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출처: http://eduhow.tistory.com/entry/영어-쓰기의-8부-능선-관사-the-a-용법-예제

(유학생이 쓰는) 영어 쓰기의 8부능선, 관사 뛰어넘기

영어학습자료 2011/04/05 22:55
유학 4년차, 영어 쓰기가 많이 익숙해진 지금도 매번 지적받는 사항이 있으니 그것은 관사, 그중에서도 정관사와 부정관사(a / the)의 사용입니다. 영어 쓰기를 공부할 때 그냥 무턱대고 많이 쓰다보면 나아지는 부분도 있지만, 관사만큼은 유학 초기나 지금이나 별 차이가 없는 것 같습니다. 외국 친구들에게 물어보면 "그냥 감으로 아는 것이지 설명하기 힘들다"고 하니 그 역시 별로 도움이 안됩니다.  더 읽으시기 전에 관사 용법에 대한 다음 테스트를 풀어보세요. 주요 문제 몇가지에 대한 해설은 글을 읽으시면서 찾으실 수 있습니다.

관사 용법 테스트 :
http://a4esl.org/q/h/9901/cw-articles.htm
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/fampeople.html 

관사, 대강 쓰면 안될까?

관사야 어떻게 쓰던지 의미전달은 되니 적당히 쓰면 안되냐고 하실지도 모르겠습니다. 하지만 글로벌한 전문가로 성장하기를 원한다면 그렇게 넘길 수는 없습니다. (해외 기업 취업 관련해서는 Filldream님의 블로그를 참고하세요) 관사 사용은 너무나 빈번히 일어나므로 제대로 숙지하지 못할 경우 (특히 학계의 대부분을 차지하는 영어권 독자들에게) 글 자체에 대한 부정적인 이미지를 형성하기 때문입니다. 저의 경우, 예전에 지도교수님이나 다른 리뷰어에게 논문 Draft를 보냈을 때, 관사 실수때문에 글의 내용에 제대로 집중하기 힘들다는 말을 들은 적이 있습니다. 글의 내용에 대해 커맨트를 받아야 할 상황에서 관사 교정만 잔뜩 받은적도 있습니다.  (관련 포스팅 참조)

이처럼 사소하지만 무시할 수 없는 부분이다보니, 관사 사용에 자신이 없을 경우 작성한 글을 원어민 친구들에게 Proofreading받게 됩니다. 미국 생활 초기에는 이런 식으로 어느 정도는 해결할 수 있지만, 작성하는 글의 양이 많아질수록, 전문 분야의 글일수록 이는 점점 어려워집니다. 글을 봐줄 수 있는 친구를 항상 찾을 수 있는것도 아니고, 이메일 등 모든 글에 있어서 그렇게 할 수는 없기 때문입니다. 나중에 높은 위치에 올라 조직 전체에 메일을 보내야 할 일이 생겼을 때, 관사 실수를 남발한다면 리더로서 좋은 모습이 아닐 것입니다.

관사, 재대로 알아 보자

그래서, 관사의 용법을 한번 제대로 공부해보기로 결심을 했습니다.  사실 학교에서 혹은 문법책에서 수없이 공부했던 내용일진데, 그렇게 공부하고도 제대로 사용하지 못한다는 것은 그동안의 접근법에 무언가 문제가 있다는 반증이라고 생각했습니다. 그래서 영문/언어학 전공의 선생님들의 개인지도를 받을 수 있는 MIT Writing Center에 일주일 간격으로 수차례 약속을 잡았습니다. 저의 계획은 관사 용법에 대한 개별적인 규칙의 암기가 아닌, 일종의 사고의 틀(mental framework)을 형성해보자는 것이었습니다.
 
 Step 1 : 기본 규칙을 숙지하자

이렇게 전문가의 지도를 받기로 했지만, 명색이 박사과정 학생이 문법의 기본 규칙부터 물어볼 수는 없다고 생각해서 사전 학습을 했습니다. 우선 정관사가 '특정한'  대상을, 그리고 부정관사가 '임의의' 대상을 지칭한다는 것 정도는 아실 겁니다. (관련 포스팅 참조)  화자와 청자라는 관점에서 설명하자면, 정관사는 보통 화자와 청자 모두에게 알려진 대상을, 그리고 부정관사는 그렇지 않은 대상을 가리킵니다. 이 글을 쓰는 과정에서 관사 사용에 대한 많은 자료를 찾았는데, 그중 가장 많은 도움을 받은 자료가 관사 사용법을 요약해놓은 다음 다이어그램입니다. (이를 포함하는 원문은 여기서 보실 수 있습니다.)
 

