http://ed.grammarly.com/editor/view/?f=1
David' strongly recommended link: automatic grammar check, the only thing you need to do is to copy and paste your whole essay in the box.
http://www.npr.org/
An excellent listening practice link, you always find thing interesting here.
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/
A fantastic online dictionary (strongly recommended by Carla)
http://www.englishpage.com/
A wonderful website on grammar practice.
http://www.esl-lab.com
Online listening lab( listening materials from “easy” to “very difficult”)
http://www.abc.net.au
Listening online news, especially Australian news, help you concern what happens around you.
http://www.ted.com
Various interesting online lectures, be useful to your listening inE7.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Comment: Why is English the lingua franca of our time?
Author: DA WEI LIU
Creation date: Friday, June 18, 2010 12:08:48 PM EST
Date last modified: Friday, June 18, 2010 12:08:48 PM EST
Total views: 5 Your views: 2
The first reason for this is that English is dominant in a wide range of areas becasuse of the influence of globalisation, especially some important areas, such as economy, sicence and technology, media and so on. A large number of people worlwide are being unconsiously influced by English . Whenever and wherever they are walking on the street, they will see lots of advertisements with English slogans. They are also using products or eating food from English transnational corporations, such as IBM, HP, KFC, McDonlds ans so on. These fancy or funky products make them more interested in English.
Besides, English means opportunities. With English, people can have more chances than those who cannot speak English to get jobs in interviews of transnatioanal corporations. It is manifest that the salary of them is higher and working environment is better than many local campanies. Due to this, many students have been studying aboard or are going to study aboard. That is why we are typing words in Englsih in E7discusionboard in REW. Nearly all of us believe English can give us more opportunities to realise the successful career.
So, English will affect us very much during our time, and this trend will continue to the future.
Creation date: Friday, June 18, 2010 12:08:48 PM EST
Date last modified: Friday, June 18, 2010 12:08:48 PM EST
Total views: 5 Your views: 2
The first reason for this is that English is dominant in a wide range of areas becasuse of the influence of globalisation, especially some important areas, such as economy, sicence and technology, media and so on. A large number of people worlwide are being unconsiously influced by English . Whenever and wherever they are walking on the street, they will see lots of advertisements with English slogans. They are also using products or eating food from English transnational corporations, such as IBM, HP, KFC, McDonlds ans so on. These fancy or funky products make them more interested in English.
Besides, English means opportunities. With English, people can have more chances than those who cannot speak English to get jobs in interviews of transnatioanal corporations. It is manifest that the salary of them is higher and working environment is better than many local campanies. Due to this, many students have been studying aboard or are going to study aboard. That is why we are typing words in Englsih in E7discusionboard in REW. Nearly all of us believe English can give us more opportunities to realise the successful career.
So, English will affect us very much during our time, and this trend will continue to the future.
Comment: English is not the barrier of being an Australian citizen
Creation date: Friday, June 18, 2010 11:42:03 AM EST
Date last modified: Friday, June 18, 2010 11:42:03 AM EST
Total views: 1 Your views: 2
Australia is a multi-lingual country, many immigrants living here can not speak English. however, without English, they are able to gain the Australian citizenship as English-speaking immigrants. The reason for this is because these people are beneficial to Australia.
One benefit from non-English speaking citizens is that they develop the Australian enconomy. In order to gain Australian citizenship, many would-be immigrants have to invest lots of money in the local business as Australian policy. Although they cannot speak English, they can conduct business with their mother countries, communicating with people who speak the same language with them. Taking the huge economic contridition of these immigrants, Australian government should give them citizenship, espeically during the period of ecnomomic crisis.
Anther advantage from non-English speaking citizens is that they bring their brilliant culture to Australian society, making thire culture more interesting and attractive. That is really a wonderful resource of tourism. It is clear that Australia is a favour country of tourism. Apart from the beautifu natural seneries, the muti-culture also appeal lots of tourists to visit Australia, gaining a greal deal of foreign currency from them. Meanwhile, it can rellivate the problem of employment through providing a large number of employment opportunities. Therefore, Australia can gain indirect benefits from these people with diverse cultures.
