从中式英语到纯正英语——在中国学英语的新纪元

 AF 专栏 

AF Education

专属博客 Liam Carrigan

本文原创

       我们所开设课程的目标在于为您提供一个在ACT或者SAT取得高分的最佳机会，并让你早日获得适应于英语世界学习的语言技能。

        学习/备考的误区

        教育机构一般主张疯狂地操练试题，死记硬背标准答案和词汇，但这样真的是最佳的方法吗？

        用上述方法通过考试有两个误区：首先，这不是你通过考试所需要的有效技能；其次，你并不能获得那门考试之外的任何技能。如果你参加ACT或者SAT考试只是为了在美国学习，为什么你不报读那种能够帮助你的国外在校学习以及在当地日常生活取得成功的培训班呢？如果你进入美国任何一所大学，你将会在那里度过你人生中的四年，在那里的每一天，不论是你写的每一份书面作业、你听的每一堂课，还是你点菜或者交手机话费时，你都要用到英语。然而光是记住那些单词表还是短语，并不能帮你做好任何一件事。

        那么问题来了，怎样才可以把你的英语水平提高到所需的高度，因而你是真正地在使用这个语言，你不仅得到一个好的考试成绩，而且你能够很好地适应英语国家里的大学课程呢？

        掌握英语思维模式

        我们的英语课程有别于你在深圳见过的所有课程。不会给你短语或者单词表让你没完没了地背诵，取而代之的是一套在国际教育系统实践多年、并且被广泛使用的一系列课程，不但能让你成功地学会如何使用英语，还能让你深刻地理解到母语为英语的人的思考方式。这个课程就是帮助你在最快速度之内将初级英语水平提升到高级英语水平的。这样的状态去准备ACT SAT 就不是难事了。

        我们的课程标准基于欧洲语言共同参考框架（CEFR）设计，这是全球最受认可的用来评估学生语言水平的标准，每个学生的英语水平都能获得与欧洲语言共同参考框架（CEFR）一致的评估。

        欧洲语言共同参考框架（CEFR）所划分的英语水平，与雅思和托福成绩相参照的话，可以这样理解：

       当您在我们这里参加了评估之后，我们会根据您的英语水平和需求，提供几种不同的课程选择。

       独家-中式英语蜕变课程

       这是我们的王牌课程。在这个课程当中，你将接触到接地气的英语，不只是语法、词汇，还是听说，还有的是仅此一家的文化意识。这门课程的所有任课老师在授课时均有概念意识，因而你所学习到的不光是英语的用法和含义，更重要的是隐藏在这些词语背后的英语思维。此外，你将在出国之前比中国其他地区乃至全球其他地区的留学生更早一步地接触到时下英语世界的人的所思所想。

课程特色：

·针对高二或以下年级的学生

·A1-C2任何水平的学生（根据学生的水平分班授课）

·使用国际水平的教学材料

·以教学概念为基础，如母语般学习英语的语法和词汇

英语冲刺课程

        这是一个为需要在短期内快速提升英语水平的学生设计的密集课程，特别是那些需要在3个月内参加ACT或者SAT考试的学生。强烈建议学生在报读这个课程之前先完成中式英语蜕变课程，提前提高他们的英语熟练度以及使用英语的自信。英语冲刺课程是密集的、压缩的，需要学生的高度配合。AF设有自习室，学生下课可在AF老师的监督下进行自习。

课程特色：

·针对急需提高应试水平的高二-高三学生

·高强度学习

·A1-B1学生

·使用国际标准的教材

         国际考试备考系列

这是为有志于申请美国、加拿大、新西兰或英国大学的学生所设计的课程。这个课程包含三个阶段，初级阶段、熟练阶段、大学入学考试备考阶段。所有阶段都需进行大量的自习。AF设有自习室，学生下课可在AF老师的监督下进行自习。

From Chinglish to English—a new era of English learning in China

International Curriculum Director: Carl McMahan

There are two problems with that approach to trying to pass an exam: first, it is not effective in giving you the skills you actually need to take the exam in the first place, and second, you don’t get anything you could actually use outside the context of that exam.  If the point of taking the ACT or SAT is to study in America, why would you take a course that won’t help you succeed in classes and daily life after you get there?  If you get into a university in the US, you are going to be spending 4 years of your life there, with you having to use English every single day, for everything from writing papers and listening to lectures to ordering food and paying for your cellphone dataplan.  Memorizing wordlists and phrasebooks will not help you to do any of these things.

