A Comparison Between Li Yang’s Crazy English and Zhong Daolong’s Regressive English Supervised by Sun Xingwen Written by Yang Fazhi 英语专业毕业论文.doc

A Comparison Between Li Yangs Crazy English and Zhong Daolongs Regressive English Supervised by Sun Xingwen Written by Yang Fazhi Abstract As two popular methods ,Li Yangs Crazy English and Zhong Daolongs Regressive English have been influencing millions of learners during the course of English learning .Why are they so widely popularized ?Do they have any thing in common or different ?As an English learner, I am going to analyze these two methods in my own way with an expectation of receiving your, advice and help. Lets work hard together for an insight into these two methods which may lead us on the way to success in our teaching work. Content . A Brief Introduction to Li Yang and Zhong Daolong 1.1 A Brief Introduction to Li Yang 1.2 A Brief Introduction to Zhong Daolong . On Listening 2.1. Li Yangs Opinion 2.2. Zhong Daolongs Idea . On Speaking 3.1.Li Yangs Idea 3.1.1. Five Great Secrets of Pronunciation 3.1.2. The Drill for Stones Three-lys Method 1 3.1.3. Try to read More in One Breath 3.1.4. Sentence Is Everything 3.1.5. Imagine the language Surroundings 3.1.6. Master Vocabulary by Using Oral English 3.1.7. Conquer Grammar by Using Oral English 3.2. Zhong Daolongs View . On Reading 4.1. Li Yangs Idea 4.2. Zhong Daolongs View . On Writing 5.1. Li Yangs View 5.2. Zhong Daolongs Thoughts . Conclusion . A Brief Introduction to Li Yang and Zhon Daolong 1.1. A Brief Introduction to Li Yang Li Yang graduated from Lanzhou University and majored in Mechanical Engineering. He was once a poor student of English and it was his biggest headache and trouble maker. In fact, he was not even good at other subjects, either. During his four-year college life. He failed in 13 subjects, and was once afraid to sit for the make-up exams In his second year of the university life, the National Band-4 and Band-6 college English exams began. Li Yang was determined to sincerely mend his ways and make a breakthrough with English in his life. In order not to quit again, he made a contract with one of his classmates who was the most diligent one in the class and went to yell English at the Martyr Pavilion after lunch each day. 2 They recited about 10 original English books containing oral textbooks, American history, and culture, Presidents speeches and other books about scientific and economic management within four months. Through hard work in practice speaking English and breaking away from the traditional grammar games, not only did he pass Band 4 and Band 6 college English exams very easily with high marks, but more importantly, he began to use English. In 1992, he went to Guangzhou and became a broadcaster. He soon became a famous anchorman of English News Programme at Guangdong Peoples Radio Station and the youngest member of the Committee of Chinese Translators. Thinking of people who have learnt English for years but still cannot speak English, Li Yang resigned his job and set up “Stone-cliz International English Promotion Workshop” so as to popularize his method of learning English. Li Yangs Crazy English has influenced millions of people, not only the youth, but also the old and the little children. His main books are the following: Crazy way to success, Crazy American English, Blurt out and Open Ears wide. 1.3 A Brief Introduction to Zhong Daolong Zhong Daolong, who was an officer, made up his mind to learn English at the age of 45. And a year later, he became a translator. It sounds a little impossible, but he really made it. Being an advanced engineer, he once had an experience of going abroad to Germany and France. He had been asked to be an interpreter. But because of his poor English, he was not able to communicate with those foreign experts. Like his comrades, Zhong Daolong had to put a 3 card in one of his pockets on which had been written down the address, the name and so on, for the purpose of not getting lost when they were out. This experience stimulated him deeply and he vowed to learn English well. At first, like other learners, he used traditional ways, but the result was not so good. With the enlightenment of Learning Beijing Opera, he began to record the information on the radio programme “Special English”. He tried to follow the tape and commit the contents to memory. He worked so hard that he used 9 recorders, 4 walkmans and 3 radios. Then, he continued to use the same method to learn “Standard English”. So far he has written and published more than thirty books, twenty-two of them are written after he retired, such as Regressive English, Radio Around the world and so on. During the course of making use of records, he suffered from stopping the tape time and time again, so he invented a machine that can repeat the sound several times called “repeater” Thats why repeaters are widely spread today. At present, his methodRegressive English, his books, repeaters and teaching programmes are warmly welcomed by people around the country. . On Listening. 