Although some claim that they would be in touble in their lives if they cannot speak English, especially in emmergency. Although they do not master English, they can learn to speak some basic English to deal with some problems or get help from their friends who can speak bilingualistics.
Therefore, in terms of the benefits above, Australian government will consider carefully whether the right of citizenship should be restricted by English.
Date last modified: Friday, June 18, 2010 11:42:03 AM EST
Total views: 1 Your views: 2
Australia is a multi-lingual country, many immigrants living here can not speak English. however, without English, they are able to gain the Australian citizenship as English-speaking immigrants. The reason for this is because these people are beneficial to Australia.
One benefit from non-English speaking citizens is that they develop the Australian enconomy. In order to gain Australian citizenship, many would-be immigrants have to invest lots of money in the local business as Australian policy. Although they cannot speak English, they can conduct business with their mother countries, communicating with people who speak the same language with them. Taking the huge economic contridition of these immigrants, Australian government should give them citizenship, espeically during the period of ecnomomic crisis.
Anther advantage from non-English speaking citizens is that they bring their brilliant culture to Australian society, making thire culture more interesting and attractive. That is really a wonderful resource of tourism. It is clear that Australia is a favour country of tourism. Apart from the beautifu natural seneries, the muti-culture also appeal lots of tourists to visit Australia, gaining a greal deal of foreign currency from them. Meanwhile, it can rellivate the problem of employment through providing a large number of employment opportunities. Therefore, Australia can gain indirect benefits from these people with diverse cultures.
Although some claim that they would be in touble in their lives if they cannot speak English, especially in emmergency. Although they do not master English, they can learn to speak some basic English to deal with some problems or get help from their friends who can speak bilingualistics.
Therefore, in terms of the benefits above, Australian government will consider carefully whether the right of citizenship should be restricted by English.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Reflection in the third week
The most import thing was writing in the week. i had been confident about my writing util the exam in Wednesday. Although we spent two hours to analyse the article before the exam, i could not totally understand about the whole article, espercially i felt a little confused about which two or three arguments were easier to respond in my essay. Besides, after the exam, i realised that i made many baby mistakes, such as spelling mistakes, and some ideas i wrote were not quite reasonable. This week, we also learnt how to respond two articles critically. i learnt the stucture of this kind of essay through analysing the sample. But i found five hundred words were not enough to explain clearly. i am afraid that i may not finish it in exam. Thus i need to extact more important information.
In terms of reading, i really hate to answer the last question that is about the author's tone of one article and why. Because i have no idea using what words to properly describe it or from what aspects to answer it, i know there are some words, such positive, negative, pessimistic,optimistic, but sometimes they are not quite fitting although i could read the author's feel. with less reading practices, i found my reading speed was lower than before, so i read some newspapers to improve it and wrote some new words on my notebook.
This week i just listened 3 lecture listening materials to practice notetaking skills, especially those materials related to languages. Another thing i did was to listen to online news, but i sometimes nearly fell asleep, which was probably because i did not take notes or i listened news during dining time. That was a waste of time. So, from my own experience, the intensive listening is more usefull than extensive listening.
i changed my oral presentation' topic, because it had been used many many times by previous students. Jonathan gave me advice to select the topic from my interest or my major, such as the English in blue-collar workers. But i found a little information about this topic, finally, i chose "the translation of English movie titles in China", and spent much time on searching information. The outline and some main contents have been determined and i will do the PPT next week. The tutorial on Friday was about the influnces of English on other countries. All of my classmates and i showed our own opinions, we all believed that in short term English would continue to consolidate its status as lingual franca worldwide. what i made better was i controled me speaking speed and tried speak every word clear, i though everyone could follow me.
All in all, i found some problems in this week and the final exams are around the corner, the next week i will have to stay up for some nights.
