Five Speaking Rules You Need to Know

编者注：很多同学在学习英语的过程中常常有这样的疑惑：为什么自己的英语笔试成绩很好，但是却总开不了口，无法流利地用英语与人交流呢？下面给大家分享的是学说英语的五大法则，同学们不妨去思考、实践一番，一定能有所收获。

摘自：TalkEnglish.com

选译：安徽大学 钱润荷

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This rule might sound strange to many ESL （English as a Second Language） students， but it is one of the most important rules. If you want to pass examinations， then study grammar. However， if you want to become fluent （流畅的；流利的） in English， then you should try to learn English without studying too much grammar.

对于许多把英语作为第二语言来学习的学生来说，这条法则听起来很奇怪，但它可是最重要的法则之一。如果你想要通过考试，那就去学习语法。然而，如果你想要把英语说得更流利，那你学习英语这门语言时应该尝试一下不去过多地学习语法。

Studying grammar will only slow you down and confuse （使……迷惑） you. You will think about the rules when creating sentences instead of naturally saying a sentence like a native （当地人）. Remember that only a small group of English speakers know more than 20% of all the grammar rules. Many ESL students know more grammar than native speakers. I can confidently （肯定地） say this with experience. I am a native English speaker， majored （主修……） in English Literature， and have been teaching English for more than 10 years. However， many of my students know more details about English grammar than I do. I can easily look up the definition （定义） and apply （应用） it， but I dont know it when I speak English.

学习语法只会让你速度慢下来，把你弄糊涂。在造句的时候，你会去思考规则，而不是像本国人一样自然而然地说出一个句子。要知道，只有很小一部分的英语使用者知道的英语语法规则在20%以上。许多ESL学生知道的语法比母语是英语的人更多。以我的经验，我可以肯定这一点。我的母语是英语，主修的是英语文学，迄今已经教了十多年的英语。但是，有关英语语法的细节，很多学生比我知道的更多。我可以很快地查找一个语法定义并去运用它，但是我说英语的时候却没有意识到这个规则的存在。

I often ask my native English friends some grammar questions， and only a few of them know the correct answer. However， they are fluent in English and can read， speak， listen， and communicate effectively.

我总是问我的那些母语也是英语的朋友们一些语法问题。他们当中也只有很少一部分人能说出正确的答案。但是，他们的英语都很流利，能读、说、听和有效地进行交际。

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Many students learn vocabulary and try to put many words together to create a proper sentence. It amazes me how many words some of my students know， but they cannot create a proper sentence. The reason is because they didnt study phrases. When children learn a language， they learn both words and phrases together. Likewise， you need to study and learn phrases.

很多学生学习词汇，并尝试把很多单词放在一起来造一个正确的句子。我的一些学生们的词汇量让我很惊异，但是他们没办法说出正常的句子，因为他们没有学习短语。当孩子们学习一种语言时，词和短语他们都学。同样，你也需要学习短语。

If you know 1000 words， you might not be able to say one correct sentence. But if you know 1 phrase， you can make hundreds of correct sentences. If you know 100 phrases， you will be surprised at how many correct sentences you will be able to say. Finally， when you know only a 1000 phrases， you will be almost a fluent English speaker.endprint

如果你知道1000个单词，你不一定能够说出一个正确的句子。但如果你知道1个短语，你可以造出上百个正确的句子。如果你知道了100个短语，你将会为自己可以说出如此多正确的句子而惊讶。最后，你只要知道了1000个短语，你基本上就能说一口流利的英语了。

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When you want to create an English sentence， do not translate the words from your mother tongue. The order of words is probably completely different and you will be both slow and incorrect by doing this. Instead， learn phrases and sentences so you dont have to think about the words you are saying. It should be automatic （自动地；不假思索地）.

当你想造一个英语句子的时候，不要根据母语翻译句子。两种语言的词序有可能完全不同，你很有可能既慢又容易出错。相反，学习了短语和句子，你就用不着思考你要说的单词，而是不假思索地脱口而出。

Another problem with translating is that you will be trying to incorporate （混合） grammar rules that you have learned. Translating and thinking about the grammar to create English sentences is incorrect （不正确的） and should be avoided. Practice speaking what you hear！

翻译的另一个问题在于你将会试图把你所学到的语法规则全部糅合起来。依靠翻译和语法来构建英语句子是不正确的，应该避免。要练习说出你所听到的东西！

Reading， listening and speaking are the most important aspects of any language， such as English. However， it is normal for babies and children to learn speaking first， become fluent， then start reading， then writing. So the natural order is listening， speaking， reading， then writing.

