学外语的挑战 · Challenges of Learning a Foreign Language
Xué wàiyǔ de tiǎozhàn — What makes language learning hard — and how to keep going.
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Every word shows its pinyin above the characters. The English translation follows each line.
学一门外语不是一件容易的事。
Learning a foreign language is not easy.
需要花很多时间和精力。
It requires a lot of time and energy.
最大的挑战是坚持。
The biggest challenge is persistence.
很多人开始的时候很有动力。
Many people are very motivated at the start.
但是过了几个月就放弃了。
But after a few months they give up.
其实最重要的是每天都练习。
Actually the most important thing is practicing daily.
哪怕只有十五分钟也很有用。
Even just fifteen minutes is useful.
还要找机会跟母语者说话。
You also need to find chances to speak with native speakers.
不要怕犯错误,犯错是学习的一部分。
Don't be afraid of making mistakes; mistakes are part of learning.
Vocabulary in this story (53 words)
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 学 | xué | learning |
| 一门 | yì mén | one (measure) |
| 外语 | wàiyǔ | foreign language |
| 不是 | bú shì | is not |
| 一件 | yí jiàn | a (measure) |
| 容易的 | róngyì de | easy |
| 事 | shì | thing |
| 需要 | xūyào | requires |
| 花 | huā | spend |
| 很多 | hěnduō | a lot of |
| 时间 | shíjiān | time |
| 和 | hé | and |
| 精力 | jīnglì | energy |
| 最大的 | zuì dà de | biggest |
| 挑战 | tiǎozhàn | challenge |
| 是 | shì | is |
| 坚持 | jiānchí | persistence |
| 人 | rén | people |
| 开始 | kāishǐ | begin |
| 的时候 | de shíhou | when |
| 很有 | hěn yǒu | very |
| 动力 | dònglì | motivation |
| 但是 | dànshì | but |
| 过了 | guò le | after |
| 几个月 | jǐ gè yuè | a few months |
| 就 | jiù | then |
| 放弃 | fàngqì | give up |
| 了 | le | (perfective) |
| 其实 | qíshí | actually |
| 最重要的 | zuì zhòngyào de | most important |
| 每天 | měitiān | every day |
| 都 | dōu | always |
| 练习 | liànxí | practice |
| 哪怕 | nǎpà | even if |
| 只有 | zhǐ yǒu | only |
| 十五 | shíwǔ | fifteen |
| 分钟 | fēnzhōng | minutes |
| 也 | yě | also |
| 很 | hěn | very |
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | useful |
| 还要 | hái yào | also need |
| 找 | zhǎo | find |
| 机会 | jīhuì | chances |
| 跟 | gēn | with |
| 母语者 | mǔyǔ zhě | native speakers |
| 说话 | shuō huà | speak |
| 不要 | bú yào | don't |
| 怕 | pà | fear |
| 犯错误 | fàn cuòwù | making mistakes |
| 犯错 | fàn cuò | making mistakes |
| 学习 | xuéxí | learning |
| 的 | de | (particle) |
| 一部分 | yí bùfèn | a part |