어떤 일이든 일단 전체를 관통하는 큰 그림을 아는 것은 큰 도움이 됩니다. 관사는 (대부분) 명사 앞에 붙는 것이니 명사의 종류만 알면 이 표를 사용해 해결할 수 있는 것입니다. 예컨데 대문자로 시작하는 명사는 Proper Noun으로, 그리고 셀수없는 물질 / 추상명사는 Uncountable Noun으로 간주하고 해당 규칙을 적용하면 됩니다.

위 표에서 불분명한 부분이 General vs. Specific한 명사를 구분하는 방법입니다. 처음 등장한 단수명사앞에 a를, 그 이후에 이를 다시 지칭할 경우 the를 사용하는 것은 아시겠지만, 처음 사용되는 명사이더라도 수식어나 문맥을 통해 한정되는 경우가 있습니다. 우선 수식어의 경우 어떤 수식어가 뒤어 오느냐에 따라 한정되는 정도가 다른데,  전치사 of가 뒤에 오는 경우가 가장 한정적이며, for / in / at등 다른 전치사, that절, to부정사의 순으로 한정의 의미가 약해집니다. 전치사 of의 수식을 받는 명사에 대부분 the를 붙이는 이유입니다.
The equipments of the health club was clean in general. (of는 앞에오는 명사를 강하게 한정하기에 the를 붙입니다.)
You must sign an agreement to join the club (to는 약한 한정의 의미를 갖기에 an을 붙입니다.)

또한 General vs. Specific의 구분이 Uncountable vs. Countable을 선행한다는 것을 기억합시다. 즉, 비가산명사(water, dirt, sand)라도 구체적인 대상을 가리키는 경우 the를 앞에 붙이게 됩니다.
He drank water. (water는 특정한 물을 지칭하지는 않습니다.)
He fill the cup with some water. And he drank the water. (물질명사인 water가 앞에 사용된 특정한 water를 지칭합니다.)

때로는 General vs. Specific의 구분을 위해 해당 분야에 대한 정확한 지식을 알아야 할 때도 있습니다. 노벨상에 대한 정확한 지식이 없다면 다음 문장에서 정확한 관사를 사용하기 어려울 것입니다.
Einstein won the Novel Prize in Physics in 1921. (해당 년도의 물리학 노벨상은 단일하기에 the를 씁니다.)
Roentgen won a 1901 Novel Prize. (해당 년도의 노벨상은 여러개이니, 그중 하나를 가르키기 위해 a를 씁니다.)

Step 2 : 보조 규칙을 익히자

영어에는 이러한 기본 규칙을 보완하는 추가적인 규칙이 존재합니다. 사례를 통해 이를 알아봅시다. 우선, 고유명사가 일반명사로 사용되는 경우가 있습니다.
I want to drink a Coke. (고유명사인 Coke가 콜라 한병이라는 일반명사로 사용됩니다.)
Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic nun. (Roman Catholic은 고유명사가 아니라, nun을 수식하는 형용사입니다.)

소유격은 정관사와 같이 쓰지 않습니다. 소유격 자체가 '한정'의 의미를 담고있기 때문이라고 합니다.
Mother Teresa received her novel Peace Prize in 1979.
Einstein is known for his theory of relativity.
Einstein is known for the theory of relativity. (소유격이 없다면 the를 써야합니다.)

이밖에도 많은 규칙이 존재합니다만, '뉴욕의사의 백신영어' 저자이신 고수민님의 글을 비롯한 온라인상의 자료를 글미에 소개하는 것으로 대신할까 합니다. 단, 문법 규칙이라는 것은 적용범위가 넓고 예외상황이 적은 경우에만 유용하다는 점을 기억합시다. 이런 의미에서 스스로 글을 쓰면서 자주 의문점을 느꼈던 규칙이 아니라면, 일일히 암기하기보다는 Step 3에서 설명하는대로 '직관'력을 키우는 것이 바람직하다는 생각입니다.

