English at a Second Glance

Anyone advising that learning English can help secure a cushy job is certainly not expecting any recognition for such banality. But maybe we do need to ask ourselves if we are placing too much credence in this trite remark. Are we being misled when we invest time and money in achieving something so elusive?

A fair number may sincerely agree. Others taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture might say that learning English has much more to offer than just words, diction, and articulation. What about tact, eloquence, and style? It is not the language per se that is most important, but the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, experience, and the coveted skills of communication.

So, forget the fact English is de rigueur. Never mind that it is the lingua franca of our time, and the sine qua non for success in business. Start discovering yourself and the greater world. Only then, will you be sure of getting your foot in the door.

當有人說學好英文有利於找到好工作時，此人多半不預期聽者會對這種老生常談擊節讚賞。不過也許我們的確該問問自己，是否過度相信這種人云亦云的陳舊看法。我們是否被誤導而投資時間、金錢去求取一個難以捉摸的成果？

不少人可能會由衷地同意。其他人則會退後一步綜觀全局，而這些人可能會說學英文能學到的不僅是單字、措詞和發音。說話技巧、口才和語言風格不也都是收穫嗎？語言的本身不是最重要的，要緊的是追求知識、理解、經驗、以及人人夢寐以求的溝通技巧。

因此，別管英文是必備工具的這個事實。別在意英文是我們這個時代的共同語言和縱橫商場不可或缺的能力。從發現自我及大環境開始。只有這樣，你才能確定自己能與別人爭一席之地。

本文作者Johnson Lai將於專業英語班開設GRE字彙班，歡迎大家一起來 “start discovering yourself and the greater world” 和 “be sure of getting your foot in the door"