Don't you believe in becoming well-educated through self-study?
By Clay
@ClayNCE (89)
Xian, China
February 24, 2018 9:20am CST
The photo was taken 3 years ago in which I was reciting a text of the well-known teaching material New Concept English, holding a stopwatch which gave me continual pressure to perform well.
Out of question,extensive listening practice is important for learning English. In my workplace, I am the only one who wears an in-ear headphone all day long. I only do it out of habit. Maybe it is an effective method of improving my listening comprehention and makes me speak English exactly and fluently whenever I constantly repeat what I have heard. Fortunately for me,few guys around me ride me nowadays.
When they chat with me in Chinese,I urge myself to translate what they are saying into English in my mind. Of course, I should talk with them in Chinese.By actively mixing my work and study in a workable and dynamic way,I prevent myself from getting into a fix. In fact, I have now cut my social hour to the minimum,for once some of my colleagues get onto the subject of politics there's no holding them. Anyway,no other careers in CCTV News might be the counterpart of a politician in power and influence. When feeling bitterly upset at such moments, I normally take a deep breath, desperately trying to keep calm and make an excuse to let me get back to my self-made English circumstance.
If I want to keep a normal relationship with him or her,then this is it. This is real life. It's not perfect but it's real.
Even if I can tell at a glance what is wrong, I take the view that it would be worse to interfere.
Time is always pressing for me, I am a contract labour with a capital C. I should only teach myself to use my head to get out of those tight corners.
Sometimes,I have some cockeyed delusions about being instructed by my daughter to be a better English speaker,in which she would say,‘Let me set the record straight on the misconceptions contained in your article...etc.'What a beautiful daydream.
As a father of a 20-year-old daughter,I know clearly how far I can expect her to please me. It's normal that she doesn't have any idea how I am feeling. Undoubtedly, we love each other. We are making visible efforts to get our priorities right.
I am sure it's the real thing I love speaking English. It's my choice, not just infatuation.
Read more,mimic more, speak more, write more...the more, the better.
3 people like this
4 responses
@MashaVickina (2184)
• Russian Federation
24 Feb 18
No, we cannot become well-educated through self-study: everyone needs a teacher, who will correct his mistakes. There are loads of various videos, websites, blogs for studying English, but if someone wants to be really well-educated, they are not enough.
Just listening to English speech will not do, as exercises to improve listening comprehension are a must.
Good luck!
1 person likes this
@ClayNCE (89)
• Xian, China
27 Feb 18
I think it makes sense in your shoes. In my opinion,teachers will never be replaced by computers in the classroom. I began to teach myself English after having done those basic drills, developing the necessary habits of reading, listening and speaking. If we want to keep ourselves on the right track all the time, the cure for bad learning is good teachers. Of course, good teachers cost money. But training is an investment not a cost. Well, it seems beside the question. So we will have to know what's what and when to draw the line. Anyway, if we are lucky enough to know hard work is the name of the game and adopt a wiser lifestyle, all roads lead to Rome.
1 person likes this
@MashaVickina (2184)
• Russian Federation
27 Feb 18
@ClayNCE I am a certified English teacher. I believe that a good education is a must for all teachers. Although I agree that self-education helped me much and developed my skills.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
27 Feb 18
@MashaVickina what do you mean by certified, if you don’t mind my asking?
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
25 Feb 18
Yes, I believe that we can teach ourselves anything we want to. It will take a lot of work but it can be done.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
27 Feb 18
@ClayNCE Many successful people have taught themselves certain skills. These days, there are many parents that self-school their children also.
@ClayNCE (89)
• Xian, China
27 Feb 18
For time's sake, I believe many of my problems can be minimised by sensible planning. So I am trying not to keep putting things off or running away from my projects. Nearly all of my coworkers know I am doing part-time jobs as an English trainer. They leave me be, obviously don't want to talk with me in Chinese nowadays.Perhaps it was a bit weird murmuring myself in English to them. Without taking the initiative in acting as an eccentric,I can't possibly meet the deadlines of stacks of jobs. I didn't think I would get this far way back. Now that I have chosen the course, I won't be satisfied with a life which has a nasty habit of repeating itself, I will make it eventful, with my perseverance showed in the face of all kinds of difficulties.
1 person likes this