 Step 3 : 나머지는 '직관'으로 해결하자

 관사 사용이 규칙대로 된다면, 지금처럼 난제는 아니었을 겁니다.  하지만 관사 사용에는 수많은 예외 및 관용어구가 존재합니다. 이를 각각 모두 기억하는 것은 불가능에 가까울 뿐 아니라, 막상 필요할 때 제대로 활용하지 못하는 결과를 낳게 됩니다. 문법책에서 가르치는 관사 용법이 그렇게 길고 복잡한 것은 이런 예외상황을 모두 규칙으로 가르쳤기 때문이라고 생각합니다. 예컨데, 고유명사앞에 the를 붙이는 '예외상황'에 대한 다음 '규칙'을 살펴봅시다.

Use the with the proper noun (name) of a historical event, historical period, highway, building, hotel, museum, river, ocean, sea, point on a globe (Examples: the Equator or the East), desert, forest, gulf, or peninsula. Only use the with the name of a country if the name is plural, as in the Netherlands, or if it is a phrase, such as the Dominican Republic.
위에서 열거하는 열 몇가지 경우를 모두 암기하는 일은 (80년대) 수험 영어에서나 필요했을 일입니다. 실제 영어 쓰기에서는 자신의 전문분야에 대해 쓰는것이 보통일테니 위 단어를 쓸일이 많지 않을뿐더러, 어디에서나 인터넷을 사용할 수 있는 요즘은 필요할 때마다 검색을 통해 정확한 용례를 파악할 수 있기 때문입니다. 게다가 South Africa (남아공)의 경우에는 the를 앞에 붙이지 않으니, 위 규칙이 절대적인 것도 아닙니다.

또한, 앞서 설명한 '규칙'에도 적용이 애매한 사례가 종종 발생합니다. 앞서 General vs. Specific을 구분하는 규칙을 설명했지만, 종종 그 구분이 문맥을 통해 이루어지기도 합니다. 아래 문장을 살펴보면서, 밑줄친 부분에 왜 the가 필요한지 생각해봅시다. 참고로 제가 치른 온라인 테스트의 틀렸던 문제에서 발췌한 문장입니다.
Look for a health club near your house, and check out the exercise instructors and personal trainers. You should evaluate the equipment as well.

제가 Writing Center선생님께 물어본 결과 앞 문장에서 a health club이 등장했기에, 이 문장의 exercise instructors는 거기 소속의 사람일 것이며, 따라서 충분히 specific한 의미를 지니기 때문에 the를 써야하는 것이라고 합니다. 이처럼 of절과 같은 명확한 단서가 없는 경우에도 문맥에 따라 정관사를 사용해야 합니다. 

관사 교육에 대한 또다른 오해는 많은 경우 '하나의 정답'이 존재하는 것처럼 설명된다는 것입니다. 관사에 대한 서적에서 발췌한 다음 문장을 살펴봅시다. 책에서는 the가 정답이라고 가르치고 있지만, 나라에 따라서는 다수의 공용어가 사용되는 경우도 있을 것입니다. 그런 의미에서 a dominant native language역시 틀린 답은 아니라는 것이 제가 상담한 선생님의 말씀이었습니다.
In some countries, English is the dominant native language.

 
즉, 많은 경우 관사 사용은 옳고 그름의 문제라기보다는 '화자의 의도'를 얼마나 잘 전달하느냐의 문제라는 것입니다. 예컨대 윗 문장에서 the를 썼다면 해당 화자는 나라별 공용어는 하나라는 자신의 관점을 독자들에게 전달하는 것입니다. 이런 측면에서 관사 용법에 무작정 규칙을 적용하기보다는, 자신의 표현의도에 따라 적절한 선택을 할 수 있는 '감각'을 키우는 것이 바람직할 것입니다.

이런 이유에서 통/번역 등 영어 구사를 직업으로 하지 않는 일반인에게는 Step 2까지의 규칙을 외우는 것으로 충분하다고 생각합니다. 그리고 그 이상의 상황에 대해서는 '지식'이 아닌 '직관'을 통해 해결하는 편이 더 나을 것입니다. 좋은 영문을 많이 접함으로써 관사 사용에 대한 감각을 키우는 것입니다. 제가 상담을 받았던 선생님께서는 뉴욕타임즈 기사와 같은 좋은 영문을 '소리내서' 읽는 방법을 추천하셨습니다. 시청각을 모두 동원하여 관사의 용법을 느낌으로 익히는 것입니다. 이런 방식은 실제 네이티브 스피커들이 관사를 익히는 방법이기도 합니다.

