i advocate this natural learning method with three basic principles.
第一、學習英語應該遵循由簡入繁、由易到難、由粗至細的原則
i. learning english should follow the principle from simple to complex, from easy to difficult, and from rough to subtle.
千里之行，始於足下。學習英語切忌好高騖遠，學習的開始就挑選難、繁、細的材料進行攻堅戰，以為學習效果更好，實踐證明這是一種錯誤的態度。如果學習材料遠遠超出學習者的語言水平，這樣的挑戰就失去了樂趣，而只是讓人感到喪氣和痛苦，材料不恰當，破壞了學習者的興趣和信心，這是最糟糕的事情。
a journey of a thousand li starts beneath one’s feet. we should try to avoid pursuing what’s beyond our reach in english learning. if we choose and study some difficult, complex, subtle materials at the very beginning with the hope of having better effect, it’s proved to be a wrong attitude by practice. if learning materials go far beyond learners’ actual language level, such challenges aren’t desirable and just make learners frustrated and painful. it’s the worst thing that learners’ interest and confidence are destroyed by unsuitable materials.
人的思維要受到精神狀態的影響，情緒飽滿和信心十足的時候，思維敏捷而且記憶輕鬆，在這樣良好的精神狀態下學習英語，就會收到事半功倍的效果。所以，學習英語應該一步一步地提高自己的水平，千萬不要抱著十天可以速成的錯誤心理。語言的學習是一個終生髮展的過程，千萬不要以為通過一段時 間的刻苦努力就能完全掌握英語，要知道對語言是學無止境的。
your thinking will be affected by your mental state. you’ll think quickly and memorize easily if you’re in high spirit and full of confidence, then you’ll get twice the result with half the effort in such a good mental state. therefore, you should improve your english step by step in your english learning without the wrong thoughts of cracking english within ten days. language learning is a lifelong developmental process, so don’t think you can master english thoroughly only through a period of great effort, and you should know there’s no end for language learning.
只要生命在不斷變化，作為表現工具的語言，就會自然而然不斷地經歷表征重述，從而使語言表達水平越來越高，越來越爐火純青，學習語言的樂趣就會越來越強烈。
so long as your life keeps changing, your language, as a rendering tool, will constantly undergo representational redescription, which makes your language expressive level higher and higher. it’s natural that you’ll attain high degree of professional proficiency and enjoy more and more fun in your language learning.
有一點必須指出，有些英文作品對我們如果顯得太困難、繁雜或者微妙，除了語言本身（辭彙和語法）的障礙之外，更重要的在於我們沒有經歷過類似的事情，我們的生命層次太低，思想太膚淺，自然無法領悟文章的奧妙。
if some english works seem too difficult, complex and subtle to us, i must point out, it lies in our lack of similar life experiences apart from the obstacles of language itself (vocabulary and grammar). because we’re in too low life levels with too superficial thoughts, it’s natural we fail to understand the profound meaning of those articles.
有句話，我印象很深，你要學寫詩，功夫在詩外。其實，學習英語的道理又何嘗不是如此，要提高英語表達水平，功夫應該花在英語外，沒有足夠的學識修養，英語技巧掌握得再好，也不過是一個中看不中用的繡花枕頭而已。
i’ve been impressed by a statement, "you must learn more things beyond poems if you want to learn writing them." actually, english learning isn’t different at all. you must learn more things beyond english if you want to improve your english expressive level. you’re just an outwardly attractive but actually worthless person without enough knowledge no matter how well you’ve mastered those english language skills.
其實大家可以想像一下金字塔的形狀，或許可以受到一點啟發。金字塔穩穩噹噹地矗立著，那是因為下大上小，我們學習英語也應該借鑑金字塔，簡單的作為繁雜的基礎，容易的作為困難的基礎，粗略的作為精細的基礎。簡單、容易和粗略就是金字塔龐大的基底，繁雜、困難和精細就是金字塔的頂部。我們按照這樣的過程學習英語，就一定能達到金字塔光輝的頂端！
actually you can get enlightened by imagining the pyramid shape. the pyramid stands firmly with a big bottom but a small top, and we should use it for reference in our english learning. complex materials base on simple materials, difficult materials base on easy materials, and subtle materials base on rough materials. the simple, easy and rough materials serve as the big base of pyramid, while the complex, difficult and subtle materials serve as the top of pyramid. we can reach the glorious summit of pyramid if we learn english in this way.
第二、學習英語應該遵循先聽後說、先讀後寫、先積累後運用的自然順序
ii. learning english should follow the natural sequence of listening prior to speaking, reading prior to writing, accumulating prior to applying.
