[摘要]你有多少次会尝试学习一门语言然后又放弃？也许，你无意识中犯了一些“战略性”的错误。提到新年前夕你能联想到什么？娱乐、香槟······美好的祝愿？你还记得去年的心愿吗？

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你有多少次会尝试学习一门语言然后又放弃？也许，你无意识中犯了一些“战略性”的错误。提到新年前夕你能联想到什么？娱乐、香槟······美好的祝愿？你还记得去年的心愿吗？学习一门新的语言就和参加健身房改掉坏习惯是一样的。不要管你是为了什么而下定决心，很不幸，结果总是一样的。在一开始的“极速前进”之后，动机逐渐消退，面对当初满怀热情买来的语法书，你会发现自己已经产生不满情绪了。

但是，为什么呢？为什么大家都觉得学习一门语言很困难，且需要大量的时间来练习呢？是因为我们都有一些忙自己没意识到（所因而也不能改正）的坏习惯吗？来看看最常见的错误，并找出避免他们的办法吧。

1. Take it slow

放慢节奏

When the adventure of a new language starts, your enthusiasm knows no bounds. On the one hand, that’s something very positive. On the other hand, it’s important not to rely on enthusiasm alone. When the newness and initial excitement has worn off, you might not know where to find the motivation to learn. That’s why it’s necessary to steer your initial exuberance in the right direction, and not let it disappear like a flash in the pan. It’s better to take it slow - tame your enthusiasm and make sure that learning a language becomes a regular daily activity.

当一门新的语言带来的挑战刚开始时，你的热情是无限的。一方面，这是很积极的事。另一方面，不唯独依靠热情也是很重要的。当新鲜感和一开始的兴奋褪去，你可能就找不到学习的动机了。这就是为什么将你最初的情感控制在一个正确的方向是必要的，不要让它如同昙花一现般消失。放慢节奏会更好——控制住你的热情度，确保学习语言成为一项有规律的日常活动。

Otherwise something like this might happen: You’ll study every day for the first week. Already in the second week you’ll skip a day because you’re too tired. The following week it happens again, and then again the week after that. Soon, you’ll be staring, frustrated, at that pile of language books on your desk.

否则，可能就会发生这样的事：第一个星期，你每天都在学习。第二个星期，你会因为太过疲劳而跳过一天。接下来的一个星期也会这样，然后以此重复。很快，你就会堆着桌上堆积如山的语言书籍干瞪着眼、充满挫败感。

Our Tip: Steer your initial exuberance in the right direction and make sure that learning a language becomes a regular daily activity. Ten minutes a day is better than full-on for a week and then nothing after that.

我们的建议：将你最初的情感控制在一个正确的方向，确保学习语言成为一项有规律的日常活动。比起将一个星期的时间塞得满满当当，每天花十分钟的效果会更好。

2. The benefits of a bad memory

健忘的好处

No, we’re not crazy. We’re talking to all those people who think that memorization is the key to everything, to everyone who boasts about their photographic memory, and to everyone who gets stuck on vocabulary lists. Don’t get us wrong: a good memory is definitely helpful, but one should not forget (no pun intended) to use and train it the right way.

不，我们可没疯。我们在和所有认为记忆力是一切的关键的人对话，在和所有为自己过目不忘的记忆力而得意洋洋的人对话，在和所有记忆词汇表有困难的人对话。别误会我们：好的记忆力固然很有帮助，但是一个人不要忘记，要用正确的方法来使用并培养它。

Memorizing entire phrases can be helpful in certain, clearly-definedsituations (like picking up your luggage at the airport, for example). But it won’t be of any benefit when topics come up in conversation that weren’t in that book you so diligently memorized.

在确定、清晰定义的情形下（例如在机场捡起你的行李），记住整个短语是有帮助的。但是，当主题是从你努力背诵的书籍以外的对话中提出来时，这将不会起一丁点作用。

Use your memory and make it your ally. Learn phrases and words with which you can make associations or create mnemonic devices. And when a word doesn’t seem to want to come out, find an alternative or paraphrase what you mean. In this way, you don’t only get your synapses firing, but you can also remember things better and for longer periods of time. Try it for yourself!

利用好你的记忆力，使之成为你的助手。学习一些可以使你产生联想或运用记忆技巧的词语和短语。当你想不起一个词的时候，找一个近义词或将你的意思解释出来。用这样的方式，你就不用太伤脑筋，却又可以更好、更长久地记住东西。试试吧！

Our Tip: Your memory is an important ally if you use it intelligently.

