wall.
If possible, find a good boyfriend, that should be the easiest and quickest way I can think of.
Or a close nice native friend may also help a lot.
-- by 会员 joyhere (2010/10/12 15:41:09)



其实亚洲人难以融入白人圈子是正常的。人总是有趋同的倾向的嘛。我有一天有当地小学的孩子们来我们学校参观,我都发现还是白人孩子和白人孩子在一起,黄人孩子和黄人孩子在一起。虽然黄人孩子漂漂亮亮的,满口的也是洋话,那个顺溜。

文化差异我也有感觉。我其实很讨厌他们的hallowen,神神怪怪的有些又很恐怖(我本身很怕鬼也怕血),可是人家乐此不疲的啊。还有他们的流行乐什么的,我百分之八十都不喜欢,太吵了。

种族和民族差异感也很明显。我在国内基本上是“五官端正,身材高挑”的五好女青年,来了这边属于“相貌平平,身材平板,身高不算矮的亚洲女性“。我的同学基本男性为主(80%),他们的女友很多我见过,好几个真是让我印象太深刻了(不止一个!!)。美得我真的不敢老看。那个身高(1米8左右),那个深邃的相貌,那个白皙的皮肤,那个玲珑的身材,那双迷人的眼睛(湖绿色或是湛蓝色)。什么叫做美人那。我真的在国内找不到有这样美丽的女孩子(基本到达范冰冰等级了)。我们的观点很有问题,觉得白种男人喜欢亚洲丑女,事实上,人家喜欢的是前凸后翘的金发或是黑发洋妞!!
作者: dieselmaxii    时间: 2010-10-24 15:00
深有同感。。楼主。。我在英国待了2年。。
作者: happysunny56    时间: 2010-10-24 18:16
虽然信心满满的要出去,但LZ说得正是我一直担心的,顶一下,让打击来得更猛烈些吧!
作者: cookie_jie    时间: 2010-10-25 04:39
在美国,去一趟当地的菜馆,就知道自己的语言有多么的不足。。。
作者: eaglecar    时间: 2010-10-25 04:59
个人感觉,印度同学比西人要容易交往些,可能大家都是第三世界来的,有些共通的地方。而且印度同学里也不乏发音很好的。西人不理我,但是印度同学跟我还是比较谈得来的,先从发音好的印度同学开始交往吧,至少人家愿意“浪费”一些时间听我说烂英文,哈哈。先从烂英文说起,越说越好。
作者: evan0817    时间: 2010-10-25 14:42
practise and practise and practise!~听GRE词汇的音频要精确到读法以听力反应词汇而非视觉反应,而后再跟进背巅峰词汇以拔高!口语不知该怎么练=。=!从小哑巴英语到现在了~唉....
作者: kissxkiss    时间: 2010-10-25 21:04
我把BIG BANG又拿出来,每集挨着看几遍,记下较口语的句子和单词
听力,太纠结了,我的老大难,准备把TOEFL的拿出来做听抄吧
作者: 可可猪    时间: 2010-10-27 18:53
我深刻地能体会到这些
口语里面都是高端词汇
并非像我们想象的口语就可以随便说
毕竟你在的圈子受过高等教育
作者: lvsexinqing    时间: 2010-10-29 08:51
醍醐灌顶!奋斗中。
作者: armchannel717    时间: 2010-10-29 19:11
谢谢,肺腑之言
作者: Brightsnow    时间: 2010-10-31 22:16
顶!
作者: aclegt    时间: 2010-11-1 02:21
I would like to address some things in this discussion. And, I will also state, I am an American (not of Chinese descent, if it matters). So please excuse me for using English, it is because my Chinese is not good enough to write this post (I'm learning).

Yes, the language barrier is a problem. But it is not the only one. Many Chinese students I know let the language barrier be much larger than it should. I have some Chinese friends, and I enjoy talking to them despite the language issue, because I like meeting people from other countries and have an interest in China. But, I feel that many Chinese studying in the US are not willing to truly be friends with an American. As difficult as you may think it is (or will be) to make American friends, as an American it's much harder to make friends with Chinese. The problem is that too many students think that:

1) The cultural difference is too large to bridge
2) That their English is too poor, and they should just stay with other Chinese because of language
3) That Americans won't enjoy talking to them because of language

None of these are true.

