—That's good. We tried __________ any noise, for you were sleeping.

—Well, you can ________ in the dictionary.

    Learning a foreign language is difficult for many       (学习者), but the following tips may help you learn a foreign language       (快地).

    Reading       (大声地).

    When you start learning a foreign language, read aloud. Studies have shown that reading aloud helps in remembering. It helps with        (发音), your vocabulary(词汇).

    You'll have to make a few word lists, and memorize and review(复习)       (它们) over and over again. You may have to review the word lists at least once a day for two weeks.       (以后) you may need to review the word lists once a week for the next four to five weeks.

    Learning grammar

    Learning the grammar of a foreign language is       (无聊的). But it can speed up(加速) your language learning. Don t jump to learn tenses (时态); it's better to be done after you've learned some of the language. The most       (重要的) thing is that you shouldn't worry about the mistakes you'll make when you start speaking the language, It's from these mistakes that you'll learn

the language        ( 更好地) than before.

    Watching TV and movies

    This is a       (极好的) , way to learn a foreign language quickly. You can watch TV shows in the language you're learning. They'll help you a great deal with the vocabulary as well as your pronunciation.

—Yes, I have.

A: How can I become a good English       ? Could you give me some advice?

B: Of course. Do you learn English by        English videos?

A: No, it's too hard to understand        English.

B: How about keeping a diary in English? Do you learn English that way?

A: Yes. It helps to write English every day.

B: Have you ever studied with a group?

A: Yes, I have. I have learned a lot that way.

B: Do you ever practice conversations with friends?

A: Oh, yes. It        my spoken English a lot.

B: What about reading        to practice pronunciation?

A: I do that sometimes. I think it helps.

    I've taught thousands of students since came to China in 2011. I've taught hundreds of Chinese English teachers. I've met students who have studied English for 10 years in school. Most of them still make a lot of mistakes, many of which are common grammar mistakes. Why is English so difficult for Chinese students? There are three reasons.

    Recitation(背诵) is boring. But this is a method that is most often used in teaching English in China. Many teachers say to their students,

"It's not easy to learn English. You have to recite, recite, recite, recite ...”Not only is this a boring way to learn English, but it is not effective.

    Teachers are not required to be fluent (流利的) in English. When I first came to China, I started talking to the head teacher of the English Department. When I spoke to her. She looked at me as if I was speaking Swahili (an African language). She knew nothing about what I was saying. I said it again very, very, very slowly and clearly. She still didn't understand.

    In China, the focus is on exams. Of course, in America, language students also take exams. However, they learn faster because they learn to speak the language first. This is the natural way that language is learned all over the world. Children listen to their parents and then try to say what the parents say. Writing and reading are taught later in school.