我们的建议：如果你能够聪明地运用你的记忆力，它将会成为你重要的助手。

3. Nobody’s perfect

人无完人

No one is perfect… and you shouldn’t try to be! One of the first obstacles you encounter on the path to “fluent mastery” of a language is the absurd and premature demand you place on yourself to speak with perfect and error-free pronunciation and grammar. Of course, you can and will get there with a lot of practice, but it shouldn’t be the highest priority when you’re getting to know a completely new language.

人无完人······你不必苛求自己尽善尽美！你在通往“熟练掌握一门语言”的路上遇到的第一个阻碍就是，要求自己讲外语(课程)时拥有零瑕疵的发音和语法，这种要求是荒谬且不成熟的。当然，你可以，也应该通过大量的练习做到这一点，但是当你学习一门完全陌生的语言时，你不必将其作为头号任务。

If you get lost in especially complicated grammar when you’re trying to say something simple, or if you’re only sure of yourself when you don’t make even the smallest pronunciation mistakes, then it’s highly likely that within a few weeks, you’ll give up out of total frustration.

当你试图描述一些简单的事物，却陷入复杂的语法里找不着方向，或者你只能在不犯任何发音错误时才能相信自己时，那么你就很可能在几周内就会因为全然沮丧而放弃。

“Until I can speak perfectly, I won’t speak. But if I don’t speak, I’ll never improve and can give up hope of ever being able to speak perfectly”. It’s a Catch 22!

“在我能流利地发言之前，我不会开口。但如果我不开口，我就永远不能提高，也就会因为不能说好外语而放弃希望。这就是进退两难！”

Our Tip: Give yourself a break and don’t be afraid to make mistakes! You’ll soon see the progress that’ll bring you closer to your goal.

我们的建议：给自己休息的时间，不要害怕犯错！你很快就会看到使你接近目标的进步！

4. All work and no play…

只工作不娱乐

It’s exactly you – so tirelessly and steadfastly learning – who we’re speaking to here: Are you finally going to get up out of that chair, or do you want to put down roots right where you’re sitting? You’re diligent and persistent. You’ve used your memory and your desire to learn in the best way possible. You’ve trusted yourself to speak to people because you understand that we all learn from making mistakes. And now? Now it’s time to give yourself a reward!

我们就是对这样的你——一直不知疲倦地学习——所说的：你打算从椅子上起来吗？或者说你是想在椅子上扎根吗？你勤奋且坚忍不拔。你尽可能以最好的方式，运用自己的记忆力和希望来学习你相信自己能够在人们面前说外语，因为你明白失败乃成功之母。现在呢？给自己奖励的时间到了！

When you set such a big goal as learning a new language, it’s important now and then to pat yourself on the back and enjoy the success you’ve achieved. You’ve managed to have your first real-life conversation? You’ve got all that difficult pronunciation down? You’ve gotten through the jungle of pronouns? Then you should celebrate it and do something fun! Watch a film, sing a song at the top of your lungs, or listen to the radio… but, of course, in the language you’re learning! When you couple language learning with activities that bring you joy, you’ll learn more effectively and remember what you’ve learned more easily.

当你将学习一门新的语言作为自己的目标时，那么现在奖励一下自己，好好享受成功也是很重要的。你成功地做到了现实中的第一次对话？你克服了所有的发音困难？你弄清楚了所有的代词？那么你就应该好好庆祝一下，做些有趣的事！看看电影、放声歌唱、或者听听广播······但是，当然是和你所学语言相关的！当你将学习语言和快乐的活动结合在一起的时候，你会更有效地学习，并更轻松地记住所学的内容。

Our Tip: You don’t have to learn like a crazy person. There should also be time to combine the enjoyable with the practical, and have fun while learning!

我们的建议：你不需要像一个疯子一样地去学习。只要将兴趣与实践结合，快乐地学习！

5. The goal is always within sight

设置现实的目标

Learn the art of always keeping your goal within sight. Of course, anyone could say that learning for learning’s sake is the ideal pictureof education… that goes without saying. But if you want to reach the end of the road, it’s important that you’re aware of why you stepped onto the path in the first place.

学习设置眼前的目标的技巧。当然，谁都会说，为了学而学就是教育的写照，这不必说。但如果你想走到路的尽头，明白自己当初为什么走上这条路是很重要的。

Why are you learning a new language? For love? To get a raise? Because you want to try your luck in a new country? Because you can’t stand films that are dubbed? Very good. Keep your goal in sight and imagine that with every tiny step forward, the path to your goal gets shorter and the top of the mountain gets closer.

你为什么想学习一门新的语言？为了爱情？为了加薪？为了在一个新的国家碰碰运气？因为无法忍受译制影片？很好。设置现实的目标，想象你每前进一小步，通往目标的路就越短，你距离山顶就越近。

Our Tip: Keeping a goal in sight increases motivation. Before you start, set a goal!

我们的建议：通过设立现实的目标来激发动力。在开始之前，设立目标！