英文原版对话1000个:1190 Language Learners

 　　Jana: So we're talking about learning¹ English. Has that worked for you in any other languages too?

 

　　Peter: Actually I thought about that question before and I started studying Japanese a few years ago. I shouldn't say studying because I haven't studied so much but for some reason my Japanese learning is very different to my English learning.

 

　　Jana: How is it different?

 

　　Peter: I've learned², the little bit of Japanese that I've learned, I've learned through listening mostly and having to speak or, you know, helping³ myself in daily situations. I haven't been able to master enough kanji and Japanese symbols to be able to read it well or to write it well at all. So I couldn't, like before I studied English, a lot of English came to me because I read so much but now I can't read in Japanese so I'm having to rely⁴ on listening mostly and how about you?

 

　　Jana: Yeah, I learned Spanish in a similar way I learned English and that is I did study but I didn't think of it as studying. It was fun for me but I did a lot of homework and learning vocabulary and then once I reached a certain level then I went to Spain to practice but with Japanese I haven't reached that level yet and somehow I seem to have forgotten how to learn a language. It doesn't work any more so, yeah, I have been trying to learn Japanese for a few years but I think my brain has just become lazy.

 

　　Peter: It's interesting. Maybe our brains tackle⁵ every language in a different way, I don't know, because I'm also finding⁶ out it's becoming more difficult but maybe we're only getting older and that's maybe one of the reasons.

 

　　Jana: Maybe so.

 

　　Peter: Do you think age matters as you've, for language learning?

 

　　Jana: I would like to say no but I think there are different factors⁷. So, surely⁸, when you're young you learn faster and I think especially because there's nothing else that's occupying your mind. You're just studying. Maybe you go to high school or even university so it's easy to take on another subject. So say I want to learn French or whatever, so it's just more similar kind of thing learning but once you start working and your brain is not used to that kind of input⁹ any more, I think then it becomes more difficult.

 

　　Peter: So age might have something to do with it? But I think though I had this old friend who started, he retired¹⁰ and then he started studying French and he studied French I believe when he was in his twenties but then he started working and gave up and then he started again and he could afford to go to France for three months and just learn and live there and he came back and at the age of sixty five and he was so much better in his French and he'd made some French friends, so I think it has a lot to do maybe with your motivation too maybe, your interest.

 

　　Jana: That's right. I was just going to say maybe more so than age.

 

　　Peter: Yeah.

 

　　Jana: Maybe when you're young you might be more eager to learn but if you have that same kind of motivation when you're older then why not?

 

　　Peter: Because a lot of people take up studying a language later in life when they have more time or maybe more money to spend on it.

 

　　Jana: That's right. OK, let's try a bit harder.

 

　　Peter: I think so too. Let's try harder.

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 rely   

vi.依赖，依靠；信赖，信任

参考例句：

• I rely upon you to finish the work on time.我相信你会准时完成这项工作的。
• You should rely on your own efforts.你应该靠自己的努力。

5 tackle   

n.工具，复滑车，扭倒；v.处理，抓住

参考例句：

• Don't forget to bring your sports tackle with you tomorrow.别忘了明天带上你的体育用具。
• We have gained sufficient experience to tackle this problem.我们已经有了足够的经验来处理这个问题。

6 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

7 factors   

因素( factor的名词复数 )； 因子； （增或减的）数量； 系数

参考例句：

• Several factors have been adduced to explain the fall in the birth rate. 有几个因素已被援引来说明出生率降低的原因。
• a confluence of social factors 多种社会因素的汇集

8 surely   

adv.确实地，无疑地；必定地，一定地

参考例句：

• It'should surely be possible for them to reach an agreement.想必他们可以达成协议。
• Surely we'll profit from your work.我们肯定会从你的工作中得到益处。

9 input   

n.输入(物)；投入；vt.把(数据等)输入计算机

参考例句：

• I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
• All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。