Why couldn’t we learn English well?
For half a century, we kept asking ourlves a question on “how can we learn English well?” rather than why we couldn’t.
We spent years reciting vocabulary, remembering every single word, but we unable to read between the lines of Virgina Woolf; We spent years learning grammar earning high grades over all the tests, but unable utter a complete ntence expressing our own ideas; We spent years imitating English accent, drilling on the phonetic symbols time and time again, but unable to initiate a meaningful conversation about current global affairs.
Efforts spent, money wasted. We tried so hard but failed so mirably. Asking the wrong question, cannot lead us to the right answer. Let us ask the question again: why couldn’t learn English well.
The answer is simple and straightforward, becau we treat English languages as a t
ool to pass exams or to make money, or to show off in a game. In return, English treats us as a machine, a slave aches piece, depriving the nobility of our human beings.
We believe language should be treated differently, and we are here today to say it to you. we believe the language is an instinct, an instinct of curiosity, a desire to explore the unknown, to empathize with strangers, to listen to the whisper of the voiceless and to empower the underprivileged; We also believe this instinct is equal to everyone, everyone however petty and low is entitled to have; we believe language is a history, a history in which Socrates made his apology to the jury, Confucius lectured on noble men, Shakespeare read the sonnet loud, Jefferson drafted the Declaration of In dependence and the young men and young women in the century introducing the west to China in order to revive their motherland. It is a history, the weak are not defeated by the strong, the kind prevail over the evil and the wi stand on the high ground, eing through the mist of stupidity and ignorance.
We believe language is the prent, the prent of uncertainties. The maelstroms of daily circumstance, the mart of economic strive and gain, the flooded information the fragmented time, all the make learning a language extremely hard. Therefore, we must focus, we must think critically and differently keep our eyes open our ears sharp and above all our hearts beating.
We believe language is challenge, a challenge to test our strength and perverance, a challenge once overcome, we will not live in lf-blindness and arrogance, but e the true world and our true lves
We believe language is bridge linking east and west past and prent. Through this bridge, we could build out cultural confidence spread Chine civilization and learn from the universal values, so we convene today to dedicate our lves to this expedition, to hold the torch lighting the darkness, to emancipate to guide, to inspire and to motivate even at the cost of our lives. So we convene today to learn English as a language. Start from reading daily news of The Economist reading be
hind Hamlet, reading across the bestllers from The New York Times, So we convene today to vow against the oppression of utilitarianism.
We are the rebels against the establishments. Let us go back the fundamentals；Let us go back to the musts. If you have suffered enough. If you cannot bear the mediocrity. If you feel lost or isolated for a long time. If you want to start a new, plea hear this young men and women everywhere proclaim it far and wide. The earth is yours and fullness thereof. Be kind but be fierce you are needed now more than ever before. Take up the mantle of change for this is your time
