Do You Like the English Self-taught Program? Why?
这道考题比较贴近考生的实际生活，要求考生讲的无非是他们的一些心里话，因而不管是新生也好，老生也好，考试时面对这道问题"卡壳"的现象并不多。然而，就回答的质量而言，却还有不少地方有待于理高，相对于基本信息的表达而言，他们对于非基本信息，如情感等的表达，还显得颇有欠缺。绝大多数的考生在考试中显得较为拘谨，其对于节奏、语调、语流等的把握也较欠火候。由于这是英语专业和口语考试，要求自然不同于非英语专业口头表达的要求。换言之，如果说我们对于非英语专业学生的要求是"交流"（communication），即把话说清楚，那么对于英语专业的学生来说，这个要求还远远不够，他们应在"交流"的基础上尽可能地把话说得地道些、流畅些，所表达的思想内容应带有自己的特点，同时在语言开工上也应具有英语表达的特点。其实，所谓内容的个人特点人皆有之，只不过是并非人人皆知如何确切地表达而已。英语专业和学生若对此一无所知，那么你的专业特点如何得以体现呢？
这个问题的解决绝非能一而就，须经过较长时间的有意识的训练。训练的有效方法之一便是平时要善于将大于单词一级的语言单位，如词组、短语、句子乃至于一组句子，不断地进行内化，使之能够得心应手地为己所用。与此同时，的过程还须加以刻苦的练习――既可以与别人作对话练习，也可以自己面对录音机作模拟回答，然后进行自我检查。一份辛苦必然会给你带来一份收获。为成功洒下的汗水才是成功最有力的支撑。
现在，笔者将考试中采集到的一些出现频率很高的观点用英语表达出来，供读者参考。
先说开头：
考生中几乎没有人对自学发生任何抱怨，或表示不喜欢。其实也是，来者都是乐此不疲者，要不，他们为何既破了费、又花了时间，赶到考场来找罪受呢？所以，其开头所表达的意思多半是正面的。不达，即使是表示喜欢，也不能总是用一句"yes, I do"了事，比如，我们可以紧接其后顶上一句：
Yes, I like this self - taught program.
Yes, I do. This program is very helpful to me.
I've found this program to be beneficial.
I feel that is program has many advantages.
类似这样的回答还能罗列出许多，但笔者在这里只图点到为止，希望读者对这种看似简单的句子给予重视。学口语要注意英美人说话的一些特别方式，绝不要冷落了那些看似并不起眼的语言单位。简单的结构若能用得自然贴切，这恰恰就是一个最不简单的本事。我们在看英语原版片时所听到的一些地道的英文句子往往是说话人恰到好处地运用极其简单的词语就出的。
同样是"喜欢"这一相同的结果，各自参加考试的原因却不尽相同：
a) 考大学未被录取，便参加自学考试;
b) 现在，社会上的各行各业竞争激烈，获得一张文凭、学会英语能使自己更具竞争力;
c) 外语变得越来越重要;
d) 对于外语有着特别的爱好;
e) 过去在学校里学外语主要是为了应付考试，现在可以凭兴趣选读一些感兴趣的内容;
f) 自己觉得外语水平不够用，通过自学考试可以系统地学习英语;
g) 社会需要既懂专业、又懂外语的复合型人才，故在业余时间里补习英语;
h) 学习其他专业需要较多的投入，会受到许多限制，而英语可以完全自学。
笔者发现考生中有两种值得注意的现象：一种是"流利"有余，内容表达不够到位，更谈不上到点。这是语言学习过程中的自由主义倾向，必须加以纠正。另一种是亦步亦趋，不敢越雷池一步，仿佛在做口译，缺乏基本的口语特点。其实，上述的观点完全可以在意义不走样的前提下，用比较自由的形式表达出来：
a) Since I was unable to enroll in a university, this program was my only choice.
b) I find that in today's competitive job market, better English skills enhance my chance of advancing in my career.
c) It is increasingly important for me to have strong English skills for living and working in Shanghai.
d) Learning English has always appealed to me.
e) Since I am now freed from the pressure of exams, I can study English to become a better speaker and for its practical application: I no linger have to study simply simply for exams.
f) I have realized that my English is not accomplished enough for my work and, this program provides a structured project through which I can improve my skills.
g) I feel it's important for our society to have many people who are experts in their fields, and are also bilingual; by studying English, I can contribute to the society.
h) Language is one of the few subjects that can be learned without any elaborate facilities. Only a few books and perhaps some tapes are necessary. I enjoy studying new subjects, and English as a language is interesting to learn and convenient to study.
接下来我们来看一看连续表达。
观点之一：
由于三年前高考落榜，只得选择了自学考试。自学一没有老师，二没有课堂气氛，自然要困难得多，不过，这却能锻炼自己的意志力。历史上有许多伟人都没有进过大学。我不是说由于他们没有进过大学才成了伟人，而是说通向成功之路不会只有一条。自学之路虽然曲折，但我一定会成功的。
Three years ago, I failed to gain entry to university by just a few points. My only option, as a result, was to enroll in the self - taught program. I understood that it would be much more difficult to study and learn without a teacher and the structure of classes; but I think it's a good way for me to gain discipline and strengthen my willpower. I know that many great leaders, throughout the history, have not attended university. While I would never say that they became great because they didn't have a degree, I think it is evident that much can be attained by those who follow a different path other than the expected one. I hope to achieve success myself, even though I may be taking a slightly less direct route than I had originally anticipated.
开头的第一句:
Three years ago, I failed to gain entry to university by just a few points.