Yes, there are some cultural differences, and some Americans who don't have the patience to talk to those who are learning English. But there are also some who do. Many people make judgments based upon the way someone looks or where they are from, and while a Chinese person may be concerned about Americans making those judgments about them, the reality is that all too often, the Chinese will also make judgments about Americans. They assume that, because I am American, I will not have patience to talk to them or will not be interested in the same topics.

How do you think it makes Americans feel to meet Chinese people who never will talk to us? Who won’t even give us their names, instead giving some fake English name that’s supposed to be “easier”? Who won’t participate in the life of the university or the society but instead stay insulated in a separate community? Who will always choose to hang out with other Chinese and not invite us, even though we're trying to spend time with them?
It makes us feel that the Chinese people in the US don’t really want to consider Americans as friends. Of course in reality it’s usually just language, but think about how that looks to US people, especially when other foreign groups don’t do that nearly as much.

People are just the same everywhere, and in the event that you do meet an American who doesn’t have patience to speak with someone learning English, then know that there is another one who does. Be willing to speak for yourself without fear of embarrassment: in the US, not knowing English enough is not a reason to lose face if you are legitimately trying to learn it. If someone isn’t willing to accept you for that, it’s their problem and not yours.

And feel free to venture outside of your own community: yes, at first the language will be a problem, but read the original poster carefully. In the beginning that person couldn’t join clubs or organizations, or participate because he (or she) thought his language wasn’t good enough. But later, was able to do all of these things. Yes at first it will be hard, learning a language always is, but if you never push yourself to go outside your comfort zone, you can’t improve.

And please, please don't judge Americans you meet before you get to know them. There are many Americans who really want to know you as a friend, and help you succeed in your study.
作者: angelajeff    时间: 2010-11-1 10:05
看到这篇文章,我深深的纠结上了,并且有一种预感,等我上岸之后,终将边缘化。。俺听英语去了。。
作者: Rainbeauty    时间: 2010-11-3 08:28
提示: 作者被禁止或删除 内容自动屏蔽
作者: eaglecar    时间: 2010-11-7 08:02
I would like to address some things in this discussion. And, I will also state, I am an American (not of Chinese descent, if it matters). So please excuse me for using English, it is because my Chinese is not good enough to write this post (I'm learning).

Yes, the language barrier is a problem. But it is not the only one. Many Chinese students I know let the language barrier be much larger than it should. I have some Chinese friends, and I enjoy talking to them despite the language issue, because I like meeting people from other countries and have an interest in China. But, I feel that many Chinese studying in the US are not willing to truly be friends with an American. As difficult as you may think it is (or will be) to make American friends, as an American it's much harder to make friends with Chinese. The problem is that too many students think that:

1) The cultural difference is too large to bridge
2) That their English is too poor, and they should just stay with other Chinese because of language
3) That Americans won't enjoy talking to them because of language

None of these are true.

Yes, there are some cultural differences, and some Americans who don't have the patience to talk to those who are learning English. But there are also some who do. Many people make judgments based upon the way someone looks or where they are from, and while a Chinese person may be concerned about Americans making those judgments about them, the reality is that all too often, the Chinese will also make judgments about Americans. They assume that, because I am American, I will not have patience to talk to them or will not be interested in the same topics.

How do you think it makes Americans feel to meet Chinese people who never will talk to us? Who won’t even give us their names, instead giving some fake English name that’s supposed to be “easier”? Who won’t participate in the life of the university or the society but instead stay insulated in a separate community? Who will always choose to hang out with other Chinese and not invite us, even though we're trying to spend time with them?
It makes us feel that the Chinese people in the US don’t really want to consider Americans as friends. Of course in reality it’s usually just language, but think about how that looks to US people, especially when other foreign groups don’t do that nearly as much.

People are just the same everywhere, and in the event that you do meet an American who doesn’t have patience to speak with someone learning English, then know that there is another one who does. Be willing to speak for yourself without fear of embarrassment: in the US, not knowing English enough is not a reason to lose face if you are legitimately trying to learn it. If someone isn’t willing to accept you for that, it’s their problem and not yours.

