向老师13年教育经历，从一开始就深耕英文原版阅读与演讲辩论，从未间断。以下是向老师的《英语教育理念宣言》
Imagine, if you will, embarking on a thrilling journey—a plunge into the vast, untamed landscape of words. In this realm, each word is not merely a symbol; it’s a potential path, an invitation to new horizons of thought and understanding. Yet, paradoxically, many of us remain tethered to the ground, shackled by an insidious fear of inadequacy and haunted by the dread of confronting a vocabulary that feels more like a prison than a gateway. As Borges insightfully observed, “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” But here’s the crux: how can we enter this paradise if we lack the keys?
想象一下，如果你愿意，开始一段令人兴奋的旅程——深入这个广阔而未被驯服的文字世界。在这个领域，每一个词汇不仅仅是一个符号；它是通向新思维和理解的潜在路径，是一次新的思想与视野的邀请。然而，矛盾的是，我们中的许多人却依然被束缚在地面，受到自我怀疑的阴影所困扰，心中充满了对面对词汇的恐惧，那种感觉更像是一座监狱，而非一扇通向启蒙的大门。正如博尔赫斯所深刻指出的：“我一直想象，天堂应该是一座图书馆。”但这里有一个关键：如果我们没有钥匙，又如何进入这个天堂呢？
Let’s be clear: our discourse is not just about mastering English; it’s about wrestling with the very fabric of knowledge itself. Toni Morrison wisely reminds us, “If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down.” What weighs us down? Our reluctance to embrace the complexity of language and the rich tapestry of original texts—the very elements that can set us free.
让我们明确一点：今天的讨论不仅仅是关于掌握英语，而是关于与知识的本质进行抗争。正如托尼·莫里森所言：“如果你想飞翔，就必须放弃那些拖累你的东西。”那么，究竟是什么让我们感到身心沉重？是我们不愿意拥抱语言的复杂性和原著丰富的内涵，而正是这些元素能将我们解放。
Now, you might ask: what is the true path to mastering English effectively? The answer, my friends, lies in the unapologetic embrace of reading original works. Whether you dive into whimsical children’s novels or tackle heavyweights like Obama’s A Promised Land or Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel, reading is not merely about comprehension; it’s about transformation.
现在，您可能会问：有效掌握英语的途径是什么？答案，朋友们，正是毫不犹豫地拥抱阅读原著。无论是沉浸在迷人的儿童小说中，还是挑战巴拉克·奥巴马的《应许之地》或贾雷德·戴蒙德的《枪炮、病菌与钢铁》，阅读不仅仅是理解，它是一种转变。
Imagine committing to just one book a week! Pair that with some essential speaking and writing exercises, and voilà! English learning transforms from a dull chore into an exhilarating adventure. It becomes a portal, not just a window, a grand “main door” swung wide open to broader realities.
想象一下，每周读一本书！如果再配合一些必要的口语和写作练习，那么英语学习就会从乏味的任务转变为激动人心的冒险。它不仅是一扇窗，而是一个门户，仿佛一扇“主门”大开，通往更广阔的现实。
But let’s not kid ourselves. We live in a world where many students and professionals, molded by the relentless grip of rote education, find their vocabulary barely registering—hovering around 5,000 to 6,000 words. It’s like standing at the edge of a vast ocean, terrified to dive in, clinging to the safety of the shore. To truly plunge into the depths of original texts without drowning in unfamiliarity, one must cultivate a vocabulary of at least 8,000 words—ideally exceeding 10,000.
然而，我们不要自欺欺人。在这个世界上，许多学生和职场人士，受限于死记硬背的教育，发现自己的词汇量微不足道——通常在5000到6000词之间。这就像站在浩瀚海洋的边缘，害怕跳入水中，紧紧抓住岸边以求安全。要真正深入原著的深处而不被陌生词汇淹没，必须积累至少8000个词汇，理想情况下甚至要超过10000个。
Picture this: you’re captivated by a book, yet suddenly, you’re bombarded with page after page of unfamiliar terms. The joy of reading dissipates, replaced by frustration and self-doubt. Too often, this fleeting interest in books leads to dust-covered tomes, abandoned on shelves. Instead of languishing in anxiety, we must confront the formidable “vocabulary barrier.”
想象这样的场景：你被一本书吸引，然而突然间，你却被一页又一页的生疏词汇轰炸。阅读的乐趣瞬间消散，取而代之的是挫败感和自我怀疑。这样的情况往往导致对书籍的短暂兴趣，最终让它们在书架上积灰。与其在焦虑中徘徊，不如直面这道“词汇关”。
For those of you who have faced the harsh realities of language learning, your mission is clear: surpass that 8,000-word threshold. Remember, learning vocabulary isn’t just about memorizing translations; it’s about immersing yourself in usage, grasping the historical and cultural contexts that breathe life into those words.
