提高英語的17個小妙招（上）
提高英語水平，意味着你要從說、寫和聽三個方面入手，但是這並沒有想象中的艱難。接下來請讀這篇文章並從中體會到學習英語的方法。
Improving Spoken English
提高口語表達
Spoken English is fun because it allows you to communicate directly with other English speakers. It is also challenging! English pronunciation is very different from other languages, plus there are many words pronounced in a unique way! So how do you improve then?
英語口語非常有趣，因爲你能使用它直接和其他人交流。這也是一個挑戰！跟其它語言相比，英語發音非常不同。甚至還有許多單詞的發音很獨特！那麼怎樣提高呢？
1. Break difficult-to-pronounce English words into parts.
把發音難的單詞分成幾部分
Long English words might be scary, but if you take a closer look, they can be broken down into parts. These parts are often easier to pronounce and sound more familiar. For example:
長的英文單詞可能讓我們感到可怕，但是你仔細看看，他們可以被分成幾部分。這些小部分就比較容易發音而且聽起來熟悉一點。例如：
• Wholesome = whole + some
• Antiestablishment = anti + establish + ment
• Psychotherapy = psycho + therapy
All you need to do is to practice pronouncing these separately and then put them back together. The trick is that you already know how to pronounce the long word because you know how to pronounce parts of it!
你要做的就是分別練習這些發音然後把它們組合到一起。祕訣就在於知道各部分的發音，你就知道了整體的發音！
2. Practice letter combinations that are giving you trouble.
練習使你感到困難的字母組合
When a long word includes a letter combo that you cannot pronounce, you will stumble. One way to improve is to get into the habit of practicing these letter combinations separately.
當一個長的單詞裏包括一個你不會發音的字母組合，你說話的時候就會結巴。克服這個問題的好辦法就是養成分別練習這些字母組合的好習慣。
For example, beautiful is hard to say because of its many vowels: b-eau-t-i-f-u-l. It may feel like a tongue twister. So you should focus on the /u/ sound in the middle and say it as many times as you need.
例如，beautiful的發音就比較難，因爲它有許多元音： b-eau-t-i-f-u-l。這聽起來像一個繞口令。你應該關注這個單詞中間/u/的發音，你要發很多次這個音。
Another example is the th combo that often gets pronounced like a t. Saying the may be easy, but saying thorough is tough. Your tongue needs to adjust to this peculiar th combination.
另一個例子就是th字母組合，它的發音和字母t的發音很像。發the的音可能會比較容易，但是發thorough的音就難了。你的發音需要調整以適合字母組合th的發音。
Any sound or letter pair could give you trouble. The key is to recognize them and give yourself a little time to get used to them.
任何發音或者是字母組合都可能會讓你覺得困難。關鍵就在於你需要辨認出它們並且給自己一點時間去適應它們。
3. Repeat difficult words out loud. Then repeat again.
不斷大聲朗讀難的單詞
To improve the likelihood of pronouncing English words correctly, you need to say them out loud many times. Choose a few words to focus on at a time and repeat them slowly as many times as you need.
提高正確發音的可能性，你需要大聲朗讀它們很多次。一次選幾個單詞，然後儘可能多地慢慢重複朗讀它們。
Repeating words out loud to yourself is also important in order to get used to hearing yourself say them. It may not sound right at first, but soon you will get accustomed to even the most difficult English words. Practice is the only thing that helps.
爲了習慣聽你自己去朗讀發音，不斷地對自己大聲重複很重要。一開始聽起來可能並不對，但是不久之後你就會習慣它們甚至是更難的英文單詞。練習是唯一能夠幫助你的方法。
4. Use Google Translate Listen for unknown words.
使用谷歌翻譯裏的發音來聽不認識的單詞。
When it comes to words you do not recognize at all, Google Translate is your best friend! Even if you do not need the word translated, type it into the Google Translate box on the left. You will see a sound sign appear at the bottom, along with a microphone and a keyboard sign. Hit the sound sign and you will hear the automatic voice say the word for you.