2.1. Li Yangs Opinion According to Li Yangs theory on listening, speaking is the most important skill among the following four skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Speaking can be used to conquer all the skills: In other words, if a Chinese who can speak fluent, perfect English, he can certainly write excellent articles and papers smoothly. Of course, 4 listening is no exception to that rule. If you can speak good English, listening will only be a piece of cake. To Chinese, the ways to improve listening skill are developing their pronunciation and oral ability. If you can speak a language, you can also understand the radio broadcast easily. In a word, conquering English is the perfect way to solve listening problem. As a result, he produced his listening series, Which contains two books and two tapes. In these two books, Li Yang chose lots of examination questions, from all kinds of exams, such as Band 4, Band 6, GRE, TOFEL and so on. In the tapes, Li Yang and his comrade read the examination questions with Stones Three-lys Method (as loudly as possible as quickly as possible, as clearly as possible). The way to learn them is also unique: Readers are asked to commit the expressions, the sentences to memory till they can blurt them out. His purpose is to ask the readers to gain both speaking and listening abilities. Of course, it works and helps, for these examination questions appear again and again in all kinds of exams. It is just the saying goes “to kill two birds with one stone” 2.2 Zhong Daolongs Idea. An idiom which includes three words can sum up Zhong DaoLongs thoughts on conquering English. That is “Practice makes perfect”. Someone told Zhong Daolong that one can catch each word of Beijing Opera if he puts his heart into several plays and gets the words one by one. With the enlightenment, he began to use this method to learn English. Nearly all the experts on English in all kinds of books say that its 5 necessary and essential to catch the general idea when one listens to the tape. It would be a waste of time if you get the words one by one while listening. But Zhong Daolongs idea is just on the contrary. In Zhong Daolongs opinion, catching the general idea is useful for those whose English is good but unsuitable for most of the other learners, especially those who are bad at English. So you should catch each word one by one and not just listen but put down each word including the punctuation marks. Its imperative and important. Its certain that the beginners feel it very difficult and unable to listen and write more each day. But it is more efficient than catching the general idea. This method makes you lay a strong foundation. Bit by bit, day by day, the learners can learn more and more, and more and more quickly. Impatience for success is mans shortcoming. But Regressive English helps you to avoid this bad habit. Every time, when the learner finishes his assignment, he will get a lot by using this way. . On speaking 3.1. Li Yangs Idea It goes without saying that speaking is the most important skill, “Speaking is every thing ”, “Speaking is the center of all skills”. When asked about the other skills, he answered “I often see people who have learned English for years but cant speak this foreign language, but Ive never met a Chinese who can speak good English but cant listen, read or write.” In a word, speaking is the sign of ones English level. 3.1.1. Five Great Secrets of Pronunciation After a long period of studying, Li Yang summed up the complicated rules of pronunciation into five great secrets. 6 3.1.1.1 Long vowels and diphthongs should be pronounced fully. 3.1.1.2 Short vowels should be pronounced hastily. 3.1.1.3 Sandhi eg. Im working onit. Ill thinkit over. 3.1.1.4 Omitted sound eg I dontknow what to do . I need some more rice. 3.1.1.5 Putting the tongue in the teeth. Thursday will be my birthday. Its the same thing. My father and mother went through thick and thin together. 3.1.2. The Drill for Stones Three-lys Method What is Stones Three-lys Method? That is “as loudly as possible” “as quickly as possible ” “as clearly as possible ”. Li Yang has a short paragraph which tells people the reason and the importance of using Stones Three-lys Method. “Since English is not your native tongue, you must develop the muscles of your speech organs. When you read, read as loudly as possible, as quickly as possible and as clearly as possible. Tongue muscles training is of great importance in learning any foreign language.” Even, he pointed out that English learning is not mental work, but physical work. What the English learners should do is to develop the muscles of their speech organs and make them international. When you meet foreigners, your nervousness will make you speak in a normal way, “as loudly as possible” becomes “normal sound ”, “as quickly as possible becomes” “natural”, “as clearly as possible” becomes “evasive 7 English ” 3.1.3 Try to Read More in One Breath When you find a paragraph or an article ,try to read as much as possible in one breath. Bit by bit, it will make you read or speak English more. eg. A: Mary, this is Stones brother Jim. B: Im very glad to meet you. C: Its a pleasure to meet you / The pleasure is mine. B: How do you like China so far?