作者序-蘇秦
新多益(NEW TOEIC)旨在測驗職場英語溝通能力,試題內容真實反應職場互動情境,語意上以日常口語溝通或文字表達為主,語法上以明確呈現語意為要。因此,詞彙成了乘載語意的重要媒介,也跨越語法障礙,構成試題語本與文本的主要元素。熟習新多益詞彙就是爭取高分、穩操勝券的不二法門。
然而,要如何尋得這扇通往英語高峰的法門呢?以下是幾式必修的基本功:
1.不論英語底子如何,直攻新多益核心詞彙:雖然新多益測驗沒有明訂字表,但是就其命題方向,仍然可以確實掌握許多必然入題的詞彙。
2.每個核心單字都要能夠準確發音:語音是語言學習的根本,發音是記憶單字的基礎,不會唸的字,就無法聽音辨義或長期記憶,也沒辦法成為得分的助力。
3.瞭解單字的定義、專業知識、與相關字的比較,達到掌握或預測語意的效果:例如annuity, bonus, penalty, pension, subsidy, allowance等單字皆與金錢有關,但是定義、專業知識各個不同,使用時機當然也不同。
4.從廣泛閱讀或頻繁聽音中溫習學過的單字,同時尋找待學習的新單字:將單字從被動詞彙(passive vocabulary)轉化成主動詞彙(active vocabulary)的最佳方式就是運用,越常運用就越能內化為語言知能的一部分。閱讀與聽力都是語言的吸收性技巧(receptive skills),也都是單字學習過程的重要環節。
《NEW TOEIC新多益單字放口袋》是本人獻給所有準備新多益考試的讀者們一份入門法寶,因為這本書具有以下特色:
1.嚴選多益必考三千單字,快速掌握試題趨勢;
2.依據八大命題導向分類,群組記憶效果加倍;
3.模擬考試題幹精編例句,快速強化實戰功力;
4.精彩英文例句精巧中譯,經典好書永結英緣;
5.單字重要詞性分別造句,建構完整詞彙實力;
6.補充重要片語用法說明,輕鬆衍生學習效能;
7.附冊羅列多益專有名詞,引爆題目解析威力;
8.詳列致命形似混淆字彙,獨門加持高分魔力;
9.獨家貼心隨身學習設計,多多勤讀保證受益。
這本書的完成要感謝文藻外語學院英語科杜芸甄同學的辛勤校稿,摯友牛津英語大師路易思給予諸多剴切建議,還有國立高雄師範大學英語系博士班陳靖奇教授特別撥冗審訂。切盼《NEW TOEIC新多益單字放口袋》的出版能夠帶給廣大新多益考生既新且多的助益。
作者序-Corne Viljoen、Elmari Viljoen
What is the goal of TOEIC? By simply looking at the name of the test one can see that it purposes international communication. A further goal of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) is to test a student’s ability to communicate in a business environment. The concepts of “business” and “international” are key factors in the reasons why so many students take the test. There is no doubt that this test, which is recognized by language schools, multinational corporations and governments, is a good thing. International communication is a very broad and challenging concept. Culture and tradition play immeasurable roles in how we perceive people and act toward them. It is needless to say that the domain of international communication is fraught with potential problems that might arise from cultural differences. Then we haven’t even mentioned the problems that come from the business perspective. Corporations, companies, takeovers and mergers: all these concepts and ideas just beg to be misunderstood. That is why there is a book like this one.
We want the reader, you, to not only learn the English words and their meanings. We would like you to actively take part in imagining the scenarios that we create with our examples. In your mind you can even role-play the situations, actions and feelings of the characters we created. This will give you a richer experience of the vocabulary and help you take the first step into the practical use of your newly acquired knowledge. So, when considering the aforementioned goal of the TOEIC, to test a student’s ability in business English on an international level, we thought it wise to keep exactly that in mind as we wrote. In the process of writing this book we thought it best to use examples from multiple fields in the business arena. You will read about salesclerks, managers, CEOs and even plumbers. You will get an idea of how a small business owner might act and talk, and even how the president of a multinational company or a country’s leader, might voice his opinions.
This book can be used as a teaching aid by the teacher who quickly needs a new perspective or example. It can be a guide to the student who desperately needs an answer, or the one who is simply looking for trivial information. It should be used by all TOEIC students as a reference during their studies. Don’t try to read the book from cover to cover. It will be of little use, as our cognitive processes need previous references to make learning possible. If you don’t have such a reference, either from a question that you want to answer or a sentence you heard, you won’t learn much. Many of the words we use in the examples come from the book itself. Follow up on the words you don’t know to give yourself a richer and more rewarding experience. It would be na?ve to believe that you will learn all there is to learn in the world of trade and finance in a short period of time.
Learning is a lifelong process, and when learning is concentrated into a specific period of time (as with a test such as the TOEIC) some facts are sure to be forgotten or overlooked. So, be patient with yourself. It is our hope that, after you pass the test and take up your dream position in the international business world, you will use the book from time to time. Make this book one of your favorite reference guides as you become a success in the whirlwind-world of international business.
多益考試的目的是什麼?從考試的名稱就可以知道它與國際溝通有關,進一步來說,國際溝通英語測驗的目的,主要是檢測學生在商務環境的溝通能力。「商務」和「國際」的概念是吸引這麼多學生來考的主要原因,更況且這個檢定受到語言學校、跨國公司以及政府單位的承認。國際溝通是廣泛且具挑戰性的概念,文化和傳統在我們如何瞭解與對待別人上扮演非常重要的角色,但不需要認為國際溝通必定會有文化差異的問題,商業領域中有些概念才是需要被釐清的,例如:財團法人、公司;接管、合併等,而向讀者釐清這些概念,就是我們出這本書的用意。
我們希望讀者,你,不僅僅只是學英文單字和字義,我們更希望你能主動地投入在我們創造出來的情境中,你可以扮演情境中的任何一個角色,想像他們的動作與情緒,這會賦予你更豐富的單字經驗,並幫助你跨出實際運用新知的第一步。因此,當考慮到多益檢定目的—檢測學生國際商用英文的應用能力時,我們認為最聰明的方法是將書中所寫的銘記在心。在寫這本書的過程中,我們力求提供多元商業情境的例子,因此你可以看到銷售員、經理、總裁甚至是水電工,你可以瞭解小公司老闆的行為與言談,也可以知道跨國公司總裁或國家領導如何發表他的意見。
這本《NEW TOEIC新多益單字放口袋》不僅可以成為老師的教學輔具,立即提供新的概念或例子,它也可以成為求知若渴的學生的入門書、或為只是用來搜尋的工具書。所有準備多益檢定的學生手邊都應該要有這本書作為參考。提醒你,不要嘗試一頁頁地閱讀,這樣是沒有用的,因為在認知過程中,我們都需要一個前提來學習,如果你沒有一個想回答的問題,或是沒有你聽到的一句話,那你就只能學到一點東西。我們在例子中所使用的單字大多來自於這本書中,跟著你所不知道的單字,並給自己一個豐富且有益的經驗。但如果你認為能在短期之內學到所有關於貿易和金融的一切的話,那就太天真了。
學習是一輩子的事,如果只在特定一段時間內密集地學習(就像準備多益考試),那很快就會忘記了。所以,對自己要有耐心。我們希望在你通過考試或是在國際商界取得你夢想的位置之後,你還會不時的翻閱這本書,讓它幫助你在競爭激烈的國際貿易中成功,成為你最喜歡的參考書之一。