每當遇到你不認識的單詞，谷歌翻譯就是你最好的朋友！即使你不需要把這個單詞翻譯過來，把它打到谷歌翻譯界面的左側，你就會從界面的底部看到發音的標誌，麥克風以及鍵盤的標誌。
This feature is called Listen and it is invaluable to English learners. Google Translate Listen isn’t always the greatest when it comes to other languages, but it gets English right every time. (Note: The software that pronounces words does so with a standard American accent.)
這個特性就是聽，這對英語學習者很有效。當涉及到其他語言，谷歌翻譯中的發音不總是最好的，但是它的英語發音絕對是正確的。
5. Listen to how others pronounce unfamiliar words.
聽其他人是怎樣對不熟悉的單詞進行發音的
If you have no idea how to pronounce a certain word, but there is a chance that someone else might say it in conversation, listen very carefully to them. In fact, listening carefully is guaranteed to help you improve your English comprehension and speaking skills.
如果你不確定某一個單詞如何發音，但是你有機會聽到別人是如何讓發音的，那就認真聽。事實上，認真聽是提高英語理解能力和交流能力的保障。
Once you hear the word said out loud, do not be afraid to repeat after them.
每當你聽到一個單詞被大聲的朗讀出來的時候，不要害怕，跟着讀。
6. If you do not know how to pronounce something, take a guess!
如果你不知道怎樣去發某個音，猜一下！
Have you ever been in a situation where you just had to say something, but you had no idea how to pronounce it? It is common! You could be asked to read something in class. Maybe you need to ask for directions to a place.
你是否曾身處於這樣的環境裏？你不得不說些什麼，但是卻不知道如何發音。這很普遍。例如，被要求在全班面前讀點什麼，或者要問路的時候。
It can be an uncomfortable situation, for sure. Be brave and take a guess! If you pronounce it wrong, someone is likely to correct you. If not, you can always make a note of that word and practice it later in private. This is how you keep improving.
當然這是一個讓人有點尷尬的窘境。勇敢點，去嘗試！如果你發錯音了，會有人來糾正你。如果沒有，你可以把這個詞記錄下來，然後私下裏不斷地練習。這就是不斷提高之路。
7. Enunciate.
清晰的發音
Enunciating means pronouncing your words clearly and articulately with the intention of being understood by your audience. Enunciation plays the most important role in being a successful English speaker despite what your accent may be (more on your accent below!).
Enunciate 意爲爲了使你的聽衆理解你所說的話而進行清楚的發音。不管你的語音面貌如何，清楚的發音在成爲一個優秀英語演講者的過程中扮演着重要的角色。
Sometimes even native English speakers don’t enunciate enough. It takes a bit of practice. Not rushing will help you speak naturally.
有時候，甚至是一個以英語爲母語的人都無法進行清楚的發音。這需要大量的練習。不慌忙沉穩的發音會幫助你自然的交流。
8. Stop worrying about your accent!
不要再擔心你的口音！
Quite possibly the most important tip for improving your spoken English is to stop thinking about your accent! Everyone has one. Even native speakers have one! Regional English accents are a real thing, not to mention the differences between American, British, Australian, South African English and many others.
提高英語口語最重要的一個方法就是不要在擔心你的口音！每個人都有口音。甚至是母語使用者！地域性的口音是真實存在的，更不用說美式英語，英式英語，澳大利亞英語，南非英語以及其他語言之間發音的差異。
You may mispronounce something. You may stumble. It makes no difference and no one minds. As long as you follow tip seven and enunciate, you will be absolutely fine! Your accent will become more and more English the more you improve, and you can only improve by speaking more, so just go for it.
你可能把某個事物的讀音發錯了。你可能是結巴了。這都不重要，沒有人在意。只要你按照第七條清楚的發音，你的口音絕對會得到改善的。你提高的越多，你的口音就會變得越來越英語話化。你只能通過多說來提高，所以，行動吧！
Tips for Improving Written English
提高英語寫作的小妙招
Speaking English may be the most difficult for English students, but focusing on improving writing is no less important. Here is what you can do regardless of your language level!
口語可能對於學習英語的學生來說是最困難的，但是提高英語寫作也很重要。不管你的語言水平怎麼樣，你都可以通過以下幾招來提高英語寫作。
