Sometimes, I know every word in an expression, but I don't know what it implies. Honestly, I understand very little. Section III
Maintaining a Sharp Eye
Passage I : Read the Text
I Am a Bit Nervous About My English
I'm Robert Lee, a senior at a Chinese university. I am planning to study Electronic Engineering in the United States this coming summer if I am lucky enough to be admitted to Miami University. However, I am a bit nervous about my English, so I'm spending a lot of time studying it hard. I think my pronunciation isn't accurate enough to make myself understood, and I might easily get confused. I'm embarrassed when people lose me in the middle of a conversation or vice versa. Also, I find the grammar very difficult. Sometimes, I know every word in an expression, but I don't know what it implies. Honestly, I understand very little.
It is funny because I used to study English just for entertainment, to kill time , but now I have a particular purpose for it, so I have found a tutor for myself. My tutor holds her master's degree in education and is very helpful. She assigns me quite a lot of homework, and wants me to memorize all the phrases and expressions. She says it is necessary to practice as much as possible until they are fixed in my mind. And the more I apply them in real situations, the more natural they will become. However, I find it so boring to practice so much and I'm getting discouraged. My tutor also says language is a tool, and people use it to express their ideas, thoughts and feelings, and all these are determined by culture. As a result, when I understand the cultural background, I can use the language better. She also asks me to read a lot. My tutor sounds like a professor, and I feel lucky to have her as my tutor.
My American friend Burt helps me a lot, too. He knows my problem because I have exchanged my ideas with him. He told me to relax. He said actually the most efficient way to reach my goal would be to have a tape recorder or a CD player. Either the CDs or tapes have native voices, and I can study them by listening again and again and imitating the sounds as many times as I wish. I think this is a good idea. That way I'm not only training my listening comprehension but also my speaking ability.
Luckily, I have already passed both the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Graduate Records Exam (GRE), but I feel I still have a long way to go in English study.
Difficult Sentences
(Para. 1) I am planning to study Electronic Engineering in theUnite State this coming summer if I am lucky enough to be admitted to Miami University. admitted to means“accepted by” lucky enough ：
“adjective + enough” structure
Translation：
如果我能够幸运地被迈阿密大 学录取, 我打算今年夏天去美 国学电子工程.
Example：
I would compete for Mayer if I were famous enough to be known by the whole town.
2.(Para. 1) I think my pronunciation isn’t accurate enough to make myself understood, and I might easily get confused.
make myself understood: V+O+OC structure;
get confused: get-type passive voice
Translation：
我觉得自己的发音不准, 说英语别人听不懂, 我自己也很容易搞糊涂。
Example：
She had great fear that she wasn’t worldly enough to make herself accepted by her future parents-in-law, and she might get irritated.
3.(Para. 1) I’m embarrassed when people lose me in the middle of a conversation or vice versa.
vice versa. adv. 反之亦然
Translation：
当在谈话中人们无法理解我或是我听不懂别人的话时,我觉得尴尬极了。
Example：
The couple both feel awkward when the husband starts to argue with the wife or vice versa.
4. (Para. 2) It is funny because I used to study English just for entertainment, to kill time, but now I have a particular purpose for it, so I found a tutor for myself.
used to “过去（常常）” for entertainment, to kill time, 都表示“目的”
Translation：
说来好笑, 因为我过去学英语只是觉得好玩, 为了消磨时间；但是现在我却有特定的目的,所以我为自己找了一位家教。
Example：
I used to read bestsellers for entertainment, to kill time.
5. (Para. 2) She says it is necessary to drill as much as possible until they are fixed in my mind.
it形式主语;as much as possible 修饰动词不定式;until引导时间状语从句
Translation：她说我必须尽可能多地练习,直到它们刻印在我的脑海中。
Example：
It is exciting to swing as high as possible until you become scared.
6. (Para. 2) And the more I apply them in real situations, the more natural they will become.
Translation：
而且在实际情况中应用得越多,英语就越自然。
Example：
The more I contact him, the more I understand him.
7. (Para. 3) Either the CDs or tapes have native voices, and I can study them by listening again and again and imitating the sounds as many times as I wish.
Translation：
无论是影碟还是录音带都有原声，我可以一遍又一遍地听,随心所欲地一遍又一遍地模仿这些声音, 学习它们
Example：
Either work or entertainment brings fun to your life, and you can enjoy it by working as hard as you can and relaxing as much as possible.
Important Words
senior [AmE.] a student in the last year of a school or university
(美)（普通学校或大学）最高年级（毕业班）的学生
e.g. Being seniors, everyone is busy looking for a job.
He worked as a teacher's assistant when he was a senior at high school.
Related Words:
freshman 大学一年级学生 sophomore 大学二年级学生
junior大学三年级学生 senior 大学四年级学生
admit v. permit (a person or thing) to enter, let in 许可进入；录取
e.g. I cannot admit you into the theatre.
He was admitted to the best university of the country.
accurate adj. careful and exact 准确的
e.g. This is an accurate description of what had happened.
The writing is praised for its accurate choice of words.
assign v. give someone the work to do 分配(任务)
e.g. The general manager called him to assign him the new task.
She has been assigned to take care of kids.
assignment n.任务，（课外）作业
memorize v. learn and remember 记住，记忆
e.g. The girl is so clever that she can memorize the poem after hearing it only twice.
How I wish I could memorize all the rules and their exceptions of the English grammar.
memory n. 记忆
apply v. bring or put it into use 使用，应用
apply … to… 把……应用到……
e.g. You must be able to apply what you learnt at school to your future work.
This scientific discovery can be applied industrially.
determine v. be the cause of, control, be depended on 确定，限定，控制
e.g. Whether he will go or stay is determined by the girl he loved.
What kind of weather we will get determines whether we can go out for a picnic.
exchange v. to give and receive (sth.) in return for (sth. else); 交换，交易
e.g. Couples need to exchange ideas frequently in order to understand each other.
She exchanged her opinion on this event with him and found surprisingly he shared her view.
relax v. (make) become less active and stop worrying （使）放松，轻松
e.g. The music will certainly relax you, come and listen to it!
Sit down and relax, leave the work till tomorrow.
efficient adj. working well and fast 效率高的
e.g. She is a very efficient secretary and runs the office well.
This is an efficient method to cut down the cost.