More tips on oral English

Three weeks ago, Professor Yang Zhizhong of NanjingUniversity started providing tips on how to improve your oral English to prepare for the CET-SET. This is a continuation of last week's issue.

1. Brevity

Brevity is an important conversation principle. When we talk, we should state our views clearly, use unambiguous terms, and keep our speech short and to the point. We repeat only when absolutely necessary or for occasional emphasis.

2. Proper use of idioms, proverbs, allusions

If these are properly used, they are effective conversation aids. They make our conversation witty, impressive and convincing, and often provide food for thought.

I'd like to give two examples, both from personal experience:

While I was a visiting scholar at HarvardUniversity in 1980-81, two friends and I went to visit the former residence of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the famous American poet. When we got there, it was closed. We told the guard that we were from China and greatly respected the poet. But, the guard kept saying "Sorry" and refused our requests to be let in. Then we noticed he had a non-native accent, so we asked him where he was from. He told us he was Italian, from Rome. Hearing this, I said, "Rome, that's a famous historical city." "Have you been there?" he asked. "No," I replied, "but it's easy to go there, because all roads lead to Rome." I also added, "It's a place worth seeing. People say Rome was not built in a day. And when we are in Rome, we'll do as the Romans do." When the guard heard our praise of Rome, he felt so pleased that he not only let us into the poet's house, but offered to be our guide. He finally said emotionally to us, "I've also heard a lot about your great country China, and I'll go there someday." "Welcome, hope you'll be another Marco Polo." So the result of using a few proverbs and allusions in the conversation produced unexpectedly results.

The other example is what I often say to departing English-speaking friends.

Upon their departure, I often like to ask my departing friends a question. "Could you tell me what YMCA means?" "YMCA? Sure, it stands for Young Men's Christian Association." "Does it have any other meaning?" "Other meaning? Sorry I don't know." "Doesn't it also mean You Must Come Again?" "Oh yes, You Must Come Again." "Then what about YWCA?" "I see what you mean now. You mean You Will Come Again?" "Absolutely! I hope You Will Come Again." As you can imagine, my Western friends feel happy and amused when they hear this and these words of farewell leave a deep impression.



Coming up: More tips on improving oral English.