글을 마치며

이 글에서는 영어 쓰기 완성에 있어서 가장 난제라고 할 수 있는 관사에 대해 다루어 보았습니다. 지금까지 관사 용법에 대한 필수적인 규칙을 몇가지 소개하였지만, 문법책의 구절을 외는 것 보다 '감각'을 익히는 것이 중요하다는 말씀을 드렸습니다. 우리가 영어를 처음에 접하는 것이 학교공부를 통해서이다보니, 자꾸 '공부' 마인드로 영어를 대하게 되고, 이것이 영어 학습에큰 장애가 되지 않나 합니다.

이 글을 작성하면서 온라인상의 수많은 자료를 참조했습니다. (예문의 출처를 일일히 밝히지 못한 점 죄송하게 생각합니다.) 그중 도움이 많이 되었던 글을 아래 소개합니다. 특히 관사에 관해서는 아래에도 링크한 '뉴욕의사' 고수민님 영어 포스팅을 추천합니다. '영어전문가'가 되기위한 영어학습 방법과 일반인의 영어학습 방법이 달라야 한다는 주장에 공감합니다. Filldream님의 영어 강의에도 원어민처럼 듣고 말하는데 도움이 되실 내용이 많습니다.

< 관사 사용법 가이드 >
위에 사용한 다이어그램을 포함하는 관사 사용 가이드 (영문)
'뉴욕의사'의 관사 용법 시리즈 (1편)
네이버 블로그 : 정관사 the의 용법

저는 영어 전문가도 아니고, 한국에서 태어나 중학교때 영어 공부를 시작한 평범한 유학생입니다. 많은 부분 제가 공부한 내용을 정리하기 위한 목적으로 쓴 글이지만, 저를 포함하여 관사 용법에 대해 '본능적인 공포감'을 느끼는 많은 분들께 도움이 되었으면 하는 바램입니다.

마지막으로 아래 질문에 대한 독자님들의 의견을 구할까 합니다. 댓글이나 다음 글을 통해 답변드리도록 노력하겠습니다.

-. 관사 이외에 영어 쓰기에서 어려운 부분은 무었입니까?
-. 관사 공부에 가장 도움을 받은 자료가 있다면 무엇입니까?
-. 특히 햇갈리는 관사의 용법이 있다면 무엇입니까?

그냥 죽죽 읽어 나가세요. 모르는 문장이나 단어가 나와도 그냥 추측하고 지나가시기 바랍니다. 작은 것을 버리고 큰 것을 얻으면 됩니다. 모르는 문장은 그런 상황을 뒤에서 여러번 만나면 저절로 알게 됩니다. 그리고 단어는 미리 혹은 나중에 따로 공부하면 됩니다. 그런 것에 자꾸 걸리면 진도가 안나가고 진도가 안나가면 금방 그만 둡니다. 읽을 때는 오직 줄거리에만 집중하셔야 합니다.

독해는 종합적인 공부로서 단어, 숙어, 문법, 회화, 듣기, 작문 실력을 한꺼번에 늘려 줍니다. 모든 영어공부 중에서 가장 종합적인 것이 읽기 입니다. 독해를 많이 하면 소위 영어의 내공이 쌓여 갑니다. 책을 많이 읽는 사람은 도저히 당할 수가 없습니다. 진짜 영어고수들은 모두 독서를 많이 한 사람들입니다.

중고등학교에서 영어성적 상위 1%에 드는 학생이라면 대체로 초등학교 때 영어동화책을 많이 읽은 학생입니다. 읽기는 모든 공부의 기초이면서 또한 완성입니다. 이런 동화들을 죽죽 읽어 나가다 보면 영문독해력은 그야말로 가랑비에 옷 젖듯이 자기도 모르게 쑥쑥 향상됩니다. 일단은 공부한다는 생각을 버리고 재미있게 읽는데 촛점을 맞추시기 바랍니다. 욕심을 버리고 재미있게 읽다보면 독해실력은 저절로 따라오죠. 욕심을 버리는 것! 이게 어렵습니다.