说的是该考生高考落榜。这个意思也可以这样说：
When I took my exams three years ago, I missed the cut for university entrance by a few points.
也可以分两句说：
I took college entrance exams three years ago. Unfortunately, I failed to qualify by a few points.
最后一句：
"I hope to achieve success myself, even though I may be taking a slightly less direct than I had originally anticipated."此句所表达的意思是：自学之路会更加曲折，然而我想凭自己的努力学有所成。这个意思也可以用其他的句子来表达，如：
I hope to achieve success myself, even though my road may be a little more roundabout.
下面两句虽然用的是challenging和difficult,但表示的意思仍然相同：
I hope to achieve success myself, even though my road may be more challenging than others.
I hope to achieve success myself, even though my road may be more difficult.
然而，在表达这个意思时，有些考生舍近求远，爱用一些大词，如：uneven, zigzagging, 或复合词up - and - down 等，如：
I hope to achieve success myself, even though my road may be a little more uneven / zigzagging / up - and - down.
从"交流"的角度来看，上述句子不会给听者带来任何理解上的问题，但听来总觉得有点怪、一种搭配上的不协调------尽管语法结构无可挑剔。据笔者观察，学习口语者中做类似这样的"发明创造"的并不罕见。作者在这里希望大家在学习的过程中要多读、并留意和积累地道的英语表现手段，力戒任何随意的组合。换言之，假设在表达某一个意思时，语法上通得过的可能性尽管很多，但其中只有英美人会用的那一种或几种形式才是真正的英文。口语学习者应对这一点引起特别的重视。
观点之二：
我已经获得了机械专业的学位，因而我参加自学考试，并非冲着文凭而来，而是为了学习一点自己所喜欢的东西。我很喜欢学英文，而自学考试使我能扎实地、系统地学习英语。以前在大学念书时，学英语纯粹是为了应付考试。现在，我可以在没有任何的压力下进行学习。这样，每年两次的考试反倒成了促进我学习的动力。
Since I have already got my degree in Mechanics, I'm taking the self - taught course for my own enjoyment and not necessarily for a degree. I really like studying English and, systematically taking a course of the self - taught program provides me with a structured and a systematic way of improving my language skills. When I was in university working for my degree, I studied English simply because I wanted to pass my exams. Now. I can study English to improve my skills without the pressure. The exams merely provide the impetus for me to learn more.
观点之三：
我很喜欢学习英语，因而原先的志愿是想读英语专业，但考大学后却被录取读了经济专业。大学毕业后，我一直都在外资企业工作。我原本对自己的英语水平感到很自信，但去了外资企业后，才发现原先学到的英文与工作中使用的英文相距较大。参加自学考试使我能学习自己喜欢的英语，而且时间的安排也较灵活，同时又有助于我的工作。
Originally, I thought I would like to major in English, but I ended up majoring in Economics at my university. Since graduation, I have been working in a foreign enterprise. I have always enjoyed studying English, though, and I used to be very confident in my langusage skills. Now that I'm working for a foreign company, however, I've found that the English that we read as well as the way my colleagues speak is often quite different from what I studied. This self - taught program provides a way for me to study what I love, the English language. It is convenient for me to make my own schedule since I work full - time, and I can improve my job performance all at once.
观点之四：
自学是一种便利的学习途径。由于学习英语已有很多年头，因而对于其基本的语法知识有所领悟，且对于自己也有自知之明。本人现在已经工作，全日制读书已不可能。再说，要找到一个合适自己程度的班级也非易事; 此外，工作忙闲的不确定性使自己难以定期上课并完成作业。选择自学能具有更大的自由度。
I enjoy the English self - taught program because it's very convenient for me. I have studied English for many years, and I'm familiar with the vocabulary and basic rules of grammar, as well as the way that I can learn the language best. This is the most efficient way for me to keep up my English studies. Since I am now working full time, it's much easier for me to take a course and to schedule my own study time as I can. On the other hand, it would be very difficult for me to make it to classes or to follow assignments, because sometimes I'm busy at work or sometimes I have more free time. Therefore, the self - taught program allows me the freedom to determine my own course and to figure out what to study and the best way to do that on my own.
观点之五：
自学的好处在于能够有效地根据自己的程度进行学习。 学习的过程中将遇到的问题集中起来，待日后一起请教老师。这样做效率更高。所有的问题解决后，回去再认真攻读。
Well, for me, the advantage of the self - taught program is that I can determine my own level. I find that my level of proficiency in English tends to fall between the higher classes and the less advanced classes, and so it's difficult for me to find one that is at the appropriate level. I either end up in a class where I know much of the material already, or I am in a class where it's slightly more advanced than I am. And yet if I can sit down on my own, I can determine my own level and work and progress at a speed suitable for me. It's also much more efficient for me to be able to sit down with all of my materials and assemble all my questions and then pose them at one time, rather than learning a little bit here and there. So I prefer to have the chance to meet with the teacher and find out all the answers I need, and then go back and study them.
观点之六：
参加自学考试能使我跟上时代的步伐，以使自己能够更加胜任自己的工作，并为社会服务。由于工作了以后无法全天上学，参加自学能使我继续能有所学、能有一个奔头。
I find that the self - taught program allows me to keep up with the development of society that I see. I feel like at this point in our progress, each person has to contribute as much as possible to both their work and to society at large. And for me, the way to do that is to society English, keep advancing, and better my spoken English and my conversational understanding, so that I have something to give the society and my employs. Given that I'm very busy, self - teaching becomes the only practical way for me to continue that. It also gives me something to look forward to when I go home, because I'm challenged in a new way that refreshes me and again helps me at my job.
