2013.07.27
Question 13 ”How can I improve my grammar?” 英語学習法
ビジネス英語の学習法やポイントについて聞く Q&A 第13弾は、
“How can I improve my grammar?” です。
Ｑ．どうやって英語の文法力を上げるか？
Hika は動画の中で次のように言っています。
『日本人の中には、「ある程度文法は理解しているが、もっとたくさんの文法規則を学びたいです。」
という人がいます。
しかし、文法規則を覚えることが、文法力を高める上で最もよい方法であるとは思いません。
なぜなら目的は、規則を知ることではなく、正しく使えるようになることだからです。
正直なところ、私は英語講師になる前までは、文法規則なんて知りませんでした。
英語を正しく話せるにも関わらずです。
文法規則を知ることと、正しい文法を使えることの意味は異なるわけです。
それでは文法力を高めるためには、どうすればいいのでしょうか？
ぜひCDなどを聞きながらディクテーションすることをおすすめします。
聞いた内容を、書きだし、その後に正しいかをチェックするのです。』
Hika は動画の中で、自ら読み上げ、ディクテーションする機会を提供しています。
その上で、なぜディクテーションが文法力を高めるのに効果的なのか、
について説明しています。
ディクテーションスキルのチェック、そしてその理由については、
ぜひ動画をご覧ください！
Hello and welcome to this Bizmates question and answer
video series for Japanese businesspeople.
And today's questions is another common one, which is
How can I improve my grammar?
OK, well let's look at this.
So first of all, is your grammar really weak?
You know, a lot of people say,
no, my grammar is really good.
Or no, my grammar's not so good.
And they say, yeah you know Hika,
I think my grammar's OK.
But I need to know all the grammar rules.
I know some grammar rules but I want to learn all.
OK, but learning the grammar rules is not the best
thing or not the best way to look at grammar. OK.
Don't think about the rules because
your goal is not to know the grammar rules.
It's to use it correctly.
And there's a difference, OK.
Before I became an English trainer,
I didn't know many of the grammar rules, to be honest.
I could speak English but I didn't know the rules.
OK, so you don't necessarily need
to know the rules to use it correctly. OK.
So what can I do?
Well, one way to improve your grammar.
What I recommend is something called taking dictations.
And that means listening to like a CD or something,
and writing it all down.
Listen, write, listen, write.
And then check your answers. Check to see if it's correct.
It's extremely effective for grammar.
Let me show you.
I want all of you to get a pen and paper right now.
Please pick up a pen and paper, OK.
Because I'm gonna read a couple of sentences;
I want you to write it down. OK.
You're not moving, please, please.
Get a paper and pen. OK. This is a great exercise.
OK, I'm gonna read two sentences, please write it down.
OK, here's the first sentence.
friends his with basketball play to likes Jim.
I'll read it two more times.
friends his with basketball play to likes Jim.
Did you get that? One more time?
friends his with basketball play to likes Jim.
OK, let me read the next sentence. OK number 2.
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
Yeah, I'll read it again.
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
OK, I'm gonna read it one more time.
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
OK, were you able to get that? Well let's look.
The first sentence was this.
I said friends his with basketball play to likes Jim.
I hope you got it. No? I know it doesn't make sense.
No, this sentence doesn't make sense. That's OK.
The second sentence was,
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
Now, which sentence was easier?
The first one or the second one?
Of course the second one. OK.
But if you look carefully, they're the same sentence.
I just read it backwards.
So look at the first one.
Jim, read from the back.
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
You see that?
They're the same sentence. It's just backwards.
Yeah, so they're the same number of words.
I read it about the same speed.
I read them the both 3 times, same pronunciation
but sentence one was much more difficult. Why?
The reason is there's no grammar.
There's no meaning, there's no grammar. Yeah.
And people who have good grammar knowledge,
OK, they know how the grammar works.
They are able to listen and write it easily.
Yeah.
So that's why by taking dictations,
listening and writing, your listening will improve.
OK, I'm gonna try another example.
I'm going to read a few sentences.
Please continue to write this.
It's a little bit longer. OK.
Are you ready?
OK, here we go.
For the past 5 years, I've lived in a small town
just outside of Toronto.
It's one of these places that no one ever visits,
but you just read about in the news.
I'll read it one more time.