말이 나온 김에, 단어 이야기도 좀 하겠습니다. 모르는 단어도 여러번 실제 상황 속에서 만나게 되면 대충의 뜻을 저절로 알게 됩니다. 심지어 그 단어의 분위기나 색깔은 사전에서 보다 더 정확히 알 수 있습니다. 또 이렇게 체득된 단어는 아주 오래 갑니다. 단어실력을 유지하는 데도 독해가 최고죠. 최소한의 독서량을 유지만 해도 단어실력은 줄지 않습니다.

독서량이 늘면 어휘력이 증가되는 것은 물론, 기존의 어휘력이 유지 되며, 더 나아가 대충 알고 있던 의미가 더 정확해지고 뚜렷해 집니다. 평소에 무식하게 단어만 따로 외웠더라도 나중에 독해를 많이 하게 되면, 여러 상황 속에서 그런 단어들을 접하게 되므로 독해를 하면서 외운 단어들처럼 깊이 체화됩니다. 한 마디로, 독해야말로 어휘력을 늘리고 유지하고 정확히 하는 데도 최선의 방법입니다. 그래서 독해는 종합공부인 것이죠.

참고로, 상급자라 해도 다 같은 실력은 아닙니다. 하늘과 땅 차이일 수도 있습니다. 그러면 초기 상급자란 무엇인가? 일단 독해에 자신감이 있고 어떤 문장에 대해서도 거부감이 없는 상태이며 모르는 문장들이  나오더라도 실망하기 보다는 의욕과 투지가 불타는 수준을 말합니다. 어떤 상황에서도 포기하지 않고 오히려 모르는 문장들을 발전의 기회로 바라보는 수준이죠. 이 수준까지 가면 일단 그 사람은 영어가 강점이 되었으며 더 이상의 단계로 가는 것은 그냥 시간문제입니다.

미안하지만 이런 사람은 결코 다시 중급자나 하급자가 될 수 없습니다. 한 동안 영어를 놓았더라도 약간만 하면 금방 이전 수준으로 회복 됩니다. 영어실력 자체는 변동이 있을 수 있지만 마음 속에 한 번 자리잡은 자신감은 결코 사라지지 않습니다. 마치 자전거를 한 번 배운 사람은 언제라도 다시 자전거를 탈 수 있듯이요.^^
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THE BELL


People said "The Evening Bell is sounding, the sun is setting." For a strange wondrous tone was heard in the narrow streets of a large town. It was like the sound of a church-bell: but it was only heard for a moment, for the rolling of the carriages and the voices of the multitude made too great a noise.

Those persons who were walking outside the town, where the houses were farther apart, with gardens or little fields between them, could see the evening sky still better, and heard the sound of the bell much more distinctly. It was as if the tones came from a church in the still forest; people looked thitherward, and felt their minds attuned most solemnly.

A long time passed, and people said to each other—"I wonder if there is a church out in the wood? The bell has a tone that is wondrous sweet; let us stroll thither, and examine the matter nearer." And the rich people drove out, and the poor walked, but the way seemed strangely long to them; and when they came to a clump of willows which grew on the skirts of the forest, they sat down, and looked up at the long branches, and fancied they were now in the depth of the green wood. The confectioner of the town came out, and set up his booth there; and soon after came another confectioner, who hung a bell over his stand, as a sign or ornament, but it had no clapper, and it was tarred over to preserve it from the rain. When all the people returned home, they said it had been very romantic, and that it was quite a different sort of thing to a pic-nic or tea-party. There were three persons who asserted they had penetrated to the end of the forest, and that they had always heard the wonderful sounds of the bell, but it had seemed to them as if it had come from the town. One wrote a whole poem about it, and said the bell sounded like the voice of a mother to a good dear child, and that no melody was sweeter than the tones of the bell. The king of the country was also observant of it, and vowed that he who could discover whence the sounds proceeded, should have the title of "Universal Bell-ringer," even if it were not really a bell.

