How to Correct Mistakes in Language Learning? 语言学习中如何改错？

在外语学习中，很多学生都害怕犯错误。这种心理影响了他们行动起来的积极性，进而影响了学习效果。那么应该如何对待语言学习中的错误呢？

How to Correct Mistakes in Language Learning?

In order to learn a foreign language well, it is necessary to overcome the fear of making mistakes. If the basic goal of language use is communication, then mistakes are secondary considerations that may be dealt with gradually as realization of those mistakes increase. On the other hand, students should not ignore their mistakes.①The language learner may observe how native speakers express themselves, and how native expressions differ from the way the learner might say them. For example, a Spanish speaker who has been saying “I do it” to express willingness to do something in the immediate future, could, by interacting with native speakers of English, observe that native speakers actually say “I’ll do it”. The resulting difference can serve as a basis for the student to correct his way of using the present tense in English. But a student who is unwilling to interact in the first place would lose this opportunity to learn by trial and error.② ［167 words］

行文点评

整个段落可以分成两个层次。首先指明对错误正确认识的第一步，不应该惧怕错误，如果学习语言是为了交流，那错误就应该成为次要被考虑的问题。而另一方面(on the other hand)，引出第二步，即有了错误也不能置之不理。最好的办法就是在交流中学习，从错误中提高。

文章语言平实，简洁有力。整篇文章只有一段但是内部层次分明，条理清楚。

好文妙译

为了学好一门外语，有必要先克服对错误的恐惧。如果使用语言的基本目标是交流，那么错误就是次要被考虑的问题，我们可以随着对其认识的深化而逐渐加以克服。另一方面，学生们不应该忽略他们的错误。语言学习者可以观察说本族语的人是如何表达自己的，以及这些地道的表达法和学习者可能说出来的表达有何不同。比如，一个西班牙人在表达自己愿意在不久的将来做某事时用的是I do it，而当我们与英语是母语的人交流时，就会注意到那个人实际上说的是I’ll do it。由此导致的差别可以作为参照来纠正学生对于英文中现在时态的用法。但是一个从开始就不愿与人交流的学生将会失去这种通过不断摸索进行学习的机会。

佳句临摹

①【注释】on the other hand很多情况下和on the one hand连用，表示同时存在的两个方面。

【临摹】I never could memorize poetry. On the other hand, I remember numbers. I never forget an address or a date.我从来记不住诗歌，但我却记得数字，我从不会忘记一个地址或日子。

②【注释】by trial and error反复试验，不断摸索

【临摹】Knowing as little as we do, there is no course open to us but trial and error.我们这样知之甚少，除了不断摸索别无出路。

思如泉涌

Man errs so long as he strives. 人只要奋斗就会犯错误。

To err is human, to forgive, divine. 人非圣贤，孰能无过。

He who makes no mistakes makes nothing. 想不犯错误，就一事无成。

A fault confessed is half redressed. 知错能改，善莫大焉。