And feel free to venture outside of your own community: yes, at first the language will be a problem, but read the original poster carefully. In the beginning that person couldn’t join clubs or organizations, or participate because he (or she) thought his language wasn’t good enough. But later, was able to do all of these things. Yes at first it will be hard, learning a language always is, but if you never push yourself to go outside your comfort zone, you can’t improve.

And please, please don't judge Americans you meet before you get to know them. There are many Americans who really want to know you as a friend, and help you succeed in your study.
-- by 会员 aclegt (2010/11/1 2:21:58)




I can't agree with you any more. Culture barrier is not fatal to studying English, and the biggest barrier for studying English is the constraint that people set for their mind. Some people are isolated by themselves, not by tough world.
作者: wchg0476    时间: 2010-11-17 15:14
吸取前人的经验教训……多谢楼主啊~~~
作者: marymarymary    时间: 2010-11-18 21:45
虽然没打算去留学,但是以我在工作中的体会,听说读写,写是最难的,请准备去留学的TX们至少英文要够写作业。
其实中文也是如此,程度低的人听说没有问题,写就会很有问题。
作者: helenaqa    时间: 2010-11-18 22:03
有道理呀
作者: JASO    时间: 2010-11-21 14:38
好贴
作者: Claire    时间: 2010-11-27 03:10
very well written post
totally agree with lz
作者: LEDGIRL    时间: 2010-11-28 12:39
身处二流学校,没有那么大的压力,但是语言确实让我学习中有隔靴搔痒的感觉,大大的削弱了我的战斗力,不爽
作者: 牙牙乐乐    时间: 2010-11-28 21:46
楼主英语还不错的人都怎么恼火,像我这种英语很烂的人出去那不是个文盲了。。。哎。。。
作者: whismanc    时间: 2010-11-30 16:53
英语很烂出去还不如文盲,至少文盲都会听说,我现在只不过在香港,开会的时候经常会miss,还要靠看会议材料来补
作者: yyhhjj    时间: 2010-11-30 21:15
一起努力吧
作者: sheikh239    时间: 2010-12-4 14:29
敲响警钟了
作者: ssdd    时间: 2010-12-4 22:39
感觉楼主更多的其实不是语言上不能适应,还是文化上不能融入.

即使在国内,说中文,如果你的同学都在讨论最新的电子DJ风格,独立电影,限量款T恤,你可能发现你也一无所知,同样会被排除在外.

同样,即便说中文,如果思考问题的角度和方式你无法与大多数人相同的话,你一样觉得无法交流.

我认为,既然选择去美国,你要在去之前了解它的文化,人们的思维方式和中国人比差别都在哪.

你的观点是说你即便托福GMAT考的很好,但是还觉得语言能力不行,跟不上外国同学. 但是你要知道,很多西班牙人,印度人,根本考不到你这个分数,口语可能也不如你,但是他们为什么能够更快的适应美国生活? 他们为什么可以用更少的词汇更准确的表达想表达的内容?

我觉得LZ需要改变的不是语言能力,而是思维的转变.
作者: utsclisa    时间: 2010-12-5 02:43
however we really learn the language when we're there~~~can't avoid suffering anyways~~~
作者: williamwwu    时间: 2010-12-6 15:40
对啊  语言是我们留学生最大的困难 如果语言我们能像美国人一样,我们肯定学的很好。但是既然来了,我们就要好好我完成我们要做的事情!!
作者: xiaohuier    时间: 2010-12-9 20:44
说得好~!
作者: katherinexinyi    时间: 2010-12-10 21:41
在国内尽力,在国外更尽力!
作者: bonnie08    时间: 2010-12-14 11:50
真可怕
作者: GoodspeedWong    时间: 2010-12-14 13:56
语言就是王道!!!!
作者: tony_zhang    时间: 2010-12-19 07:57
深有同感,mark~~
3Q~
作者: Hingis    时间: 2010-12-22 16:30
之前貌似就有这种感觉~不过还是看了这篇文章更有感触!明天开始背GRE!!
作者: cuixl    时间: 2010-12-28 01:37
Mark
作者: lovemd    时间: 2010-12-28 10:29
oh,my God . overcoming ...
作者: chenwei55143    时间: 2011-1-1 02:03
actually i don't quite agree. i think culture and an open heart are more important. i have seen some european whites with bad english and strong accents having a very good time in the states. the commonly used vocabulary is just around 3000
作者: susanaedet    时间: 2011-1-7 13:16
mark
作者: vkoa    时间: 2011-1-18 20:56
语言···记住记住记住了
谢谢分享
作者: youyiyoutian    时间: 2011-1-19 08:06
深有同感!!作为一个再外面漂了6年的人,还是觉得语言不够!无时无刻不想多学点英语,但是总觉得难啊!!!
作者: emilyzouduff    时间: 2011-1-21 17:41
I would like to address some things in this discussion. And, I will also state, I am an American (not of Chinese descent, if it matters). So please excuse me for using English, it is because my Chinese is not good enough to write this post (I'm learning).