So, the question becomes, how do you get your level up to where you need it to be, so that you can actually use the language, so that you can not only get a good exam score, but you can actually function in courses once you are in university in an English speaking country.  

Our courses are different from any you have probably seen in Shenzhen.  Instead of giving you lists of phrases and vocabulary words to memorize and repeat, we have used a holistic approach to language learning based around the accepted best practices of international education design a set of courses that can make you able to succeed in learning how to use the English language and how to deeply understand the way that Native English speakers think.   Our courses are designed to get you from low proficiency to high proficiency in the language as quickly as possible.

Our approach begins with using the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages (CEFR), the most widely recognized international system for assessing the language level of students.  Every student receives an internationally recognized assessment of their level of proficiency in accordance with the levels of the CEFR. 

Broadly speaking, the CEFR levels, with equivalent TOEFL and IELTS scores, are as follows:

A1 – Beginner (IELTS Band 1-2; TOEFL 20)

A2 – Pre-Intermediate (IELTS Band 3; TOEFL 40)

B1 – Intermediate (IELTS Band 4-5; TOEFL 60)

B2 – Upper Intermediate (IELTS Band 6; TOEFL 80)

C1 – Advanced (IELTS Band 8; TOEFL 100)

C2 – Mastery (IELTS Band 8.5-9; TOEFL 110-120)

After you have been assessed, based on your level and needs, we offer several different course options.

Chinglish to English

This is our signature curriculum.  In Chinglish to English, you will be exposed to the English language, not only in terms of grammar, vocabulary, listening, and speaking, but also cultural awareness.  This course teaches language in a concept-based manner, wherein you learn not merely the usage and meaning of elements of the language, but the logic behind it as well.  Additionally, you will be plugged in to much of the current of thought and action in the Anglophone world so that, when you arrive in America, you will already have a leg up on other people coming from China or elsewhere abroad to study.

• For students of Gao 2 or younger

• Offered at levels A1-C2

• Using international standard teaching materials

• Concept based, learn grammar and vocabulary the way native speakers do

General English

This is a compressed English proficiency curriculum for students who need to improve their levels in a hurry, such as those needing to take ACT or SAT within 3 months.  It is strongly recommended that students take the full version of Chinglish to English to maximize their proficiency and confidence with the language.  The General English course is intensive, compressed, and requires a great deal of self-study at home for best results. Under teacher’s supervision, student could self-study in AF study area.

• For Gao 2-3 students urgently needing to improve their level for exams

• Intensive work

• Offered at levels A1-B1

• Using international standard teaching materials

International Exam Prep Series

This is the set of courses for students who are planning to take the set of exams needed to get admission to a university in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or the UK.  The program is designed to run in 3 stages: Pre-Proficiency, Proficiency, and University Admissions Exam Prep.  All of the Exam Prep courses include a large amount of home study. Under teacher’s supervision, student could self-study in AF study area.

Pre TOEFL / Pre IELTS

• Not recommended for students below level B1

• Learn the skills needed to master the test

• Learn to read like a native speaking student

• Learn to listen like a native

• Designed to additionally carry the student from B1 to B2 level proficiency

TOEFL / IELTS

• Not recommended for students below level B2. Not offered for students below level B1

• Learn the test, inside and out

• Practice with authentic materials, from the makers of the tests themselves

• Designed to additionally carry the student to C1 level proficiency

ACT / SAT

• Not recommended for students below level C1, Not offered for students below level B2

• Learn the skills

• Learn the test, inside and out

• Learn the traps and how to avoid them