2 posts tagged “output”

“The secret to use novels is to read a lot. If you need a dictionary, that one is too difficult for you.”    -AJ

AJ has mentioned that extensive reading is one of the powerful ways to learn, we want to read a lot, and read for fun everyday. I knew this when I first entered university, and asked the short cut to use English free with my best professor, Dennis. He had already shown me the importance of both practicing close reading and extensive reading, in two tracks in balance. Somehow I found it tough for me to extinguish while I really act this knowledge, this is the point I grew so slowly.

Using dictionary was one of my favorite interest, and I collected lots of English dictionary, mostly involving advanced learners dictionary, and a few unabridged college dictionary for me to look up etymology, but when the more I practice effortless input system to learn, the more I become more inpatient with looking up paper dictionary, though I have enough confidence with my speed not less than native to consult a word or phrases in paper dictionary. Most of my previous time was using the software sold with the dictionary; they are very powerful and time-saving. Still, I don’t want to use them at the time.

I would say, when we are doing input, we should put aside the dictionary. However, in terms of doing output, a learner’s English dictionary is still helpful and will not be inefficient. Also, I have just found out that Word is really genius software which I didn’t perceive enough to help output. When I posted article in web page, I seldom check the spelling and the grammar, and if I want to, it need a lot of hard work. This week I get used to using Word before I post articles, though I still dislike MS very much.

What I really want to address is that I have finally got it to read a lot “Comprehensible” novels, not like de-coding investigator doing drills, it will make us frustrated. This time I want to faithfully follow the directions of AJ, I don’t want to be Mike Junior. So I just came back from school library, and brought back some books I am interested in and returned the inappropriate books-which I have to look up dictionary almost three or more unknown words in a sentence.

Here are the lists; all of them are published by Penguin Readers.

Food For Thought/Level 3/pre-intermediate/range: 1200 words

Gladiator/Level 4/intermediate/ range: 1700 words

The Day Of The Jackal/Level 4/intermediate/ range: 1700 words

About A Boy/Level 4/intermediate/ range: 1700 words

I also have done more than half of Matilda, one of my favorite novelists Roald Dahl’s art and half of Food for Though. Now I really enjoy every change in my learning and gain more in return, especially the process.

When we do not take the knowledge as knowledge, we ignore it, and still have not given it a try with any reason, this is horrible. I decided to take into actions with confidence, just like I switched into input-based system to learn at the first time.

In this semester, I went to a course changed me a lot. A speech course hold by one of my favorite professor, Jose, who is also a passionate and childlike language learner. His French is quite elegant.

One day, as always, I can not continue the rest of my speech, numbing on the platform and casting for words. Then he gave a precious suggestion to me, in fact, all the class.

"Hydra(I use this name in school out of my various personalities, but I switched to Pin when I acted as a receptionist last year, it was an inferno to explain the origin of Hydra for a foreigner), you don't have to tell the truth. Time is precious, remember, be a lier." I shocked, almost shouted out "Yikes!". In addition, he took over my place and demonstrated a period of "unbelievable" speech.

His supporting ideas flowed naturally and confidently, especially all the words he used were not fancy words. Clear and interesting, he can catch our attention even without an opener.One of the secret that you have to know being a lier is that you have to have many unlucky friends, friends, relatives.They injured, suffer from mental illness, have a pet,etc.

Another week, we hold a class in a starbucks on our campus, Jose talked about many of his entertainment mainly consist of traveling. He had been holding long and animated narration in detail, and I was smirking at times. Following this speech course, we went to our oral English class. In the class, our teacher asked if anyone would like to share one of the unforgettable or worthwhile experiences or events. Without thinking, I raised my hand at once when others were hesitating and having no idea what to say. Indeed, I didn't have my own one, either.

Then I copied the content of Jose, moreover, I was exaggerating much over while others who took the last same class frowning at me. I seldom stopped the "storytelling" since the words Jose had just used like specter haunting after my ear.

Sometimes, we may be depressed and frustrated why we have so little to output. In my view, beside the constant input, we have to try to be a lier. A potential lier.

Many topics are usually used when we talking to native speaker, like "My new year resolution","Pets","My favorite festivals","OOXX experience", but we may not have even though in our own language, or we never had that kind of experience. What you have to do is to present your daily input in width and depth(others' experiences) to him or her with courage, don't feel strange to it.Take me for instance, I have one more chance to improve my English than the rest of the class.If you attend the discussion which is paid, you lose more, don't you?

Why not be a lier than putting filling words or keeping silent next time? You will get hooked with it.