古人有句經驗之談：熟讀唐詩三百首，不會寫詩也會吟。這個經驗完全符合學習的邏輯規律。
there’s an ancient saying: after reading up three hundred tang poems, you can at least intone poems even you can’t write them. this experience completely accords with the logical law of learning.
學習英語，應該根據自己的實際水平和興趣愛好多多吸收語言材料，敞開頭腦，充分吸收，積累儘可能多的豐富語言材料，如英文歌、英文小說、報刊雜誌、英文電影等等。
absorb more language materials according to your actual level and interest in your english learning. with your open mind, absorb as much as you can, and accumulate rich language materials as many as possible, such as english songs, novels, newspapers, magazines, movies, etc.
應該持一種來者不拒的態度，一種海納百川的氣勢，要知道人腦具有對語言材料的自動加工處理功能，材料積累到一定時候，人腦就會加工處理出一些有用的語言信息。聽多了，自然想說，讀多了，自然想寫，一切都順其自然，完全是水到渠成的事情。
hold an attitude of embracing everything just like ocean containing hundreds of rivers. because human brain has such a function of processing language materials automatically, it can produce some useful language information when materials have been accumulated to a certain extent. it’s natural you want to speak when you’ve heard a lot, and also natural you want to write when you’ve read a lot. everything has been done in a natural way, then success will come when conditions are ripe.
聽和讀，是輸入和積累，也可以說是基於觀察的學習。應該盡力模仿，每個音調和語調，每個字詞和句子，從粗到細地模仿和吸收，要抱著一種不求甚解、順其自然的態度才好。究竟什麼時候該休息一段時 間，讓輸入的語言材料在大腦內部按照個人的特點進行加工處理，這完全是因人而異的事情。
as input and accumulation, listening and reading function as observation-based learning. try to imitate very pronunciation and intonation, every word and sentence from the rough to the subtle with a natural attitude. it varies with each individual when to rest for a period of time and let those input language materials processed in the brain according to the individual character.
當你覺得你的頭腦被很多語言材料充滿，就像茶杯已經倒滿了水，如果再繼續往茶杯里倒水，只會溢出來，好了，抓住那個臨界點，開始休息。所謂休息，我是指，完全把所吸收的語言材料統統忘掉，把它們拋入潛意識得到加工處理。
when you feel your head is stuffed with many language materials just like a teacup full of water, it’ll overflow if you continue pouring water into it. well, seize that critical point, then start your rest. so-called rest, i mean you forget all those absorbed language materials and throw them into your subconscious mind.
積極的休息方法是去做跟英語完全無關的事情，不要擔心自己學的英語會忘記，心理學研究指出，人會自然記住自己感興趣的東西，遺忘自己不感興趣的東西。你感興趣的東西，無需你時時刻刻想著，也會深深印在你心底深處。正是由於這個原因，我特別建議，選擇英語材料應該因人而異，選擇自己感興趣的英文材料才行，否則吸收的效果肯定不好。
the active method of rest is to do anything irrelevant to english without worrying you would really forget them. psychology research points out a human can remember what he’s interested in and forget what he isn’t interested in. what attracts your interest will be kept in your mind deeply without thinking of them all the time. just for this reason, i particularly suggest that choosing english materials should be different for each individual. you must choose what you have interest in, otherwise there won’t be any good absorbing effect.
在我看來，對材料有興趣，表明大腦的那扇門對這個材料是打開的，否則，門是關閉的，所以儘管聽了或者看了不少材料，因為不感興趣，被大腦拒之門外，相當於沒有吸收任何原材料。
in my view, your interest in materials shows the door of your mind is open to them, otherwise, the door is closed. even you’ve read a lot of materials, but if you have no interest in them and your brain rejects them, it means you’ve absorbed nothing at all.
說和寫，是輸出和釋放，也可以說是基於反饋的學習。應該積極勇敢地實踐，不要怕說錯，不要怕寫錯。只有在大膽的實踐中，才能發揮大腦的語言自我糾錯功能。在成功與失敗中，慢慢地提高英語表達水平。
as output and release, speaking and writing function as feedback-based learning. try to practice bravely without being afraid of making mistakes in your speaking and writhing. only in brave practice can you exert your brain’s function of self-repairs in language. and your english expressive level will be improved little by little in the process of success and failure.
聽和讀，是圓的一半，說和寫，是圓的另一半，兩者不可偏廢，共同構成一個完整的圓，而且這個圓要不斷地循環，才能不斷地提高英語的聽說讀寫能力。
listening and reading is half of a full circle, complemented by speaking and writing as the other half, and with both given the same attention. keep circulating around the circle so that you can constantly improve your ability in english listening, reading, speaking and writing.
