学外语怎样改变了我的生活？How Did Learning Languages Change My Life?
Lesson Overview
In this Intermediate Chinese listening lesson, Yuli talks about several language-learning experiences and how they changed the way she studies, thinks, and lives.
Intermediate · Natural & SlowerWhat You’ll Learn
- Talk about your language-learning experiences.
- Describe how an experience changed your way of thinking.
- Explain what kind of learning method suits you.
- Talk about how a language influenced your life.
LISTEN
Listening Mission
Listen for three turning points: What changed Yuli’s view of life, what changed the way she learns languages, and why did she choose to study Thai?
Choose the playback speed, transcript display settings, and number of listens that suit your needs. After listening, use Sentence-by-Sentence Study to study each sentence in detail.
1
Watch & Follow
Watch the video with the interactive transcript.
2
Sentence-by-Sentence Study
Open this section when you are ready to replay and study each sentence in detail.
3
Vocabulary & Expressions
Learn key vocabulary from this lesson and use it in common collocations.
交流
jiāoliú
to communicate; communication
Common collocations
用英语交流
yòng yīngyǔ jiāoliú
communicate in English
和别人交流
hé biérén jiāoliú
communicate with others
Example
有些人的日语不太好，所以我们常常用英语交流。
Yǒuxiērén de rìyǔ bútàihǎo, suǒyǐ wǒmen chángcháng yòng yīngyǔ jiāoliú.
Some people's Japanese was not very good, so we often communicated in English.
留学
liúxué
to study abroad
Common collocations
去日本留学
qù rìběn liúxué
study abroad in Japan
出国留学
chūguó liúxué
go abroad to study
Example
后来，我去日本留学。
Hòulái, wǒ qù rìběn liúxué.
Later, I went to Japan to study abroad.
专业
zhuānyè
major; field of study
Common collocations
大学专业
dàxué zhuānyè
university major
日语专业
rìyǔ zhuānyè
Japanese major
Example
大学的时候，我的专业是日语。
Dàxué de shíhou, wǒ de zhuānyè shì rìyǔ.
In college, my major was Japanese.
想象
xiǎngxiàng
to imagine
Common collocations
想象中
xiǎngxiàng zhōng
in one's imagination
很难想象
hěn nán xiǎngxiàng
hard to imagine
Example
我的听力和口语没有想象中那么好。
Wǒ de tīnglì hé kǒuyǔ méiyǒu xiǎngxiàng zhōng nàme hǎo.
My listening and speaking were not as good as I had imagined.
初学者
chūxuézhě
beginner
Common collocations
语言初学者
yǔyán chūxuézhě
language beginner
适合初学者
shìhé chūxuézhě
suitable for beginners
Example
我想重新体验一下做语言初学者的感觉。
Wǒ xiǎng chóngxīn tǐyàn yíxià zuò yǔyán chūxuézhě de gǎnjué.
I wanted to experience being a language beginner again.
有效
yǒuxiào
effective
Common collocations
更有效
gèng yǒuxiào
more effective
有效的方法
yǒuxiào de fāngfǎ
an effective method
Example
这样对我来说更有效。
Zhèyàng duì wǒ láishuō gèng yǒuxiào.
This is more effective for me.
独立
dúlì
independent; independently
Common collocations
独立生活
dúlì shēnghuó
live independently
更独立地
gèng dúlì de
more independently
Example
我希望可以更独立地在法国生活。
Wǒ xīwàng kěyǐ gèng dúlì de zài fǎguó shēnghuó.
I hope I can live more independently in France.
经历
jīnglì
experience; to go through
Common collocations
学习经历
xuéxí jīnglì
learning experience
这段经历
zhè duàn jīnglì
this experience
Example
这段经历改变了我学习语言的方法。
Zhè duàn jīnglì gǎibiàn le wǒ xuéxí yǔyán de fāngfǎ.
This experience changed the way I learn languages.
Vocabulary Practice
Choose the correct vocabulary item to complete each sentence. Use the collocations above as a guide.
交流留学专业想象初学者有效独立经历
后来，我去日本，认识了一些来自不同国家的朋友。
Hòulái, wǒ qù rìběn _____, rènshi le yìxiē láizì bùtóng guójiā de péngyou.
Correct answer
后来，我去日本留学，认识了一些来自不同国家的朋友。
Hòulái, wǒ qù rìběn liúxué, rènshi le yìxiē láizì bùtóng guójiā de péngyou.
Later, I went to Japan to study abroad and met some friends from different countries.
这样对我来说更。
Zhèyàng duì wǒ láishuō gèng _____.
Correct answer
这样对我来说更有效。
Zhèyàng duì wǒ láishuō gèng yǒuxiào.
This is more effective for me.
大学的时候，我的是日语。
Dàxué de shíhou, wǒ de _____ shì rìyǔ.
Correct answer
大学的时候，我的专业是日语。
Dàxué de shíhou, wǒ de zhuānyè shì rìyǔ.
In college, my major was Japanese.
