The Turning Point

As a senior student, I have been learning English for more than 11 years. But the real beginning of my  English studies was in my senior middle school. Before then, I was just doing the things that my teachers told me to do, and I had no interest in learning this international language at all.

In the first English lesson in high school, I met Mr. Wu, my English teacher who changed my attitude towards learning of language. I can still remember that he asked us whether we liked to learn the language and I said, "It's boring."

Then he told us that learning languages was just like singing songs and we should first imitate and try to do it exactly the same and then gradually begin to sing our own songs. He said that each one of us could become a great singer.

From then on, I really enjoyed studying English because I like singing very much. : )

I am not sure whether Mr. Wu's way of learning is correct or not. Maybe it won't work for everyone. But it was truly a turning point in my way of learning English.

 - Grace (Li Jia) -

Songs Can Help You To Learn English

When I was a freshman, I was totally conquered by the idea that learning English by remembering all words by heart is the right way to learn it well. However, it was really hard to remember all words that you have learnt in the classes and I always lost my patience.

At last, one day I gave up and turned on my cassette player for pleasure. It was playing my favorite song “Show Me the Meaning Of Being Lonely? sung by the Backstreet Boys. The song was so beautiful that it seized my attention. However, I couldn’t understand the whole song. Some words confused me. I found the lyrics, looked though them and memorized those words I didn’t know before.

Strangely, one week later, I still remembered these words I had learned from the song. At that time, I knew I had found the road to Rome.

From then on, I started to listen to American and European pop music. It wasn't only because I love their rhythms but also their words. Listening to music is not a just for relaxation any more. From it, I can also learn a lot of English.

 - Ken -