Yes, the language barrier is a problem. But it is not the only one. Many Chinese students I know let the language barrier be much larger than it should. I have some Chinese friends, and I enjoy talking to them despite the language issue, because I like meeting people from other countries and have an interest in China. But, I feel that many Chinese studying in the US are not willing to truly be friends with an American. As difficult as you may think it is (or will be) to make American friends, as an American it's much harder to make friends with Chinese. The problem is that too many students think that:

1) The cultural difference is too large to bridge
2) That their English is too poor, and they should just stay with other Chinese because of language
3) That Americans won't enjoy talking to them because of language

None of these are true.

Yes, there are some cultural differences, and some Americans who don't have the patience to talk to those who are learning English. But there are also some who do. Many people make judgments based upon the way someone looks or where they are from, and while a Chinese person may be concerned about Americans making those judgments about them, the reality is that all too often, the Chinese will also make judgments about Americans. They assume that, because I am American, I will not have patience to talk to them or will not be interested in the same topics.

How do you think it makes Americans feel to meet Chinese people who never will talk to us? Who won’t even give us their names, instead giving some fake English name that’s supposed to be “easier”? Who won’t participate in the life of the university or the society but instead stay insulated in a separate community? Who will always choose to hang out with other Chinese and not invite us, even though we're trying to spend time with them?
It makes us feel that the Chinese people in the US don’t really want to consider Americans as friends. Of course in reality it’s usually just language, but think about how that looks to US people, especially when other foreign groups don’t do that nearly as much.

People are just the same everywhere, and in the event that you do meet an American who doesn’t have patience to speak with someone learning English, then know that there is another one who does. Be willing to speak for yourself without fear of embarrassment: in the US, not knowing English enough is not a reason to lose face if you are legitimately trying to learn it. If someone isn’t willing to accept you for that, it’s their problem and not yours.

And feel free to venture outside of your own community: yes, at first the language will be a problem, but read the original poster carefully. In the beginning that person couldn’t join clubs or organizations, or participate because he (or she) thought his language wasn’t good enough. But later, was able to do all of these things. Yes at first it will be hard, learning a language always is, but if you never push yourself to go outside your comfort zone, you can’t improve.

And please, please don't judge Americans you meet before you get to know them. There are many Americans who really want to know you as a friend, and help you succeed in your study.
-- by 会员 aclegt (2010/11/1 2:21:58)




thanks a lot for your sincere saying!!!
作者: keith139    时间: 2011-2-24 14:44
mark~~~
作者: 静若水    时间: 2011-3-3 08:35
隔靴搔痒 太贴切了!
学无止境啊!
作者: sanlingjie    时间: 2011-3-3 09:12
我非常同意62楼,语言的确是障碍,但不能因为是障碍就望而却步,而且,在接触一个人之前,我们不能对齐妄加判断。我们是为了学习而去那边。所以我们一定会努力。
作者: rianne    时间: 2011-3-3 11:05
顶一下啦~
作者: huihuidouban    时间: 2011-3-4 13:06

