1.Don’t study grammar too much

1.不过多学习语法

This rule might sound strange to many ESL students, but it is one of the most important rules. If you want to pass examinations, then study grammar. However, if you want to become fluent in English, then you should try to learn English without studying the grammar.

对于许多ESL(英语作为第二语言)学生，这条规则听起来很奇怪，但它是最重要的规则之一。如果你想要通过考试，那就学习语法。然而，如果你想要把英语说的更流利，那么你应该尝试学习英语这门语言而不学习语法。

Studying grammar will only slow you down and confuse you. You will think about the rules when creating sentences instead of naturally saying a sentence like a native. Remember that only a small fraction of English speakers know more than 20% of all the grammar rules. Many ESL students know more grammar than native speakers. I can confidently say this with experience. I am a native English speaker, majored in English Literature, and have been teaching English for more than 10 years. However, many of my students know more details about English grammar than I do. I can easily look up the definition and apply it, but I don’t know it off the top of my head.

学习语法会让你慢下来，把你弄糊涂。在构建句子的时候，你会去思考规则，而不是像本国人一样自然而然的说出一个句子。要知道，只有很小一部分的英语使用者知道超过20%的英语语法规则。许多ESL学生知道的语法只是要比本国人更多。从我的经验来看，可以充分说明这一点。我的母语是英语，并且主修英语文学，到现在为止也已经教了十多年的英语。但是，我的学生比我知道更多有关英语语法的细节。我可以很迅速的去查找一个语法细节的定义并且去应用它，但是我再脱口而出说的时候却都没有意识到这些规则的存在。

I often ask my native English friends some grammar questions, and only a few of them know the correct answer. However, they are fluent in English and can read, speak, listen, and communicate effectively.

我总是问我同样是英语为母语的朋友一些语法问题。他们当中也只有很少一部分人能说出正确答案。但是，他们都说着很流利的英语，并且听说读和交流都很顺畅。

2.Learn and study phrases

2.学习和研究的短语

Many students learn vocabulary and try to put many words together to create a proper sentence. It amazes me how many words some of my students know, but they cannot create a proper sentence. The reason is because they didn’t study phrases. When children learn a language, they learn both words and phrases together. Likewise, you need to study and learn phrases.

很多学生学习词汇，并尝试把很多单词在一起以构建一个恰当的句子。学生们的单词量让我很意外，但是要构建一个正确的句子对他们来说却很难。原因是因为他们没有学习短语。当孩子们学习一种语言时，词和短语他们都学。同样，你也需要学习短语。

If you know 1000 words, you might not be able to say one correct sentence. But if you know 1 phrase, you can make hundreds of correct sentences. If you know 100 phrases, you will be surprised at how many correct sentences you will be able to say. Finally, when you know only a 1000 phrases, you will be almost a fluent English speaker.

如果你知道1000 个单词，你可能不一定能够说一个正确的句子。但如果你知道1 个短语，你可以说数百个正确的句子。如果你知道100 个短语，你将会惊讶于你可以说如此多正确的句子。最后，当你知道只有1000年个短语，你就能说流利的英语了。