In terms of reading, i really hate to answer the last question that is about the author's tone of one article and why. Because i have no idea using what words to properly describe it or from what aspects to answer it, i know there are some words, such positive, negative, pessimistic,optimistic, but sometimes they are not quite fitting although i could read the author's feel. with less reading practices, i found my reading speed was lower than before, so i read some newspapers to improve it and wrote some new words on my notebook.
This week i just listened 3 lecture listening materials to practice notetaking skills, especially those materials related to languages. Another thing i did was to listen to online news, but i sometimes nearly fell asleep, which was probably because i did not take notes or i listened news during dining time. That was a waste of time. So, from my own experience, the intensive listening is more usefull than extensive listening.
i changed my oral presentation' topic, because it had been used many many times by previous students. Jonathan gave me advice to select the topic from my interest or my major, such as the English in blue-collar workers. But i found a little information about this topic, finally, i chose "the translation of English movie titles in China", and spent much time on searching information. The outline and some main contents have been determined and i will do the PPT next week. The tutorial on Friday was about the influnces of English on other countries. All of my classmates and i showed our own opinions, we all believed that in short term English would continue to consolidate its status as lingual franca worldwide. what i made better was i controled me speaking speed and tried speak every word clear, i though everyone could follow me.
All in all, i found some problems in this week and the final exams are around the corner, the next week i will have to stay up for some nights.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Reflection in the second week