Many persons now went to the wood, for the sake of getting the place, but one only returned with a sort of explanation; for nobody went far enough, that one not further than the others. However, he said that the sound proceeded from a very large owl, in a hollow tree; a sort of learned owl, that continually knocked its head against the branches. But whether the sound came from his head or from the hollow tree, that no one could say with certainty. So now he got the place of "Universal Bell-ringer," and wrote yearly a short treatise "On the Owl"; but everybody was just as wise as before.

It was the day of confirmation. The clergyman had spoken so touchingly, the children who were confirmed had been greatly moved; it was an eventful day for them; from children they become all at once grown-up-persons; it was as if their infant souls were now to fly all at once into persons with more understanding. The sun was shining gloriously; the children that had been confirmed went out of the town; and from the wood was borne towards them the sounds of the unknown bell with wonderful distinctness. They all immediately felt a wish to go thither; all except three. One of them had to go home to try on a ball-dress; for it was just the dress and the ball which had caused her to be confirmed this time, for otherwise she would not have come; the other was a poor boy, who had borrowed his coat and boots to be confirmed in from the innkeeper's son, and he was to give them back by a certain hour; the third said that he never went to a strange place if his parents were not with him—that he had always been a good boy hitherto, and would still be so now that he was confirmed, and that one ought not to laugh at him for it: the others, however, did make fun of him, after all.

There were three, therefore, that did not go; the others hastened on. The sun shone, the birds sang, and the children sang too, and each held the other by the hand; for as yet they had none of them any high office, and were all of equal rank in the eye of God.

But two of the youngest soon grew tired, and both returned to town; two little girls sat down, and twined garlands, so they did not go either; and when the others reached the willow-tree, where the confectioner was, they said, "Now we are there! In reality the bell does not exist; it is only a fancy that people have taken into their heads!"

At the same moment the bell sounded deep in the wood, so clear and solemnly that five or six determined to penetrate somewhat further. It was so thick, and the foliage so dense, that it was quite fatiguing to proceed. Woodroof and anemonies grew almost too high; blooming convolvuluses and blackberry-bushes hung in long garlands from tree to tree, where the nightingale sang and the sunbeams were playing: it was very beautiful, but it was no place for girls to go; their clothes would get so torn. Large blocks of stone lay there, overgrown with moss of every color; the fresh spring bubbled forth, and made a strange gurgling sound.

"That surely cannot be the bell," said one of the children, lying down and listening. "This must be looked to." So he remained, and let the others go on without him.

They afterwards came to a little house, made of branches and the bark of trees; a large wild apple-tree bent over it, as if it would shower down all its blessings on the roof, where roses were blooming. The long stems twined round the gable, on which there hung a small bell.

Was it that which people had heard? Yes, everybody was unanimous on the subject, except one, who said that the bell was too small and too fine to be heard at so great a distance, and besides it was very different tones to those that could move a human heart in such a manner. It was a king's son who spoke; whereon the others said, "Such people always want to be wiser than everybody else."

They now let him go on alone; and as he went, his breast was filled more and more with the forest solitude; but he still heard the little bell with which the others were so satisfied, and now and then, when the wind blew, he could also hear the people singing who were sitting at tea where the confectioner had his tent; but the deep sound of the bell rose louder; it was almost as if an organ were accompanying it, and the tones came from the left hand, the side where the heart is placed. A rustling was heard in the bushes, and a little boy stood before the King's Son, a boy in wooden shoes, and with so short a jacket that one could see what long wrists he had. Both knew each other: the boy was that one among the children who could not come because he had to go home and return his jacket and boots to the innkeeper's son. This he had done, and was now going on in wooden shoes and in his humble dress, for the bell sounded with so deep a tone, and with such strange power, that proceed he must.

"Why, then, we can go together," said the King's Son. But the poor child that had been confirmed was quite ashamed; he looked at his wooden shoes, pulled at the short sleeves of his jacket, and said that he was afraid he could not walk so fast; besides, he thought that the bell must be looked for to the right; for that was the place where all sorts of beautiful things were to be found.

"But there we shall not meet," said the King's Son, nodding at the same time to the poor boy, who went into the darkest, thickest part of the wood, where thorns tore his humble dress, and scratched his face and hands and feet till they bled. The King's Son got some scratches too; but the sun shone on his path, and it is him that we will follow, for he was an excellent and resolute youth.

"I must and will find the bell," said he, "even if I am obliged to go to the end of the world."

