如果你还在为“今天我要背多少个单词”而兴奋不已时，最好马！上！停！止！把所有注意力集中在背单词上，在整个英语学习中只是一个非常短暂的过程，随着词汇量不断积累，我们需要做的是边阅读边学词，即通过短语或者是句子学习单词。
如果你背了大量的单词，却发现自己的口语进入了瓶颈期，或者你并不确定自己是不是进入了瓶颈期，简单三步测试病症。
症状① 单纯地背诵单词而不是学习单词
背诵单词更像是批量式任务式的学习，为了考试去从头到尾的去背、而不是从学习角度去记的，所以很快就会忘了。
症状② 脱离上下文的词汇
我们在背单词的时候基本上就只会看到它的拼写，词义，发音，词性。然而这些词汇是死的，有种学无所用的挫败感，原因在于这个单词前不着村后不着店，我们根本不知道这个词怎么用，导致我们只能现场拼奏出来。背单词处于孤立的一种状态。
症状③ 盲目地扩充词汇量不等于高效的词汇学习
有多少人在背诵单词的时候会给词汇分类：1. 俚语词汇； 2. 正式词汇；3. 口语词汇。
俚语词汇是地道外国人实用的词汇，如果你的水平不错了，可以尝试一下，进一步提高自己。
正式词汇会在比较正式的场合，比如新闻，论文，期刊当中出现，例如use 就是一个口语词汇，但在官方中我们就得用utilize.
口语词汇，很多人会用一些看起来很高大上的词语，殊不知，最后会是一种这样的状态，口语听起来像写作，写作看起来像口语。
举一个栗子：Form my perspective view, technology is a very important element in the development of our society.
我认为科技在我们整个社会发展中是一个很重要的元素。
这个不叫口语，这些看起来高大上的词汇反而会让人觉得很奇怪。这句话用口语表达应该是这样：Technology drives the society forward.
如果你出现了上述症状，那么恭喜你，你肯定是不小心走入了迷宫，不过，北外网院是很贴心的，我们要时刻盯防你误入“歧途”，特意向歪果仁请教，给你一贴，让你对症下药，看看你是跌倒在哪儿，爬不起来了？
1．Don't study grammar too much
不要过多学习语法
This rule might sound strange to many ESL 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 in English, then you should try to learn English without studying the grammar.
对于许多ESL（英语作为第二语言）学生，这条规则听起来很奇怪，但它是最重要的规则之一。如果你想要通过考试，那就学习语法。然而，如果你想要把英语说的更流利，那么你应该尝试学习英语这门语言而不学习语法。
Studying grammar will only slow you down and confuse you. You will think about the rules when creating sentences instead of naturally saying a sentence like a native. Remember that only a small fraction of English speakers know more than 20% of all the grammar rules. Many ESL students know more grammar than native speakers.
学习语法会让你慢下来，把你弄糊涂。在构建句子的时候，你会去思考规则，而不是像本国人一样自然而然的说出一个句子。要知道，只有 很小一部分的英语使用者知道超过20%的英语语法规则。许多ESL学生知道的语法其实要比本国人更多。
2．Learn and study phrases
学习和研究短语
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.
很多学生学习词汇，并尝试把很多单词在一起以构建一个恰当的句子。学生们的单词量让我很意外，但是要构建一个正确的句子对他们来说却很难。
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. When you know only 1000 phrases, you will be almost a fluent English speaker.
如果你知道1000个单词，你可能不一定能够说一个正确的句子。但如果你知道1个短语，你可以说数百个正确的句子。当你知道只有1000个短语，你就能说流利的英语了。
3. Don't translate
不要翻译
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.
当你想构建一个英语句子的时候，不要尝试着从母语翻译句子。两种语言的词序有可能不同，如果尝试翻译，就很有可能出错。
Problem
Isn't it strange that schools across the world teach reading first, then writing, then listening, and finally speaking? Although it is different, the main reason is because when you learn a second language, you need to read material to understand and learn it. So even though the natural order is listening, speaking, reading, then writing, the order for ESL students is reading, listening, speaking, then writing. Speak out loud the material you are listening to and practice what you hear. Practice speaking out loud until your mouth and brain can do it without any effort. By doing so, you will be able to speak English fluently.
全世界的学校的教学顺序都是这样的：阅读，写作，然后再是听力，最后是写作。这真的让人感觉到奇怪。虽然有特例，但是这其中最主要的原因还是因为当学第二外语的时候，你需要首先阅读一些材料，然后在去理解和学习它。所以即使自然的秩序是听、说、读，然后写作，但是ESL 学生的顺序是阅读、听力、然后写。把听到的材料大声说出来，再练习。练习的时候要大声，直到你的大脑和嘴巴能对英语信手拈来。通过这样做，你将能够流利地说英语。
4. Submerge yourself
让自己完全浸入
Being able to speak a language is not related to how smart you are. You don't 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.
能否讲一种语言，和你是否聪明无关。要想能够流利说英语，你并不是非得去某个地方。只要你能够背英语围绕就行。要达到这种效果，你可以和你现在的朋友约定只说英语。你 可以还随身携带一台iPod，不断地听英语句子。正如你所看到的，您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，你将会学得快几倍。
5. Study correct material
使用正确的学习材料
A common phrase that is incorrect is, "Practice makes perfect." This is far from the truth. Practice only makes what you are practicing permanent. 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.
有句话可能有失偏颇：“熟能生巧”。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，你必须选择大多数人选用的材料。
Studying English with a friend who is not a native English speaker is both good and bad. You should be aware of the pros and cons of speaking with a non-native speaking friend. 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.
和一个非英语母语的朋友一起学习英语有利也有弊。你应该意识到这种利弊。和非英语母语的人练习可以是一次练习的机会。你也可以彼此激励，指出基本的错 误。但是如果你不知道一个句子正确与否，你就有可能从另外一个朋友那里带走一些坏习惯。可以把这部分的时间利用起来去练习正确的素材。