阅读、听力和口语都是任何一种语言最重要的几个方面，英语也不例外。但是，对于孩童来说，他们先开始学说，然后再开始说得流利，之后开始阅读，然后是写作。所以自然的顺序首先是听力，口语，阅读，然后是写作。

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Being able to speak a language is not related to how smart you are. Anyone can learn how to speak any language. This is a proven （被证实的） fact by everyone in the world. Everyone can speak at least one language. Whether you are intelligent， or lacking some brain power， you are able to speak one language.

能否说一种语言，和聪明与否无关。任何人都可以学习如何说任何一种语言。这是已经被世界上的每个人证实了的事实。每个人都能讲至少一种语言。无论你是聪明还是愚钝，你都能说一种语言。

This was achieved by being around that language at all times. In your country， you hear and speak your language constantly （不断地）. You will notice that many people who are good English speakers are the ones who studied in an English speaking school. They can speak English not because they went to an English speaking school， but because they had an environment where they can be around English speaking people constantly.

之所以能这样，是因为你一直被这种语言所包围。在你的国家，你不停地听到并且说自己的语言。你也会发现那些英语说得很好的人都是在说英语的学校里面的。他们能说英语并不是因为是去了一家说英语的学校，而是因为他们有一个可以让他们不断说英语的环境。

There are also some people who study abroad and learn very little. That is because they went to an English speaking school， but found friends from their own country and didnt practice English.endprint

当然，也有人去了国外，但是学到的东西却很少。这是因为他们去了一所说英语的学校，但是周围的朋友都是来自自己的国家并且都不说英语。

You dont have to go anywhere to become a fluent English speaker. You only need to surround yourself with English. You can do this by making rules with your existing friends that you will only speak English. You can also carry around an iPod and constantly listen to English sentences. As you can see， you can achieve results by changing what your surroundings are. Submerge yourself in English and you will learn several times faster.

如果想说一口流利的英语，你并不是非得去某个地方。你只需要处于英语的环境中就行。要达到这种效果，你可以和你现在的朋友约定只说英语。你还可以随身携带一台iPod，不断地听英语句子。如你所见，你可以通过改变你周围的环境实现预想的效果。让自己沉浸在英语当中，你能学得快几倍。

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A common phrase that is incorrect is， “Practice makes perfect.” This is far from the truth. Practice only makes what you are practicing permanent （永久的）. If you practice the incorrect sentence， you will have perfected saying the sentence incorrectly. Therefore， it is important that you study material that is commonly used by most people.

有句俗语可能有失偏颇：“熟能生巧”。这句话并非真理。练习只能让你永远停留在练习。如果你练习一个不正确的句子，那么你还会一直不正确下去。因此，选择大多数人选用的材料是很重要的。

Another problem I see is that many students study the news. However， the language they speak is more formal and the content they use is more political and not used in regular life. It is important to understand what they are saying， but this is more of an advanced lesson that should be studied after learning the fundamental （基础的） basics of English.

另外一个问题是，我发现很多学生学习的是新闻素材。然而，他们所说的语言太正式、内容太政治化，不是日常使用的语言。理解他们所说的很重要，但是这些应该是在基础英语学习之上的更高级的课程。

Studying English with a friend who is not a native English speaker is both good and bad. Practicing with a non-native person will give you practice. You can also motivate each other and point out basic mistakes. But you might pick up bad habits from one another if you are not sure about what are correct and incorrect sentences. So use these practice times as a time period to practice the correct material you studied.

和一个母语非英语的朋友一起学习英语有利也有弊。和母语非英语的人进行练习，你们也可以相互激励，相互指出基本的错误。但是如果你不知道对方说的句子正确与否，你就有可能学到一些坏习惯。因此，把这部分的时间利用起来去练习你们学习的正确的材料吧。

In short， study English material that you can trust， that is commonly used， and that is correct.

简而言之，应该去学习那些值得信赖的、常用的、正确的材料。endprint