--转自“quora英语阅读”app--
Understandably, Chinese speakers have some peculiar difficulties when trying to learn English. For one thing, English is a stress-timed language in which the stress of the sentence determines the rhythm of the language, while Chinese is a syllable-timed language.
The alphabets, too, are different. This means that not only the languages look different on paper, they also sound very different, as English and Chinese have very few common sounds. This makes it that much more difficult for Chinese speakers to nail English pronunciation.
So let’s go over some things that will help you become fluent in English.
1. Practice self-listening and listening to native English speech.
What I recommend to my Chinese speaking students is to listen extensively to native speech (podcasts, Youtube, the news, etc.) and compare the sounds that they produce themselves to native English sounds. Hearing the difference is an important step in overcoming the pronunciation barrier.
While you listen, pay attention to the rhythm of speech as well and try to imitate it. Listen to short sections of native speech and repeat after the speakers. It’s a great way to get used to the unusual “music” of the language.
2. Physical training
People move their mouths in different ways when speaking Chinese as opposed to English. While speaking Chinese requires more of a closed mouth, English prefers a more open jaw position.
This is why it’s important to actually train your mouth to produce the needed English sounds. Practice in front of the mirror and really make an effort with this one until it becomes second nature.
3. Read
An important part of achieving fluency is understanding the nuances of the language – slang words, idioms, etc. Reading is your gateway to that.
Being fluent in a language means being aware of the culture as well, which is why you should read anything and everything to help you grasp those insights and connect the dots in your head.
4. Practice with a native speaker
Finally, when it comes to getting fluent in English, nothing beats practice with a native speaker. If you think you don’t have that opportunity, don’t worry – you can always do it online with English Ninjas.
At English Ninjas, we match you with a native English speaking instructor, who will help you achieve that coveted fluency at your own convenience, as often as you need. As a Quora user, you will also get a special discount.
Understandably, Chinese speakers have some peculiar difficulties when trying to learn English. For one thing, English is a stress-timed language in which the stress of the sentence determines the rhythm of the language, while Chinese is a syllable-timed language.
The alphabets, too, are different. This means that not only the languages look different on paper, they also sound very different, as English and Chinese have very few common sounds. This makes it that much more difficult for Chinese speakers to nail English pronunciation.
So let’s go over some things that will help you become fluent in English.
1. Practice self-listening and listening to native English speech.
What I recommend to my Chinese speaking students is to listen extensively to native speech (podcasts, Youtube, the news, etc.) and compare the sounds that they produce themselves to native English sounds. Hearing the difference is an important step in overcoming the pronunciation barrier.
While you listen, pay attention to the rhythm of speech as well and try to imitate it. Listen to short sections of native speech and repeat after the speakers. It’s a great way to get used to the unusual “music” of the language.
2. Physical training
People move their mouths in different ways when speaking Chinese as opposed to English. While speaking Chinese requires more of a closed mouth, English prefers a more open jaw position.
This is why it’s important to actually train your mouth to produce the needed English sounds. Practice in front of the mirror and really make an effort with this one until it becomes second nature.
3. Read
An important part of achieving fluency is understanding the nuances of the language – slang words, idioms, etc. Reading is your gateway to that.
Being fluent in a language means being aware of the culture as well, which is why you should read anything and everything to help you grasp those insights and connect the dots in your head.
4. Practice with a native speaker
Finally, when it comes to getting fluent in English, nothing beats practice with a native speaker. If you think you don’t have that opportunity, don’t worry – you can always do it online with English Ninjas.
At English Ninjas, we match you with a native English speaking instructor, who will help you achieve that coveted fluency at your own convenience, as often as you need. As a Quora user, you will also get a special discount.