During this week, what made me impressive was how to analyse an article critically from aspects, such as bias, evidence, logic, tone and language. i know the critical thinking is very important to benefit my further study in RMIT, but education i received in China really influenced me a lot and the only thing i needed to do was to accept everthing. So at the beginning, i was so confused how to write an article critically that my first essay was sucked, most of which was irrelevant. But, with the help of Carla and Jonathan, i got the point. Besides, the tutorial is very interesting, my classmates can share our ideas freely, which is good way to improve my speaking. Although, i made some progress on writing and speaking, we had less time to practice listening in class, so during the break time or after class, i listened to some academic lectures and take nokes, or BBC news.
I feel stressful and we leave just 2 weeks of E7, the competition is so firece, so there were 4 days in this week when i had to study until the midnight. i need to organise my time very well to keep a good condition of learning English in the next week.
I feel stressful and we leave just 2 weeks of E7, the competition is so firece, so there were 4 days in this week when i had to study until the midnight. i need to organise my time very well to keep a good condition of learning English in the next week.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
不懂装懂的英语其实很丢人~~
sporting house 妓院（不是“体育室”）
dead president 美钞（上印有总统头像）（并非“死了的总统”）
lover 情人（不是“爱人”）
busboy 餐馆勤杂工（不是“公汽售票员”）
busybody 爱管闲事的人（不是“大忙人”）
dry goods （美）纺织品；（英）谷物（不是“干货”）
heartman 换心人（不是“有心人”）
mad doctor 精神病科医生（不是“发疯的医生”）
eleventh hour 最后时刻（不是“十一点”）
blind date （由第三者安排的）男女初次会面（并非“盲目约会”或“瞎约会”）
personal remark 人身攻击（不是“个人评论”）
sweet water 淡水（不是“糖水”或“甜水”）
confidence man 骗子（不是“信得过的人”）
criminal lawyer 刑事律师（不是“犯罪的律师”）
service station 加油站（不是“服务站”）
rest room 厕所（不是“休息室”）
dressing room 化妆室（不是“试衣室”或“更衣室”）
horse sense 常识（不是“马的感觉”）
capital idea 好主意（不是“资本主义思想”）
familiar talk 庸俗的交谈（不是“熟悉的谈话”）
black tea 红茶（不是“黑茶”）
black art 妖术（不是“黑色艺术”）
black stranger 完全陌生的人（不是“陌生的黑人”）
white coal （作动力来源用的）水（不是“白煤”）
white man 忠实可靠的人（不是“皮肤白的人”）