第三、學習英語應該尊重從錯誤到正確、從簡陋到完美的漸進過程
iii. english learning should cover the gradual process from wrong to right and from rough to perfect.
很多英語教師持這樣一種觀念，我認為是錯誤的。他們認為一開始就要讓學生說一口絕對正確的英語，每字每句講得非常認真仔細，對學生出現的錯誤是孜孜不倦地加以批評和指正，這種急功近利的態度危害很大。
many english teachers hold such an idea which is wrong in my view. they require students to speak absolutely correct english at the very beginning, so they explain every word and sentence very carefully, and persevere in criticizing and correcting students’ mistakes. this eagerness for quick success and instant benefit will do great harm.
太在乎結果而輕視過程，這是一種非常普遍的心理。用之於英語學習，我個人認為，老師很輕鬆地代勞了學生從錯誤到正確、從簡陋到完美的漸進過程，幾乎是剝奪了學生從錯誤自然成長的大好機會。學習的效果大致是這樣，暫時效果好，長遠效果差，說明學生沒有經歷一個漫長的由錯誤到正確的漸進過程，印象不深，很容易遺忘。
it’s very common to care more about the result than about the process. when it comes to english learning, in my opinion, teachers do too much for students in the gradual process from wrong to correct and from rough to perfect, which almost deprives students of good chances for growth from mistakes. it’s natural the temporary effect is good, but the long-term effect is opposite. students don’t have deep impression on what they’ve learned and forget them easily because they don’t experience a long process from wrong to right.
有句詩是這樣講的：書上得來終覺淺，絕知此事要躬行。學習英語，教師應該給學生犯錯誤的自由空間，讓學生慢慢體會，自覺糾正，這樣印象深，效果好。教師千萬不能心急，希望快速看到教學效果，這其實是一種非常自私的態度，應該尊重學習語言的客觀規律，一步一個腳印地前進，這樣才是真正對學生負責的好教師。
a poem says, knowledge from books isn’t enough, only through practice can you really understand it. in english learning, teachers should create free space for students to make mistakes and develop their self-repairs in language with deep impression and good effect. it’s a very selfish attitude that teachers are too eager to see the teaching effect. a good and responsible teacher should respect the objective law of language learning and lead students to advance step by step.
我所提倡的自然學習法只有三條基本原則。
i advocate this natural learning method with three basic principles.
第一、學習英語應該遵循由簡入繁、由易到難、由粗至細的原則
i. learning english should follow the principle from simple to complex, from easy to difficult, and from rough to subtle.
千里之行，始於足下。學習英語切忌好高騖遠，學習的開始就挑選難、繁、細的材料進行攻堅戰，以為學習效果更好，實踐證明這是一種錯誤的態度。如果學習材料遠遠超出學習者的語言水平，這樣的挑戰就失去了樂趣，而只是讓人感到喪氣和痛苦，材料不恰當，破壞了學習者的興趣和信心，這是最糟糕的事情。
a journey of a thousand li starts beneath one’s feet. we should try to avoid pursuing what’s beyond our reach in english learning. if we choose and study some difficult, complex, subtle materials at the very beginning with the hope of having better effect, it’s proved to be a wrong attitude by practice. if learning materials go far beyond learners’ actual language level, such challenges aren’t desirable and just make learners frustrated and painful. it’s the worst thing that learners’ interest and confidence are destroyed by unsuitable materials.
人的思維要受到精神狀態的影響，情緒飽滿和信心十足的時候，思維敏捷而且記憶輕鬆，在這樣良好的精神狀態下學習英語，就會收到事半功倍的效果。所以，學習英語應該一步一步地提高自己的水平，千萬不要抱著十天可以速成的錯誤心理。語言的學習是一個終生髮展的過程，千萬不要以為通過一段時 間的刻苦努力就能完全掌握英語，要知道對語言是學無止境的。
your thinking will be affected by your mental state. you’ll think quickly and memorize easily if you’re in high spirit and full of confidence, then you’ll get twice the result with half the effort in such a good mental state. therefore, you should improve your english step by step in your english learning without the wrong thoughts of cracking english within ten days. language learning is a lifelong developmental process, so don’t think you can master english thoroughly only through a period of great effort, and you should know there’s no end for language learning.
只要生命在不斷變化，作為表現工具的語言，就會自然而然不斷地經歷表征重述，從而使語言表達水平越來越高，越來越爐火純青，學習語言的樂趣就會越來越強烈。
so long as your life keeps changing, your language, as a rendering tool, will constantly undergo representational redescription, which makes your language expressive level higher and higher. it’s natural that you’ll attain high degree of professional proficiency and enjoy more and more fun in your language learning.