有些人的日语不太好，所以我们常常用英语。
Yǒuxiērén de rìyǔ bútàihǎo, suǒyǐ wǒmen chángcháng yòng yīngyǔ _____.
Correct answer
有些人的日语不太好，所以我们常常用英语交流。
Yǒuxiērén de rìyǔ bútàihǎo, suǒyǐ wǒmen chángcháng yòng yīngyǔ jiāoliú.
Some people's Japanese was not very good, so we often communicated in English.
这段改变了我学习语言的方法。
Zhè duàn _____ gǎibiàn le wǒ xuéxí yǔyán de fāngfǎ.
Correct answer
这段经历改变了我学习语言的方法。
Zhè duàn jīnglì gǎibiàn le wǒ xuéxí yǔyán de fāngfǎ.
This experience changed the way I learn languages.
但是我的听力和口语没有中那么好。
Dànshì wǒ de tīnglì hé kǒuyǔ méiyǒu _____ zhōng nàme hǎo.
Correct answer
但是我的听力和口语没有想象中那么好。
Dànshì wǒ de tīnglì hé kǒuyǔ méiyǒu xiǎngxiàng zhōng nàme hǎo.
But my listening and speaking were not as good as I had imagined.
但是我想重新体验一下做语言的感觉。
Dànshì wǒ xiǎng chóngxīn tǐyàn yíxià zuò yǔyán _____ de gǎnjué.
Correct answer
但是我想重新体验一下做语言初学者的感觉。
Dànshì wǒ xiǎng chóngxīn tǐyàn yíxià zuò yǔyán chūxuézhě de gǎnjué.
But I wanted to experience being a language beginner again.
我希望可以更地在法国生活。
Wǒ xīwàng kěyǐ gèng _____ de zài fǎguó shēnghuó.
Correct answer
我希望可以更独立地在法国生活。
Wǒ xīwàng kěyǐ gèng dúlì de zài fǎguó shēnghuó.
I hope I can live more independently in France.
4
Sentence Practice
Learn how each structure works, then use it to express your own ideas.
虽然……，但……还是……
suīrán..., dàn... háishì...
although..., still...
Grammar & Usage
- Use 虽然 to introduce a fact that might create a different expectation.
- 但…还是… shows that the real result remains unchanged.
From the lesson
虽然考试成绩不错，但第一次真正用英语和人交流的时候，我还是很紧张。
Suīrán kǎoshì chéngjì búcuò, dàn dìyīcì zhēnzhèng yòng yīngyǔ hé rén jiāoliú de shíhou, wǒ háishì hěn jǐnzhāng.
Although my exam scores were good, I was still very nervous the first time I really communicated in English.
Make Your Own Sentence
虽然______，但______还是______。
虽然我已经学了两年中文，但跟别人聊天的时候，我还是会紧张。
Suīrán wǒ yǐjīng xué le liǎng nián zhōngwén, dàn gēn biérén liáotiān de shíhou, wǒ háishì huì jǐnzhāng.
Although I have studied Chinese for two years, I still get nervous when chatting with people.
虽然这份工作很忙，但我还是每天留一点时间学习。
Suīrán zhè fèn gōngzuò hěn máng, dàn wǒ háishì měitiān liú yìdiǎn shíjiān xuéxí.
Although this job is busy, I still leave a little time to study every day.
虽然我听懂了大部分内容，但回答问题的时候，我还是需要想一想。
Suīrán wǒ tīngdǒng le dàbùfen nèiróng, dàn huídá wèntí de shíhou, wǒ háishì xūyào xiǎng yì xiǎng.
Although I understood most of the content, I still need to think when answering questions.
没有……想象中那么……
méiyǒu... xiǎngxiàng zhōng nàme...
not as... as imagined
Grammar & Usage
- Use this when reality is different from what you expected before.
- The adjective comes after 那么.
From the lesson
但是我的听力和口语没有想象中那么好。
Dànshì wǒ de tīnglì hé kǒuyǔ méiyǒu xiǎngxiàng zhōng nàme hǎo.
But my listening and speaking were not as good as I had imagined.
Make Your Own Sentence
______没有我想象中那么______。
搬到法国以后，生活没有我想象中那么简单。
Bāndào fǎguó yǐhòu, shēnghuó méiyǒu wǒ xiǎngxiàng zhōng nàme jiǎndān.
After moving to France, life was not as simple as I had imagined.
这本书没有我想象中那么难，我两个星期就看完了。
Zhè běn shū méiyǒu wǒ xiǎngxiàng zhōng nàme nán, wǒ liǎng ge xīngqī jiù kànwán le.
This book was not as difficult as I imagined; I finished it in two weeks.
第一次用中文做报告，其实没有我想象中那么可怕。
Dìyīcì yòng zhōngwén zuò bàogào, qíshí méiyǒu wǒ xiǎngxiàng zhōng nàme kěpà.
Giving a presentation in Chinese for the first time was not as scary as I imagined.
并不一定……，也可能……
bìng bù yídìng..., yě kěnéng...
not necessarily..., may also...