yellow book 黄皮书（法国政府报告书，以黄纸为封）（不是“黄色书籍”）
red tape 官僚习气（不是“红色带子”）
green hand 新手（不是“绿手”）
blue stocking 女学者、女才子（不是“蓝色长统袜”）
China policy 对华政策（不是“中国政策”）
Chinese dragon 麒麟（不是“中国龙”）
American beauty 一种玫瑰，名为“美国丽人”（不是“美国美女”）
English disease 软骨病（不是“英国病”）
Indian summer 愉快宁静的晚年（不是“印度的夏日”）
Greek gift 害人的礼品（不是“希腊礼物”）
Spanish athlete 吹牛的人（不是“西班牙运动员”）
French chalk 滑石粉（不是“法国粉笔”）
2.习语类
pull one's leg 开玩笑（不是“拉后腿”）
in one's birthday suit 赤身裸体（不是“穿着生日礼服”）
eat one's words 收回前言（不是“食言”）
an apple of love 西红柿（不是“爱情之果”）
handwriting on the wall 不祥之兆（不是“大字报”）
bring down the house 博得全场喝彩（不是“推倒房子”）
have a fit 勃然大怒（不是“试穿”）
make one's hair stand on end 令人毛骨悚然—恐惧（不是“令人发指——气愤”）
be taken in 受骗，上当（不是“被接纳”）
think a great deal of oneself 高看或看重自己（不是“为自己想得很多”）
pull up one's socks 鼓起勇气（不是“提上袜子”）
have the heart to do （用于否定句）忍心做……不是“有心做”或“有意做”）
3.短句类
What a shame! 多可惜！真遗憾！（不是“多可耻”）
You don't say! 是吗！（不是“你别说”）
You can say that again! 说得好！（不是“你可以再说一遍”）
I haven't slept better. 我睡得好极了。（不是“我从未睡过好觉”）
You can't be too careful in your work. 你工作越仔细越好。（不是“你工作不能太仔细”）
It has been 4 years since I smoked. 我戒烟４年了。（不是“我抽烟4年了”）
All his friends did not turn up. 他的朋友没全到。（不是“他的朋友全没到”）
People will be long forgetting her. 人们在很长时间内会记住她的。（不是“人们会永远忘记她”）
He was only too pleased to let them go. 他很乐意让他们走。（不是“他太高兴了，不愿让他们走”）
It can't be less interesting. 它无聊极了。（不是“它不可能没有趣”）
dead president 美钞（上印有总统头像）（并非“死了的总统”）
lover 情人（不是“爱人”）
busboy 餐馆勤杂工（不是“公汽售票员”）
busybody 爱管闲事的人（不是“大忙人”）
dry goods （美）纺织品；（英）谷物（不是“干货”）
heartman 换心人（不是“有心人”）
mad doctor 精神病科医生（不是“发疯的医生”）
eleventh hour 最后时刻（不是“十一点”）
blind date （由第三者安排的）男女初次会面（并非“盲目约会”或“瞎约会”）
personal remark 人身攻击（不是“个人评论”）
sweet water 淡水（不是“糖水”或“甜水”）
confidence man 骗子（不是“信得过的人”）
criminal lawyer 刑事律师（不是“犯罪的律师”）
service station 加油站（不是“服务站”）
rest room 厕所（不是“休息室”）
dressing room 化妆室（不是“试衣室”或“更衣室”）
horse sense 常识（不是“马的感觉”）
capital idea 好主意（不是“资本主义思想”）
familiar talk 庸俗的交谈（不是“熟悉的谈话”）
black tea 红茶（不是“黑茶”）
black art 妖术（不是“黑色艺术”）
black stranger 完全陌生的人（不是“陌生的黑人”）
white coal （作动力来源用的）水（不是“白煤”）
white man 忠实可靠的人（不是“皮肤白的人”）
yellow book 黄皮书（法国政府报告书，以黄纸为封）（不是“黄色书籍”）
red tape 官僚习气（不是“红色带子”）
green hand 新手（不是“绿手”）
blue stocking 女学者、女才子（不是“蓝色长统袜”）
