间谍为了不丢掉性命，怎样学外语？到底什么是沉浸式英语？

清风明月tbm5q1 2017-09-23

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二战时，有队美国士兵要被派到德国去当间谍。给他们的deadline是在三个月内学会德语，然后在德俄边境跳伞后潜入德国。试想一下，让这些平时嘻嘻哈哈、不怎麽用脑的美国大兵在三个月内掌握德语裡複杂的语法，就等于逼著刚刚学会英语裡的Be动词的小学生去研究「虚拟语气」和「定语从句」。但如果这些大兵学不好，三个月后的deadline将成为他们名副其实的死期。性命攸关，但时间有限，到底要怎样学？

还好，领队的间谍军官有良好的外语学习经验，他做的事情可能是历史上最有创造性的外语学习方法：他从盟军调来一群德军战俘，让他们天天和美国大兵吃喝拉撒住在一起。大兵们不淮使用英语，只能用蹩脚的德语和他们沟通。三个月后，美国大兵们奇蹟般地学会了德语。

几乎每个大学的外国语学院裡都流传著上面这个故事。其实故事的主旨相当明显：人家三个月都能学好一门外语，学校给你几年，你应该可以学好。但区别是，美国大兵是和德军战俘日夜同住，无意之中打造了绝佳的沉浸式学习方法。

沉浸式学习和习得理论

很多家长经常会问：“孩子究竟应该怎么学英语？”“为什么孩子花了大量的时间、精力学课文，背单词，但结果却收效甚微？”“到底有没有学英语的好方法呢？” 我们的回答是：“有的。”

儿童获得语言的过程与成人学习语言的过程有着本质的区别。成人多借助于记忆、分析、理解等方法进行理性学习，而儿童则主要依赖于视觉、听觉等多种感知能力进行感性获知。儿童掌握第二语言的主要途径是习得，即像习得母语一样，在有意义的交际中，通过对语言的理解和使用，自然获得运用语言的能力。因此，强迫孩子用成人学语言的方法来学习英语，不符合儿童学习语言的规律，甚至还会让孩子对英语心生厌恶。

沉浸式英语学习（Immersive English Learning）

是近年来国际上颇为流行的一种语言学习模式，即学习者把自己尽可能地融入到英语语言环境中，英语是其用来进行沟通交流，获取知识的工具，而不再仅仅是学习的内容。学习者通过持续地使用英语学习、生活，自然而然地养成了用英语思考问题，沟通问题和解决问题的能力。这种学习模式遵循了儿童习得语言的过程，注重挖掘、发挥儿童的语言潜能，培养儿童的英文思维习惯，使其在不知不觉中英语脱口而出。

沉浸式英语学习的最佳方式当然是有机会到英语为母语的国家去生活一段时间，将自己置身于纯粹的英语环境中，不自主地去练习听、说、读、写的能力。但是由于种种条件所限，我们大多数人还不能亲身前往国外去进行沉浸式学习。不过，没有环境，可以自己创造环境：

1. 培养孩子英语阅读的能力。美国著名语言学家克拉申极为重视阅读在语言习得中的作用，他认为“自由的、自愿的阅读”（free voluntary reading）是二语习得的最佳途径之一。学龄前阶段和小学低年级的孩子可以进行大量的英语绘本阅读，进入中、高年级的孩子可以逐渐过渡到故事和各个学科类知识的阅读。

2. 减少孩子看中文电视节目的时间，相应地增加其看英文电视节目，包括英文动画片或电影的时间。

3. 充分利用丰富的网络资源，在手机或ipad上下载英语故事或英语歌曲的app，充分利用零散时间，让孩子随时随地都能沉浸在英语语言环境中。

4. 好动是儿童的天性，让孩子在丰富有趣的活动中自然地习得语言。魔幻星球的各种创意主题活动，以及

线上线下与孩子的趣味互动正是为了创造出虚拟真实的生活环境，释放孩子的天性，鼓励孩子大胆开口说英语，让孩子在快乐的活动中产生对英语学习的兴趣。

不要用成人的固定思维去看待孩子的语言学习，不用担心孩子听不懂、看不懂，事实上，孩子的语言理解能力远远超出我们的想象。让孩子多沉浸在英语的语言环境中，坚持下来，必有收获。

魔幻星球来信了

The differences between Miracleland and normal English education within China.

The simple truth is that children are driven to pass exams with little regard to whether there is a long term need to actually use the language. Foreign employers want employees, preferably Chinese, who know the local customers and can speak/ use good reliable English. Any other specialised (buiness) training will always be provided by the employer, This has been the desired trend. The required trend has had to be importing foreign experts and giving them an assistant.

The desired way to educate students in China has also been receiving a noticable change. There are current trials of an oral element to the university entrance exam. In addition the quality of new English teachers is now being upgraded. These measures are all very good and well. The main issue is the traditional beliefs and mannerisms of the Chinese education and pa rent community. Everyone one wants the best and most for their children/ students; no one is willing to make the neccesary/ required changes. The end result is every student attains unrealistically high test scores that in no way reflect their ability to actually use the (English) language. High marks are good for CVs but are useless for the employer as a gauge of how good a student is for their company.

A paradigm shift is required. Miracleland is a fore-runner to this new required way of thinking. Parents who use Miracleland’s program will have students learn the essential elements of language use prior to their latter (higher) school education. Much the same way that a Chinese student is quite aware of (Chinese) language use prior to going to school. However, we offer much more besides.

One of the Key Success Factors (KSF) is Miracleland’s ability to emerse the child into the right learning environment. A sustainabile life-long learning goal, not a fear-driven ‘pass the exam’ centered-focus. Years of surveying with post-school Chinese has proven that this traditional teaching methodology is contary to long term second language / life-skill use. Instead Miricleland looks at world-class teaching methods and is consistenty adding to, adapting and improving for the needs of the Chinese market. This process is proactive rather than responsive.

For further questions feel free to discuss with your friendly Miracleland support person.