For the past 5 years, I've lived in a small town
just outside of Toronto.
It's one of these places that no one ever visits,
but you just read about in the news.
OK, now if you don't have enough time that's OK.
You could stop the video and play it again.
But this is what I said.
And if you look carefully and compare your answer.
If you got perfect, that's great.
OK, of course your listening is good.
But your grammar is good.
But if you've made some small mistakes like,
For past 5 years, you missed the "the". Or
I've live in small city, you've missed the "a".
It's not a listening problem.
It's a grammar problem. OK.
And by doing this listening, writing and checking,
your grammar will improve for sure.
OK, so please try this in your free time,
to improve your grammar skills.
OK, thank you.
video series for Japanese businesspeople.
And today's questions is another common one, which is
How can I improve my grammar?
OK, well let's look at this.
So first of all, is your grammar really weak?
You know, a lot of people say,
no, my grammar is really good.
Or no, my grammar's not so good.
And they say, yeah you know Hika,
I think my grammar's OK.
But I need to know all the grammar rules.
I know some grammar rules but I want to learn all.
OK, but learning the grammar rules is not the best
thing or not the best way to look at grammar. OK.
Don't think about the rules because
your goal is not to know the grammar rules.
It's to use it correctly.
And there's a difference, OK.
Before I became an English trainer,
I didn't know many of the grammar rules, to be honest.
I could speak English but I didn't know the rules.
OK, so you don't necessarily need
to know the rules to use it correctly. OK.
So what can I do?
Well, one way to improve your grammar.
What I recommend is something called taking dictations.
And that means listening to like a CD or something,
and writing it all down.
Listen, write, listen, write.
And then check your answers. Check to see if it's correct.
It's extremely effective for grammar.
Let me show you.
I want all of you to get a pen and paper right now.
Please pick up a pen and paper, OK.
Because I'm gonna read a couple of sentences;
I want you to write it down. OK.
You're not moving, please, please.
Get a paper and pen. OK. This is a great exercise.
OK, I'm gonna read two sentences, please write it down.
OK, here's the first sentence.
friends his with basketball play to likes Jim.
I'll read it two more times.
friends his with basketball play to likes Jim.
Did you get that? One more time?
friends his with basketball play to likes Jim.
OK, let me read the next sentence. OK number 2.
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
Yeah, I'll read it again.
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
OK, I'm gonna read it one more time.
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
OK, were you able to get that? Well let's look.
The first sentence was this.
I said friends his with basketball play to likes Jim.
I hope you got it. No? I know it doesn't make sense.
No, this sentence doesn't make sense. That's OK.
The second sentence was,
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
Now, which sentence was easier?
The first one or the second one?
Of course the second one. OK.
But if you look carefully, they're the same sentence.
I just read it backwards.
So look at the first one.
Jim, read from the back.
Jim likes to play basketball with his friends.
You see that?
They're the same sentence. It's just backwards.
Yeah, so they're the same number of words.
I read it about the same speed.
I read them the both 3 times, same pronunciation
but sentence one was much more difficult. Why?
The reason is there's no grammar.
There's no meaning, there's no grammar. Yeah.
And people who have good grammar knowledge,
OK, they know how the grammar works.
They are able to listen and write it easily.
Yeah.
So that's why by taking dictations,
listening and writing, your listening will improve.
OK, I'm gonna try another example.
I'm going to read a few sentences.
Please continue to write this.
It's a little bit longer. OK.
Are you ready?
OK, here we go.
For the past 5 years, I've lived in a small town
just outside of Toronto.
It's one of these places that no one ever visits,
but you just read about in the news.
I'll read it one more time.
For the past 5 years, I've lived in a small town
just outside of Toronto.
It's one of these places that no one ever visits,
but you just read about in the news.
OK, now if you don't have enough time that's OK.
You could stop the video and play it again.
But this is what I said.
And if you look carefully and compare your answer.
If you got perfect, that's great.
OK, of course your listening is good.
But your grammar is good.
But if you've made some small mistakes like,
For past 5 years, you missed the "the". Or
I've live in small city, you've missed the "a".
It's not a listening problem.
It's a grammar problem. OK.
And by doing this listening, writing and checking,
your grammar will improve for sure.
OK, so please try this in your free time,
to improve your grammar skills.
OK, thank you.