/ Whats your impression of China?/ What do you think of China? C: Its really different from what I expected. B: Dont worry. You will get used to it in no time. Such kind of paragraphs can be put into practice. 3.1.4. Sentence Is Everything The shortest unit of English learning is sentence, not word. Many people know a lot of words, they can get good marks in all kinds of exams, but they still cant speak English. However, if you memorize expressions and useful sentences, you can express yourself in English in a few days. a. Collect useful sentences as many as possible. b. Change the subject and use the first person instead. eg He can speak good English I can speak good English. c. Repeat the sentences youve got with Stones Three-lys method. Till you can recite fluently. Ones English level should be decided by the measure of the sentences grasps instead of his words. Chairman Mao also pointed out 8 that its necessary to drill as often as possible. The more you apply it in real situations, the more natural it will become. 3.1.5 Imagine the Language Surroundings After learning an expression, an idiom or a useful sentence, learners need to put them into practice. But to most of Chinese learners, we lack in language circumstances. How to solve this problem? According to Li Yang, trying to imagine the language surroundings is just creating real and lively language circumstances. eg1) Im tired of this rain! I wish Id see the sun for a change. (Imagination) It keeps raining these days. You can not dry your clothes and shoes and they become mildewed. You can say it like this. eg. 2) Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. (Imagination) Suppose you are a teacher, you can tell your students like this. Or when someone laughs at you saying “You can do nothing but read” In that case you can use this expression to reply. 3.1.6. Master vocabulary by Using Oral English. People generally think that memorizing words is difficult and boring. They can be kept in mind quickly, but slip out of mind soon. In Li Yangs opinion, only by putting the words in useful sentences, can the words be committed to memory firmly and meaningfully, or it will be as the saying goes “Easy come, easy go”. If a person wants to learn a word, look it up in the dictionaries of other books, and memorize the whole sentence. eg1 You wont get anywhere unless you try get anywhere: make progress/succeed. eg2. I prefer coffee to tea. 9 I prefer watching TV to seeing the film. I prefer to stay here rather than go out. The pattern “preferto.”means “likebetter than” If you can blurt out these three expressions above, youre sure not only to keep them in mind but also know how to use them. 3.1.7 Conquer Grammar by Using Oral English Grammar is the biggest headache and trouble maker to most Chinese English learners. In our traditional class, teachers explain the grammar in each lesson, students learn grammar again and again. The result is that there are still lots of mistakes in the compositions. They dont know why. Grammar is only a guide, only the theory for English. Like dancing, even you can recite the instructions about know to dance from books smoothly but seldom practise, you are still unable to be a good dancer. But on the contrary, if a person practise a lot, he can dancer. He doesnt have to learn too much about the theories. Thats the same. In Li Yangs opinion, each sentence contains at least a grammar point, if you can blurt out this whole sentence, you are sure to know the reason, the grammar. eg. Im really sorry, but I forgot to bring my wallet. I remember seeing it on my desk this morning, but I didnt remember to bring it with me. Note: forget/remember to do sth forget /remember doing sth Our purpose of learning English is to master this language, to use this foreign tongue, not analyze the sentences one after another, or not to memorize the rules. In a word, Language is used for communication. 3.2. Zhong Daolongs View. Regressive English includes five aspects: listening, writing, 10 speaking, reciting and thinking. In other words, speaking is one of the main points. In effect, reciting also belongs to the ability of training speaking. Zhong Daolong says, during the course of listening and writing, one should follow the repeater, record ones voice and compare his pronunciation with the original sound. And then recite them till you can speak smoothly without any books. If one can understand the books, It can only be called “understanding”. It may be possible for him to pass the exams reluctantly, but if he still wants to further his English and master it securely, thats not enough. The expressions and sentences shoul