The ugly apes sat upon the trees, and grinned. "Shall we thrash him?" said they. "Shall we thrash him? He is the son of a king!"

But on he went, without being disheartened, deeper and deeper into the wood, where the most wonderful flowers were growing. There stood white lilies with blood-red stamina, skyblue tulips, which shone as they waved in the winds, and apple-trees, the apples of which looked exactly like large soapbubbles: so only think how the trees must have sparkled in the sunshine! Around the nicest green meads, where the deer were playing in the grass, grew magnificent oaks and beeches; and if the bark of one of the trees was cracked, there grass and long creeping plants grew in the crevices. And there were large calm lakes there too, in which white swans were swimming, and beat the air with their wings. The King's Son often stood still and listened. He thought the bell sounded from the depths of these still lakes; but then he remarked again that the tone proceeded not from there, but farther off, from out the depths of the forest.

The sun now set: the atmosphere glowed like fire. It was still in the woods, so very still; and he fell on his knees, sung his evening hymn, and said: "I cannot find what I seek; the sun is going down, and night is coming—the dark, dark night. Yet perhaps I may be able once more to see the round red sun before he entirely disappears. I will climb up yonder rock."

And he seized hold of the creeping-plants, and the roots of trees—climbed up the moist stones where the water-snakes were writhing and the toads were croaking—and he gained the summit before the sun had quite gone down. How magnificent was the sight from this height! The sea—the great, the glorious sea, that dashed its long waves against the coast—was stretched out before him. And yonder, where sea and sky meet, stood the sun, like a large shining altar, all melted together in the most glowing colors. And the wood and the sea sang a song of rejoicing, and his heart sang with the rest: all nature was a vast holy church, in which the trees and the buoyant clouds were the pillars, flowers and grass the velvet carpeting, and heaven itself the large cupola. The red colors above faded away as the sun vanished, but a million stars were lighted, a million lamps shone; and the King's Son spread out his arms towards heaven, and wood, and sea; when at the same moment, coming by a path to the right, appeared, in his wooden shoes and jacket, the poor boy who had been confirmed with him. He had followed his own path, and had reached the spot just as soon as the son of the king had done. They ran towards each other, and stood together hand in hand in the vast church of nature and of poetry, while over them sounded the invisible holy bell: blessed spirits floated around them, and lifted up their voices in a rejoicing hallelujah!

그냥 죽죽 읽어 나가세요. 모르는 문장이나 단어가 나와도 그냥 추측하고 지나가시기 바랍니다. 작은 것을 버리고 큰 것을 얻으면 됩니다. 모르는 문장은 그런 상황을 뒤에서 여러번 만나면 저절로 알게 됩니다. 그리고 단어는 미리 혹은 나중에 따로 공부하면 됩니다. 그런 것에 자꾸 걸리면 진도가 안나가고 진도가 안나가면 금방 그만 둡니다. 읽을 때는 오직 줄거리에만 집중하셔야 합니다.

독해는 종합적인 공부로서 단어, 숙어, 문법, 회화, 듣기, 작문 실력을 한꺼번에 늘려 줍니다. 모든 영어공부 중에서 가장 종합적인 것이 읽기 입니다. 독해를 많이 하면 소위 영어의 내공이 쌓여 갑니다. 책을 많이 읽는 사람은 도저히 당할 수가 없습니다. 진짜 영어고수들은 모두 독서를 많이 한 사람들입니다.

중고등학교에서 영어성적 상위 1%에 드는 학생이라면 대체로 초등학교 때 영어동화책을 많이 읽은 학생입니다. 읽기는 모든 공부의 기초이면서 또한 완성입니다. 이런 동화들을 죽죽 읽어 나가다 보면 영문독해력은 그야말로 가랑비에 옷 젖듯이 자기도 모르게 쑥쑥 향상됩니다. 일단은 공부한다는 생각을 버리고 재미있게 읽는데 촛점을 맞추시기 바랍니다. 욕심을 버리고 재미있게 읽다보면 독해실력은 저절로 따라오죠. 욕심을 버리는 것! 이게 어렵습니다.