China policy 对华政策（不是“中国政策”）
Chinese dragon 麒麟（不是“中国龙”）
American beauty 一种玫瑰，名为“美国丽人”（不是“美国美女”）
English disease 软骨病（不是“英国病”）
Indian summer 愉快宁静的晚年（不是“印度的夏日”）
Greek gift 害人的礼品（不是“希腊礼物”）
Spanish athlete 吹牛的人（不是“西班牙运动员”）
French chalk 滑石粉（不是“法国粉笔”）
2.习语类
pull one's leg 开玩笑（不是“拉后腿”）
in one's birthday suit 赤身裸体（不是“穿着生日礼服”）
eat one's words 收回前言（不是“食言”）
an apple of love 西红柿（不是“爱情之果”）
handwriting on the wall 不祥之兆（不是“大字报”）
bring down the house 博得全场喝彩（不是“推倒房子”）
have a fit 勃然大怒（不是“试穿”）
make one's hair stand on end 令人毛骨悚然—恐惧（不是“令人发指——气愤”）
be taken in 受骗，上当（不是“被接纳”）
think a great deal of oneself 高看或看重自己（不是“为自己想得很多”）
pull up one's socks 鼓起勇气（不是“提上袜子”）
have the heart to do （用于否定句）忍心做……不是“有心做”或“有意做”）
3.短句类
What a shame! 多可惜！真遗憾！（不是“多可耻”）
You don't say! 是吗！（不是“你别说”）
You can say that again! 说得好！（不是“你可以再说一遍”）
I haven't slept better. 我睡得好极了。（不是“我从未睡过好觉”）
You can't be too careful in your work. 你工作越仔细越好。（不是“你工作不能太仔细”）
It has been 4 years since I smoked. 我戒烟４年了。（不是“我抽烟4年了”）
All his friends did not turn up. 他的朋友没全到。（不是“他的朋友全没到”）
People will be long forgetting her. 人们在很长时间内会记住她的。（不是“人们会永远忘记她”）
He was only too pleased to let them go. 他很乐意让他们走。（不是“他太高兴了，不愿让他们走”）
It can't be less interesting. 它无聊极了。（不是“它不可能没有趣”）
Living in the shade of frastration of English.Beat it!!
基本上来中心办事的中国学生总是会把英语说得很快很流利，不像是交流，更像是背书。
从我12岁开始学英语起，英语就一直是我的梦魇。直到现在，我一直不明白，为什么要让学汉语言文学专业的我，在大学期间把除了谈情说爱以外的一半时间都用于英语学习。好容易等到了大学毕业开始工作，终于可以暂时摆脱英语对我的摧残。可刚过了七八年没有英语的幸福生活，我竟然旅居到了一个说英语的国家——澳大利亚。一个更长的梦魇由此开始。
我的父母对于我暂时出国充满期待，他们以为我在一个良好的英语环境中语言会自然而然地飞速进步。可惜他们错了。刚到澳洲的时候，我连一个人去超市买东西都不敢。第一次去超市购物，收银员问了我一句：“要不要再拿个塑料袋？”我和人家愣是纠缠了五六分钟才弄明白。结果自然少不了要挨几个排在我身后的顾客的白眼。去买火车票我总是在自动售票机处买，从来不敢去窗口买。
我来到澳洲2个月后是圣诞节，平安夜的那天晚上我在中央火车站等火车。火车一进站，车上蹦下来一堆来城市中心泡吧的姑娘们。在这样一个西方人的传统节日里，陌生人之间总会莫名其妙地突然亲近起来。那天第一个跳下火车的女孩，一看见站台上的我就喊道："how is going."可怜的我在当时所知道的英语问候语，只限于“hello”、“how are you”，根本不知道这一句“how is going”是一句最普通的问候语。我愣在站台上不知该如何应对。我这样的木然，显然是破坏了姑娘们的心情，一堆人怪叫了几声扬长而去。那一晚，她们的心情可能比我好不了多少。在这样的一种氛围下，人很容易自我封闭，让你尽管生活在一个英语国家中，可却被英语排斥。
好在我有一个厉害的太太，她强逼着我去从生活中的点滴学起，像家长逼孩子学习一样，逼着我去超市购物，去路边问路，去银行存钱等等。这使我终于能在1年以后生活基本自理，对于日常生活中的英语没有了太多的恐惧。
事实上，英语这东西，你把它搞得生活基本自理不是很难。但如果想流畅，交流无障碍真是不容易。我在交流过程中所犯过的错误数不胜数。
