Study New Concept English (2)

Author: Pan Zhangxian, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: When using this book, it is important to thoroughly study the texts from both grammatical and semantic perspectives. Below, I will discuss the importance of these two aspects.
1. The Importance of Grammar for Chinese Learners of English. Currently, many learners of English neglect grammar. In reality, grammar is a shortcut for foreigners learning English, especially considering the current situation of Chinese learners. English teaching in China is divided into two categories: college English and professional English teaching. Generally, those who study professional English can achieve an ideal level of English after graduation, but students of college English are significantly weaker compared to them. The reason is not complicated—college English offers 200 hours of instruction, while professional English offers 1000 hours, and there is also an initial level difference between the two. If you refuse to face this reality, you cannot adopt practical methods, and without practical methods, you cannot achieve good results. Grammar is a language rule summarized to improve the efficiency of language learning. In a Chinese language environment, neglecting grammar when learning English is indeed unwise. Therefore, when reading texts, students should always ask themselves what role each word plays in the sentence. In the initial stages, they must force themselves to do this, especially when encountering difficult parts. As proficiency improves, especially with simpler sentences, this step can be omitted. However, please note that even highly skilled English professors must analyze the grammar of difficult sentences. If students score below 8 in the CET-4 exam or below 10 in the postgraduate entrance exam, the main problem lies in their poor basic language skills and fundamental grammar and vocabulary. For such students, improving writing skills is not about learning how to write essays but about rigorously analyzing the grammar of texts.
2. The Importance of Translation for Chinese Learners of English. Many students’ understanding of texts is at a superficial level. Some students are quite honest and ask, “Teacher, when reading English, do we use fragmented Chinese to understand it?” From my experience, during exams, due to time constraints, what is often referred to as reading comprehension largely relies on fragmented Chinese to understand English. However, when reading intensive texts regularly, this approach is absolutely unacceptable. It is essential to use accurate, complete, and fluent Chinese to understand English—the essence of translation. In China, English teaching places excessive emphasis on thinking in English while neglecting translation instruction. Yet the results have been unsatisfactory—how many have truly developed English thinking? Decades of practice by Chinese learners of English have proven that translation is a shortcut for non-majors to improve their English skills. This book does not, like similar books, arbitrarily showcase the authors’ "talents" by patching together excessive extensions and elaborations. The main problem for Chinese students when reading texts is poor comprehension, and the solution is not to give them more to digest but to have them eat less and chew more thoroughly. We believe that as long as students deeply study the texts themselves, understand and master them, they will achieve the goal of learning English well. Many students’ reality is that they seem to have learned a lot but excel at nothing, understanding nothing thoroughly. The explanation order of texts in this book is divided into four steps: 1. Original Text - 2. Translation - 3. Analysis - 4. Explanation.
1. Original Text: The original text of the lesson, arranged sentence by sentence.
2. Translation: For accurate understanding of the original text and fluent expression in Chinese, serving as a sign of whether the text is truly understood. If you encounter relatively simple sentences and can, through your own efforts, translate them into a translation comparable to the one provided in the book, you may not need to look at the "Analysis" or "Explanation" below. Therefore, in this book, the translation is directly placed after the original text. If you cannot translate it, it means you have not truly understood the text, so please read the "Analysis" and "Explanation" below.
3. Analysis: An analysis of the sentence structure of the original text.
4. Explanation: Refers to the explanation of linguistic points in the original text and a supplement to the grammatical analysis. When using this book, individuals can choose one of the following four modes based on their situation: 1-2; 1-2-3; 1-2-4; 1-2-3-4.
The author of this book has pinpointed the habitual errors in pronunciation that Chinese learners of English often make and has arranged a large number of targeted corrective exercises to transform Chinese pronunciation into American pronunciation, creating miracles—speaking beautiful American English in a Chinese environment. This book teaches authentic, idiomatic, and interesting, commonly used spoken English (beginner level). It allows you to express ideas vividly and clearly without memorizing complex grammar. In the past, Chinese learners had "mute English" and could not speak; now they can speak, but they run out of things to say after a few sentences. How to have in-depth conversations in English—this is the problem this book solves. It seamlessly integrates English learning with life’s reflections, the study of life, and the appreciation of beautiful literature, creating an effective exam-oriented learning method. Immersing yourself in American movies is like a child who has just learned to walk in the U.S. beginning a new life in a native English environment, making English learning easier, more enjoyable, and more natural. Some say watching one American movie is equivalent to living in the U.S. for 10 days, and watching dozens of American movies makes you as knowledgeable as someone who has lived in the U.S. for years. Learning English through English-language films is undoubtedly the best method, but many people struggle to understand the dialogue. The explanation section of this series does not overlook any difficult points, helping you fully understand the movies.