Grammar & Usage
- Use this to avoid giving one absolute explanation.
- 也可能 introduces another possible reason.
From the lesson
有时候学不会，并不一定是不够努力，也可能只是还没有找到适合自己的方法。
Yǒu shíhou xué búhuì, bìngbù yídìngshì búgòu nǔlì, yě kěnéng zhǐshì hái méiyǒu zhǎodào shìhé zìjǐ de fāngfǎ.
Sometimes not being able to learn something does not necessarily mean you are not working hard enough; you may simply not have found the right method yet.
Make Your Own Sentence
______并不一定是______，也可能是______。
总是听不懂并不一定是词汇太少，也可能是还不习惯真实语速。
Zǒngshì tīngbudǒng bìngbù yídìngshì cíhuì tàishǎo, yě kěnéngshì hái bù xíguàn zhēnshí yǔsù.
Not understanding all the time does not necessarily mean your vocabulary is too small; you may not yet be used to natural speed.
学得慢并不一定是方法不好，也可能是现在没有那么多时间。
Xué de màn bìngbù yídìngshì fāngfǎ bù hǎo, yě kěnéngshì xiànzài méiyǒu nàme duō shíjiān.
Learning slowly does not necessarily mean the method is bad; you may simply have less time now.
一个人不说话并不一定是不友好，也可能只是比较害羞。
Yí ge rén bù shuōhuà bìngbù yídìngshì bù yǒuhǎo, yě kěnéng zhǐshì bǐjiào hàixiū.
Someone not talking does not necessarily mean they are unfriendly; they may simply be shy.
早就不只是……
zǎojiù bùzhǐshì...
has long been more than...
Grammar & Usage
- 早就 emphasizes that the change happened long before now.
- 不只是 expands the meaning beyond one simple category.
From the lesson
学了这么多语言以后，我觉得语言带给我的早就不只是学习成绩。
Xué le zhème duō yǔyán yǐhòu, wǒ juéde yǔyán dàigěi wǒ de zǎojiù bùzhǐshì xuéxí chéngjì.
After studying so many languages, I feel that what languages have given me has long been more than study results.
Make Your Own Sentence
对我来说，______早就不只是______。
对我来说，学中文早就不只是为了考试。
Duì wǒ láishuō, xué zhōngwén zǎojiù bùzhǐshì wèile kǎoshì.
For me, learning Chinese has long been about more than exams.
工作几年以后，旅行对我来说早就不只是休息。
Gōngzuò jǐ nián yǐhòu, lǚxíng duì wǒ láishuō zǎojiù bùzhǐshì xiūxi.
After working for several years, travel has long been more than just rest for me.
住在国外以后，语言对我来说早就不只是一门课。
Zhùzài guówài yǐhòu, yǔyán duì wǒ láishuō zǎojiù bùzhǐshì yì mén kè.
After living abroad, language has long been more than just a course for me.
5
Your Turn
Use 6–8 sentences to describe how a language-learning experience changed you or your way of learning.
请用六到八句话说说一段语言学习经历，以及这段经历怎样改变了你。
Use 6–8 sentences to describe how a language-learning experience changed you or your way of learning.
Expression frames / speaking guide
- 我学过______。Wǒ xuéguo ______.I have studied ______.
- 一开始，我______。Yì kāishǐ, wǒ ______.At first, I ______.
- 后来，我发现______。Hòulái, wǒ fāxiàn ______.Later, I realized ______.
- 这段经历让我______。Zhè duàn jīnglì ràng wǒ ______.This experience made me ______.
- 现在，我觉得______。Xiànzài, wǒ juéde ______.Now I feel / think ______.
我学过英语。一开始，我主要为了考试学习。后来，我开始用英语和外国朋友交流。我发现真实交流和考试很不一样。这段经历让我更愿意开口说。后来，我也开始用类似的方法学习中文。现在，我觉得找到适合自己的方法比学得快更重要。
Wǒ xuéguo yīngyǔ. Yì kāishǐ, wǒ zhǔyào wèile kǎoshì xuéxí. Hòulái, wǒ kāishǐ yòng yīngyǔ hé wàiguó péngyou jiāoliú. Wǒ fāxiàn zhēnshí jiāoliú hé kǎoshì hěn bù yíyàng. Zhè duàn jīnglì ràng wǒ gèng yuànyì kāikǒu shuō. Hòulái, wǒ yě kāishǐ yòng lèisì de fāngfǎ xuéxí zhōngwén. Xiànzài, wǒ juéde zhǎodào shìhé zìjǐ de fāngfǎ bǐ xué de kuài gèng zhòngyào.
I have studied English. At first, I mainly studied for exams. Later, I began using English to communicate with foreign friends. I realized real communication was very different from exams. This experience made me more willing to speak. Later, I began using a similar method to learn Chinese. Now I think finding a method that suits you is more important than learning quickly.
Study this topic at another level
Choose the version that best fits your current level. You can also explore a higher level without needing to understand every word.