一次，我们仓库所在的大楼电梯坏了，有个澳洲人站在一楼等电梯。可能因为等了太久都没有看到电梯有什么反应，刚好又碰到我从楼梯下来，就问我："Is it this lift does not working?"（电梯是不是坏了？）这样的英语疑问句，对于中国人来讲是最容易犯迷糊的。因为中国人的回答会是“yes”，而英语的习惯却一定是“no”。这样的错误就是很多英文很好的人也很容易犯，就更别说是我了。所以，那个人听我说完“yes”后，就坚定地站在电梯前独自等待。
虽然我的英文水平相当有限，但可能因为我外表斯文，又戴着眼镜，具备一定的欺骗性，所以我碰到的很多澳洲人都想当然地认为我英文很好，习惯于流利地和我交流。而我总是不好意思告诉人家我听不懂，总是带着很感兴趣的微笑频频点头做明白状。这样一种虚假的状态总在我心中不断强化着英语这个梦魇所带给我的挫败感和自卑心。
然而有一次，在我的客人中，我意外地发现了一位英文程度远不如我但却无丝毫自卑心的人。那是一个讲法语的女人，她的英文程度仅限于“hello”“thank you”“bye bye”，连数数都不行。每次谈价钱都是用手指头比画。可她每次到我们店里来采购，从来都是气宇轩昂，咋咋呼呼的，不管谁接待她，她总是朗声一句“hello no English”。
那接待她的人当然就很吃力，可她却不像我一样因为英文不好而觉得不好意思，那种理直气壮的样子好像她不会说英语没什么错，我们不能讲法语才不对。
我太太在澳洲一所大学的学生服务中心工作，她和我聊到所接待的学生时提到了这样一个有趣的现象：基本上来中心办事的中国学生总是会把英语说得很快很流利，不像是交流，更像是背书。那种感觉好像是生怕别人觉得自己的英文不够好。而来自欧洲国家的学生，他们中有些人英语也不是很好，但是他们总是不介意把英语说得很慢，甚至很结巴，一点儿不怕暴露他们在语言方面的不足。我太太留学时，班上的一个德国学生英文口语并不是很好，但上课发言总是很积极，总是一副淡定自若的样子，一点儿不会因为同学们听得着急、费劲而不好意思。
对比这些来自欧洲的留学生和那位趾高气扬的讲法兰西语的女人，他们丝毫没有因为英语不行而自卑，而我这个来自拥有五千年灿烂文明的泱泱大国的黄帝苗裔，却为何会在英语前气短心虚？反过来想想，又会有几个在中国生活学习的外国人，会因为说不好汉语而感到自卑呢？而我这样的自卑，我敢说一定存在于很多如我一样生活在外国、英文不好的中国人心中。
不过也有例外，我最近在银行办事的时候碰到的一个中国老太太就给了我一种全新的感受。
那天，我在银行兑支票，排在我前面的是一位穿着得体、气质高雅的亚裔老太太。轮到她的时候，她递上她的银行卡，对着窗口里的女职员用中文说：“取两千块。”
“what?”窗口里面的人显然是懵了。
老太太又不紧不慢地用中文说了一句“取两千块”。那女职员当然是没听懂，不过大概是猜到了老太太讲的是中文，赶紧向别人求助。这家银行其实每周固定的几天是有懂汉语的员工上班，不过今天显然不是他们的服务时间。那女职员找来的又是一个澳洲职员。我猜测他可能是上过几天汉语学习班，好不容易盼到了有个机会可以秀一下。但见这厮自信满满地来到窗口，拿出4张50块的票子用中文对老太太说：“取两百块？”
“取两千块。”老太太不满地更正。
“取两百块？”那男职员不死心继续问。
“取两千块。”
“取两百块？”他们这样僵持下去，就是到明年也轮不到我。我上前对着窗口里面说了一句“two thousand”。
难题算是解决了。老太太数清了取出的两千块钱，很有礼貌地对我道谢。然后转过头对着窗口里面的那一男一女，带着相当不满的表情摇了摇头。这样的举动，让窗口里面的两个人相当郁闷。等老太太走了以后，他们俩嘟囔着说：“明明是她不会说英语，怎么还埋怨我们。”
老太太那理直气壮的样子，一下子让我想起了我们店里的那位说法语的女人。那种同样的气宇轩昂，不是被英语挫败，而是挫败了英语的样子何其相似。那以后，每当我因为英语问题而在心中升起自卑与挫败感的时候，那位中国老太太摇头叹息的样子一定会在我的脑海出现
从我12岁开始学英语起，英语就一直是我的梦魇。直到现在，我一直不明白，为什么要让学汉语言文学专业的我，在大学期间把除了谈情说爱以外的一半时间都用于英语学习。好容易等到了大学毕业开始工作，终于可以暂时摆脱英语对我的摧残。可刚过了七八年没有英语的幸福生活，我竟然旅居到了一个说英语的国家——澳大利亚。一个更长的梦魇由此开始。
我的父母对于我暂时出国充满期待，他们以为我在一个良好的英语环境中语言会自然而然地飞速进步。可惜他们错了。刚到澳洲的时候，我连一个人去超市买东西都不敢。第一次去超市购物，收银员问了我一句：“要不要再拿个塑料袋？”我和人家愣是纠缠了五六分钟才弄明白。结果自然少不了要挨几个排在我身后的顾客的白眼。去买火车票我总是在自动售票机处买，从来不敢去窗口买。