作者: 小唯唯    时间: 2011-3-7 10:29
哎……听到楼主说的感觉很沉重啊……不过我在外面感受到的也是这个……日常的对话真的是最难的。比如你做个presentation就算要花比别人长的时间,但是也是有准备的,但是日常的对话那是完全没有准备,许多新的词汇、跳跃的思维、吞音……哎
作者: emmetzhang    时间: 2011-3-9 01:03
你好有心哦~我还没有突破这个心理...不想走出自己的comfort zone. 但是也知道自己必须这么做, 所以我总是在挣扎啊, 最近.
作者: www1010www    时间: 2011-3-10 09:45
纠结ING
作者: miltoning    时间: 2011-3-10 13:26
说难听点, 在美国这样的环境下几年都不一定能适应这个语言环境  难道在国内就能把英语玩的像母语?
作者: brilliantu    时间: 2011-3-10 23:40
Give a hug for u, dear ,accompany by our persistence!
作者: luouo    时间: 2011-3-12 16:24
I can't agree with you any more~~
作者: williamwwu    时间: 2011-3-13 16:21
是啊 !!语言 ~~是一道关口!
作者: zhaoyusee    时间: 2011-4-4 18:47
太立志了!!!!!深受感染~~~~~拿走了~~
作者: applejsjs    时间: 2011-4-5 14:05
谢谢LZ~
作者: zhou80211    时间: 2011-4-6 14:28
好贴,共勉
作者: gesteven    时间: 2011-4-7 02:07
Thanks a lot for your advice!! Wish to be friend with you.
作者: martinatracy    时间: 2011-4-7 16:12
重重地敲了警钟。。。thanks a lot!!!
作者: wangbo23    时间: 2011-4-7 19:53
好贴,留着经常敲自己
作者: ljyjulia    时间: 2011-4-8 02:11
You really don't need most of those GRE words to express yourself freely in California, based on my experience... I would suggest that Chinese students dig deeper into popular local culture and familiarize themselves with names such and Lindsay Lohan and Michelle Rhee. The nuance of everyday American life, such as raviolis or wasabi, you WILL pick up. BUT the opening up of your mind set, a key to integrate into mainstream America
, might not be so easy. For example, I had a hard time with dudes worshiping the Dalai Lama at USF…
-- by 会员 samwzhang (2010/10/14 13:17:55)


samwzhang, you have such a great language! A few question to ask you.what do you mean by familiarizing the name such as Linsay  Lohan and Michelle Rhee? And what's the nuanance between raviolis or wasabi?
作者: 2017    时间: 2011-4-8 03:34
在美国,去一趟当地的菜馆,就知道自己的语言有多么的不足。。。
-- by 会员 cookie_jie (2010/10/25 4:39:10)


同意同意超级同意!!!!
作者: 2017    时间: 2011-4-8 03:51
如果大家不抵触和有宗教信仰的人一起聊天什么的话不妨参加一些他们的活动。通常这些人都是非常耐心并且愿意真诚的帮助你的。我参加过一些他们组织的活动,并不是宗教主题的,但是每次活动都会有大家一起做游戏或者讨论的环节,会比较有帮助。
我觉得跟美国人交流过程中对自我的保护可能是造成隔阂的原因之一。我们总被教育不要出风头,很多发自内心的奇怪想法总是被我们选择性的留在心里,而说一些所谓的普遍价值观。造成美国人认为很多中国人都一个样。大多数美国人是比较尊重差异的,他们很希望听到新鲜的故事,大胆一些,说出自己想法。
Slang和那些美国人热衷的体育项目也许是造成隔阂的另外一个原因。这两者的生疏直接造成我们无法fit in。
另外,如果实在觉得需要,可以找当地社区大学的ESL课程,据我了解,很多地方的ESL高级口语班会有关于小组讨论,presentation方面的训练。之所以找社区大学,是因为便宜(当然,选择不要学分的,要学分的话还是会被按照国际学生算,不划算)。
作者: michelleqiao    时间: 2011-4-8 16:45
楼主写的很好,没有准备好出去估计连课都听不懂了!
作者: FannieHsu    时间: 2011-4-15 17:47
相当有用的一篇文,用来警惕自己
作者: weiran    时间: 2011-4-16 17:28
楼主有道理,好好练英语。加油
作者: tinygreen    时间: 2011-4-18 08:38
天啊,楼主给我敲醒了警钟
作者: jasonluy    时间: 2011-4-18 09:20
还有一条,不要依赖中国学生群体。
在美一年,这条是我的经验之谈。
作者: jasonluy    时间: 2011-4-18 09:24
我有个老美同学,我问他 “你这一生追求什么?”
他的回答让我出乎意料。

