學習一門新語言的祕訣就是…?

有人說小孩子是學習語言最好的時期，但這並不意味著大人就要放棄，我們詢問了幾位通曉數國語言的專家，與大家分享掌握外語的幾項祕訣，在學習專家的「撇步」前，想想下面幾個字怎麼說。

a)    同上; 前

b)    溺愛

c)    難以理解

Get real. Decide on a simple, attainable goal to start with so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. German translator Judith Matz suggests: “Pick up 50 words of a language and start using them on people — and then slowly start picking up grammar.”

真實體驗：從決定一個簡單的，可達成的目標開始，這樣你就不會感到不知所措。德國譯者Judith Matz建議：「選擇新語言中的50個字，把這些字應用在與人的溝通上，然後再慢慢熟悉文法。」

Make language-learning a lifestyle change. Elisabeth Buffard, who in her 27 years of teaching English, has always seen consistency as separating the most successful students from the rest. Find a language habit that you can follow even when you’re tired, sick or madly in love.

讓學習語言成為一種生活方式的改變：Elisabeth Buffard在她27年教授英文的經驗當中發現，區別好的學生和其他學生的差別就在一致性。請找到一種使用語言的習慣，即使你在很累、生病，甚至熱戀中也不會中斷。

Play house with the language. The more you invite a foreign language into your daily life, the more your brain will consider it something useful and worth caring about. “Use every opportunity to 1) get exposed to the new language,” says Russian translator Olga Dmitrochenkova. Label every object in your house in this language, read kids’ books written in it, watch subtitled TED talks, or live-narrate parts of your day to an imaginary foreign friend.

用新語言玩角色扮演：你越能夠將外語融入日常生活當中，你的大腦越會認為這是有用而且值得關注的事項。俄文譯者Olga Dmitrochenkova 說:「利用所有的機會讓自己暴露在新的語言中。」把所有家中的物品貼上新語言的標籤、閱讀此語言的童書，上TED網站看有字幕的演說，或是和心中想像的外語朋友自言自語敘述生活事物。

Let technology help you out. Dmitrochenkova has recommended great idea: “A funny thing like resetting the language on your phone can help you learn new words right away,” she says. a) Ditto for changing the language on your browser. 

讓科技幫助你：Dmitrochenkova推薦很好的想法：「利用有趣的方式，例如把你的手機切換成外語模式，可以促使你馬上學會新單字。」同理也可以將瀏覽器的語言改為外語。

Think about language learning as a gateway to new experiences. To Spanish translator Sebastián Betti, learning a language has always been about focusing on the experiences that the new language would open up, from “visiting theme parks, attending air shows, and enjoying cowboy poetry and folk-rock festivals, to learning about photo-essay techniques.” In other words, he thinks of fun things that he wanted to do anyway, and makes them into a language-learning opportunity.

視語言學習為通往人生新體驗的路徑：對西班牙譯者Sebastián Betti來說，學習一種新語言就如同為他開啟另外一種新體驗，從「遊覽主題樂園」、「觀賞飛行表演」、「享受牛仔詩詞和民謠搖滾節慶」，到「學習攝影集技巧」等，換言之，他想到自己想做的好玩事情，然後把這些事情變成學習語言的機會。

Make new friends. Interacting in the new language is key — it allows you to 2) follow your nose when expressing your thoughts, instead of mentally translating each sentence before you say it. Find native speakers near you. Or search for foreign pen pals or set up a language tandem online, where two volunteers help one another practice their respective languages. 

交新朋友：與人互動是使用新語言的關鍵—如此你學會更直覺性的表達你的想法，而不是在說話前心裡先一句句翻譯。去發現你身邊的母語人士，或者搜尋外國筆友，或是在網路上尋找語言交換伙伴-就是兩個人義務協助彼此練習各自的母語。

Do not worry about making mistakes. One of the most common barriers to conversing in a new language is the fear of making mistakes. But native speakers are like b) doting parents: any attempt from you to communicate in their language is objective proof that you are a gifted genius. They’ll appreciate your effort and even help you. Are you nervous about holding a conversation with a peer? Try testing your language skills with someone a little younger. And be patient. The more you speak, the closer you’ll get to the c) elusive ideal of “native-like fluency”; and to talking to people your own age.

別擔心犯錯: 學新語言對話最常見的障礙之一，就是害怕犯錯。但母語的人士就像溺愛孩子的父母一般：只要你試著用他們的母語來溝通，他們看你就像天才！他們會欣賞你的努力甚至幫助你。你跟同儕聊天時感到緊張嗎？試著跟年紀較輕的人測試你的語言技巧, 並且要有耐心, 練習說得越多，就越接近「像母語一樣流利」的理想狀態，然後就能跟與自己同齡的人對話。

口語詞彙：

1. get/be exposed to: 暴露於.....中，也就是不斷接觸

If you are exposed to English reading and listening every day, you are sure to make much progress in it.

如果你每天處在英文閱讀和聆聽的環境中，你必定會有很大的進步。

2. follow your nose 直走，引申為憑直覺、跟著感覺走

Since you don’t know this city well, I can only suggest that you follow your nose.

你不熟悉這個城市，我只能建議你憑直覺行事。