我来到澳洲2个月后是圣诞节，平安夜的那天晚上我在中央火车站等火车。火车一进站，车上蹦下来一堆来城市中心泡吧的姑娘们。在这样一个西方人的传统节日里，陌生人之间总会莫名其妙地突然亲近起来。那天第一个跳下火车的女孩，一看见站台上的我就喊道："how is going."可怜的我在当时所知道的英语问候语，只限于“hello”、“how are you”，根本不知道这一句“how is going”是一句最普通的问候语。我愣在站台上不知该如何应对。我这样的木然，显然是破坏了姑娘们的心情，一堆人怪叫了几声扬长而去。那一晚，她们的心情可能比我好不了多少。在这样的一种氛围下，人很容易自我封闭，让你尽管生活在一个英语国家中，可却被英语排斥。
好在我有一个厉害的太太，她强逼着我去从生活中的点滴学起，像家长逼孩子学习一样，逼着我去超市购物，去路边问路，去银行存钱等等。这使我终于能在1年以后生活基本自理，对于日常生活中的英语没有了太多的恐惧。
事实上，英语这东西，你把它搞得生活基本自理不是很难。但如果想流畅，交流无障碍真是不容易。我在交流过程中所犯过的错误数不胜数。
一次，我们仓库所在的大楼电梯坏了，有个澳洲人站在一楼等电梯。可能因为等了太久都没有看到电梯有什么反应，刚好又碰到我从楼梯下来，就问我："Is it this lift does not working?"（电梯是不是坏了？）这样的英语疑问句，对于中国人来讲是最容易犯迷糊的。因为中国人的回答会是“yes”，而英语的习惯却一定是“no”。这样的错误就是很多英文很好的人也很容易犯，就更别说是我了。所以，那个人听我说完“yes”后，就坚定地站在电梯前独自等待。
虽然我的英文水平相当有限，但可能因为我外表斯文，又戴着眼镜，具备一定的欺骗性，所以我碰到的很多澳洲人都想当然地认为我英文很好，习惯于流利地和我交流。而我总是不好意思告诉人家我听不懂，总是带着很感兴趣的微笑频频点头做明白状。这样一种虚假的状态总在我心中不断强化着英语这个梦魇所带给我的挫败感和自卑心。
然而有一次，在我的客人中，我意外地发现了一位英文程度远不如我但却无丝毫自卑心的人。那是一个讲法语的女人，她的英文程度仅限于“hello”“thank you”“bye bye”，连数数都不行。每次谈价钱都是用手指头比画。可她每次到我们店里来采购，从来都是气宇轩昂，咋咋呼呼的，不管谁接待她，她总是朗声一句“hello no English”。
那接待她的人当然就很吃力，可她却不像我一样因为英文不好而觉得不好意思，那种理直气壮的样子好像她不会说英语没什么错，我们不能讲法语才不对。
我太太在澳洲一所大学的学生服务中心工作，她和我聊到所接待的学生时提到了这样一个有趣的现象：基本上来中心办事的中国学生总是会把英语说得很快很流利，不像是交流，更像是背书。那种感觉好像是生怕别人觉得自己的英文不够好。而来自欧洲国家的学生，他们中有些人英语也不是很好，但是他们总是不介意把英语说得很慢，甚至很结巴，一点儿不怕暴露他们在语言方面的不足。我太太留学时，班上的一个德国学生英文口语并不是很好，但上课发言总是很积极，总是一副淡定自若的样子，一点儿不会因为同学们听得着急、费劲而不好意思。
对比这些来自欧洲的留学生和那位趾高气扬的讲法兰西语的女人，他们丝毫没有因为英语不行而自卑，而我这个来自拥有五千年灿烂文明的泱泱大国的黄帝苗裔，却为何会在英语前气短心虚？反过来想想，又会有几个在中国生活学习的外国人，会因为说不好汉语而感到自卑呢？而我这样的自卑，我敢说一定存在于很多如我一样生活在外国、英文不好的中国人心中。
不过也有例外，我最近在银行办事的时候碰到的一个中国老太太就给了我一种全新的感受。
那天，我在银行兑支票，排在我前面的是一位穿着得体、气质高雅的亚裔老太太。轮到她的时候，她递上她的银行卡，对着窗口里的女职员用中文说：“取两千块。”
“what?”窗口里面的人显然是懵了。
老太太又不紧不慢地用中文说了一句“取两千块”。那女职员当然是没听懂，不过大概是猜到了老太太讲的是中文，赶紧向别人求助。这家银行其实每周固定的几天是有懂汉语的员工上班，不过今天显然不是他们的服务时间。那女职员找来的又是一个澳洲职员。我猜测他可能是上过几天汉语学习班，好不容易盼到了有个机会可以秀一下。但见这厮自信满满地来到窗口，拿出4张50块的票子用中文对老太太说：“取两百块？”
“取两千块。”老太太不满地更正。
“取两百块？”那男职员不死心继续问。
“取两千块。”
“取两百块？”他们这样僵持下去，就是到明年也轮不到我。我上前对着窗口里面说了一句“two thousand”。
难题算是解决了。老太太数清了取出的两千块钱，很有礼貌地对我道谢。然后转过头对着窗口里面的那一男一女，带着相当不满的表情摇了摇头。这样的举动，让窗口里面的两个人相当郁闷。等老太太走了以后，他们俩嘟囔着说：“明明是她不会说英语，怎么还埋怨我们。”
老太太那理直气壮的样子，一下子让我想起了我们店里的那位说法语的女人。那种同样的气宇轩昂，不是被英语挫败，而是挫败了英语的样子何其相似。那以后，每当我因为英语问题而在心中升起自卑与挫败感的时候，那位中国老太太摇头叹息的样子一定会在我的脑海出现