"FREEDOM"
作者: kling    时间: 2011-4-19 16:11
赞一个 出国交换了半年 确实是这个感受
作者: cnsale    时间: 2011-4-19 17:54
学习ING!
作者: 582640853    时间: 2011-5-27 10:39
好贴!我给你顶到第一页去!
作者: youyiyoutian    时间: 2011-5-29 11:22
You really don't need most of those GRE words to express yourself freely in California, based on my experience... I would suggest that Chinese students dig deeper into popular local culture and familiarize themselves with names such and Lindsay Lohan and Michelle Rhee. The nuance of everyday American life, such as raviolis or wasabi, you WILL pick up. BUT the opening up of your mind set, a key to integrate into mainstream America
, might not be so easy. For example, I had a hard time with dudes worshiping the Dalai Lama at USF…
-- by 会员 samwzhang (2010/10/14 13:17:55)



相比楼主的话,我更赞同这位!我给外国人看我‘红宝’他们很多单词都不认识的。。。
而且我自己也觉得他们讲话的时候说的一些人名我都不晓得。。。这些又不是红宝里能背出来的单词!
作者: schiang    时间: 2011-7-12 21:43
actually i don't quite agree. i think culture and an open heart are more important. i have seen some european whites with bad english and strong accents having a very good time in the states. the commonly used vocabulary is just around 3000
-- by 会员 chenwei55143 (2011/1/1 2:03:40)



你的言论我很同意。不过你自己也是说人家是europeans. 这个已经涉及到种族与文化血缘的问题。作为东亚人,本来也无法改变你自己成为白种人,或是说把你的老家从中国变成欧洲,我觉得这个问题没有讨论的必要。


你open heart那当然重要了,那么下文呢?而且你的open heart要怎么样体现?
作者: schiang    时间: 2011-7-12 21:47
感觉楼主更多的其实不是语言上不能适应,还是文化上不能融入.

即使在国内,说中文,如果你的同学都在讨论最新的电子DJ风格,独立电影,限量款T恤,你可能发现你也一无所知,同样会被排除在外.

同样,即便说中文,如果思考问题的角度和方式你无法与大多数人相同的话,你一样觉得无法交流.

我认为,既然选择去美国,你要在去之前了解它的文化,人们的思维方式和中国人比差别都在哪.

你的观点是说你即便托福GMAT考的很好,但是还觉得语言能力不行,跟不上外国同学. 但是你要知道,很多西班牙人,印度人,根本考不到你这个分数,口语可能也不如你,但是他们为什么能够更快的适应美国生活? 他们为什么可以用更少的词汇更准确的表达想表达的内容?

我觉得LZ需要改变的不是语言能力,而是思维的转变.
-- by 会员 ssdd (2010/12/4 22:39:24)



谢谢你的意见。我的成绩并不如印度人,事实上。


我也并非self-constrained。其实我现在出国两年,很多跟白人的相处之道已经开始摸索出来,而且我的一个问题是自己是一个年轻女性,而要如何应对骚扰的或是对你有意思但是你对对方没这个想法的男人其实才是更重要的。


我的英文已经很好了,无论是学习还是社交。这点我倒是不担心。只是以此文勉励国内的朋友们罢了。
作者: dingxiang    时间: 2011-7-14 04:41
well-written.

that is very true in here.

I am still struggling with the business english, i.e. elegant and proper business English.  It will take a long time to improve, even if I have no problem make myself understood.
作者: 昨夜风    时间: 2011-7-15 23:34
受益匪浅,看来自己还要好好练啊!!
作者: 最后一根稻草    时间: 2011-7-17 00:16
好!
作者: boyucai    时间: 2011-7-17 21:22
真实




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