对于经历过语言学习艰辛的你们，目标是如此清晰：突破8000词的门槛。记住，学习词汇不仅仅是记忆与翻译；而是要深入使用，理解赋予词汇生命的历史和文化背景。
As Robert Frost so poignantly put it, “The best way out is always through.” You must move through the challenges of language learning, embracing them as opportunities for growth. Ensure that as you learn, you absorb roots and affixes, refining your pronunciation along the way. Embrace the mantra of “massive input, spaced repetition.”
正如罗伯特·弗罗斯特所说：“出路往往在于穿越。”你必须穿越语言学习的挑战，将其视为成长的机会。在学习过程中，确保吸收词根和词缀，提升自己的发音水平。要牢记“一次大量，间隔重复”的原则。
Now, let’s cut to the chase. Whether you’re gearing up for exams or eyeing study abroad opportunities, mastering English vocabulary can dramatically enhance your performance on standardized tests. Even if our ultimate goal is developing academic prowess and cross-cultural bilingual skills, practicality must reign supreme. For busy professionals, instead of drafting a long-term plan that risks inertia, why not dedicate 20 to 40 days to break through to TOEFL-level vocabulary? After that, you’ll find yourself gliding into effortless reading and impactful expression.
现在，切入正题。无论你是在为考试做准备，还是计划出国留学，掌握英语词汇能显著提升你的标准化考试表现。即使我们的最终目标是发展学术能力和跨文化双语技能，实际问题也应当占据首位。对于忙碌的职场人士，与其制定一个可能导致惰性的长期计划，不如花20到40天高效突破托福词汇水平。这样，你将轻松进入流畅的阅读和有效的表达。
To echo Morrison, flying requires shedding the burdens of doubt and hesitation. Let us not forget Longfellow’s wisdom: “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight.” Greatness in language, as in life, is achieved step by step.
这里再次引用莫里森的话，我们必须意识到，飞翔需要放下怀疑与犹豫的重担。让我们不要忘记朗费劳的智慧：“卓越之人所达到和保持的高度，并非一朝一夕的飞翔所能实现。”在语言和生活中，卓越是一步一个脚印地取得的。
So, let’s confront our fears, embrace the challenge of language, and unleash the potential within us. The journey may be arduous, but the rewards are boundless. So let us not just learn to read; let us learn to engage, to question, and to soar.
让我们直面恐惧，迎接语言的挑战，释放内心潜藏的无限可能。旅程可能艰辛，但回报是无尽的。让我们不仅学会阅读，更要学会参与、质疑，并展翅高飞。
Thank you, and happy reading!
英文原版阅读与写作演讲是主线，词汇突破是进入主线的入口。对于大多数中国学生而言，两者的结合能够有效的将你带入英语学习的正轨。不管是在校生还是工作族，如果你是初高中词汇水平，可以和我一起把词汇提升到高中3500的高位；如果你要超越四六级，或者准备出国留学，我们一起花60个小时把托福8000词汇全面系统地搞定。词汇翻倍，是可以在一两个月内完成的计划。
托福词汇8000课程是一门60个小时的导师录播课程，把绿皮书乱序版串讲完；核心资料是我的笔记，一共600多页。可以按自己的节奏一天一课，20天完成；也可以一天半课，40天完成。如果你是白领或毕业多年，只要有一定的四级基础，也适合通过词汇8000的学习，扫除英文原版阅读的障碍。如果你的基础还比较薄弱，可以从高中词汇3500的课程开始。若咨询报名，请在文章下面👇留言！
托福词汇8000演示
2. 这位来自淄博的Ann，初始词汇测试5300，学成后测词破1w+。二月份考托福103，并收到多封美本的offer。词汇学习，起到了关键的考托申请的作用。
3. 这位最近刚刚完成学习的Ranish，初始测词5804，复习完后测词11375。她还分享了学习托福词汇课程过程中的心得。非常鼓励人的分享，每个人都有让自己英语词汇翻倍的可能。
教师简介
向杨，芝加哥大学社会学博士在读。四川大学生物技术基地班本科，芝加哥大学政治学硕士。“羊说”公众号创办人，专访众多政治、社会、文化界领袖。十三年持续从事英语教学和管理。
◾ 2010年外研社演讲大赛全国季军；
◾ 2009年中央电视台希望之星风采大赛四川省冠军；
◾ 屡次在国际英国议会制辩论赛获奖;
◾ 人事部口、笔译二级(CATTI)；
◾ 托福118，口语写作阅读满分。
◾ 演讲、辩论教练；托福雅思词汇，GRE教学专家；留学规划申请专家。
◾ 众多学生获得各类演讲大赛全国大奖，不少考入世界著名高中大学，如全美排名第一的高中Phillips Academy Andover（菲利普斯·安多弗），斯坦福大学东亚系博士等。
