English has been a challenging subject for millions of Chinese students for a long time.Despite starting their English-learning journey as early as third grade,most students still struggle to achieve good grades in English in the college entrance exam.It is puzzling that despite so much effort,progress is slow,and many students find it difficult to express themselves effectively in speaking and writing.
While there is no widely accepted conclusion for this phenomenon,as both an English learner and an English teacher,I have identified three main factors contributing to this ineffective language learning.
Firstly,our heavy dependence on Chinese deprives us of valuable opportunities to immerse ourselves in an English environment.For beginners,Chinese is crucial for overcoming initial barriers and understanding English more easily.However,while it aids comprehension,it also prevents us from fully engaging in English learning.In the long run,to truly become proficient in English,it is essential to learn English in English rather than relying on Chinese translations.
Secondly,the nature of English exams contributes to disappointing learning outcomes.Students are often pressured to recite texts,memorize vocabulary,and complete numerous exercises to achieve high marks.These tasks are time-consuming,leaving little time for extensive listening and reading.Consequently,limited exposure to authentic listening and reading materials results in insufficient input,making effective output difficult.
Lastly,the English-learning journey is often arduous,and it is challenging for students to persist without receiving positive feedback.Many students start and stop their learning process frequently.Without finding joy in learning English,they tend to give up midway.
What students need most is to change their perspective.They should first alter their learning approaches,then develop good habits,and finally expect different results.By doing so,they may find that learning English becomes less of a struggle and more of an enjoyable and fruitful experience.