말이 나온 김에, 단어 이야기도 좀 하겠습니다. 모르는 단어도 여러번 실제 상황 속에서 만나게 되면 대충의 뜻을 저절로 알게 됩니다. 심지어 그 단어의 분위기나 색깔은 사전에서 보다 더 정확히 알 수 있습니다. 또 이렇게 체득된 단어는 아주 오래 갑니다. 단어실력을 유지하는 데도 독해가 최고죠. 최소한의 독서량을 유지만 해도 단어실력은 줄지 않습니다.

독서량이 늘면 어휘력이 증가되는 것은 물론, 기존의 어휘력이 유지 되며, 더 나아가 대충 알고 있던 의미가 더 정확해지고 뚜렷해 집니다. 평소에 무식하게 단어만 따로 외웠더라도 나중에 독해를 많이 하게 되면, 여러 상황 속에서 그런 단어들을 접하게 되므로 독해를 하면서 외운 단어들처럼 깊이 체화됩니다. 한 마디로, 독해야말로 어휘력을 늘리고 유지하고 정확히 하는 데도 최선의 방법입니다. 그래서 독해는 종합공부인 것이죠.

참고로, 상급자라 해도 다 같은 실력은 아닙니다. 하늘과 땅 차이일 수도 있습니다. 그러면 초기 상급자란 무엇인가? 일단 독해에 자신감이 있고 어떤 문장에 대해서도 거부감이 없는 상태이며 모르는 문장들이  나오더라도 실망하기 보다는 의욕과 투지가 불타는 수준을 말합니다. 어떤 상황에서도 포기하지 않고 오히려 모르는 문장들을 발전의 기회로 바라보는 수준이죠. 이 수준까지 가면 일단 그 사람은 영어가 강점이 되었으며 더 이상의 단계로 가는 것은 그냥 시간문제입니다.

미안하지만 이런 사람은 결코 다시 중급자나 하급자가 될 수 없습니다. 한 동안 영어를 놓았더라도 약간만 하면 금방 이전 수준으로 회복 됩니다. 영어실력 자체는 변동이 있을 수 있지만 마음 속에 한 번 자리잡은 자신감은 결코 사라지지 않습니다. 마치 자전거를 한 번 배운 사람은 언제라도 다시 자전거를 탈 수 있듯이요.^^
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THE ELDERBUSH


Once upon a time there was a little boy who had taken cold. He had gone out and got his feet wet; though nobody could imagine how it had happened, for it was quite dry weather. So his mother undressed him, put him to bed, and had the tea-pot brought in, to make him a good cup of Elderflower tea. Just at that moment the merry old man came in who lived up a-top of the house all alone; for he had neither wife nor children—but he liked children very much, and knew so many fairy tales, that it was quite delightful.

"Now drink your tea," said the boy's mother; "then, perhaps, you may hear a fairy tale."

"If I had but something new to tell," said the old man. "But how did the child get his feet wet?"

"That is the very thing that nobody can make out," said his mother.

"Am I to hear a fairy tale?" asked the little boy.

"Yes, if you can tell me exactly—for I must know that first—how deep the gutter is in the little street opposite, that you pass through in going to school."

"Just up to the middle of my boot," said the child; "but then I must go into the deep hole."

"Ah, ah! That's where the wet feet came from," said the old man. "I ought now to tell you a story; but I don't know any more."

"You can make one in a moment," said the little boy. "My mother says that all you look at can be turned into a fairy tale: and that you can find a story in everything."

"Yes, but such tales and stories are good for nothing. The right sort come of themselves; they tap at my forehead and say, 'Here we are.'"

"Won't there be a tap soon?" asked the little boy. And his mother laughed, put some Elder-flowers in the tea-pot, and poured boiling water upon them.

"Do tell me something! Pray do!"

"Yes, if a fairy tale would come of its own accord; but they are proud and haughty, and come only when they choose. Stop!" said he, all on a sudden. "I have it! Pay attention! There is one in the tea-pot!"

And the little boy looked at the tea-pot. The cover rose more and more; and the Elder-flowers came forth so fresh and white, and shot up long branches. Out of the spout even did they spread themselves on all sides, and grew larger and larger; it was a splendid Elderbush, a whole tree; and it reached into the very bed, and pushed the curtains aside. How it bloomed! And what an odour! In the middle of the bush sat a friendly-looking old woman in a most strange dress. It was quite green, like the leaves of the elder, and was trimmed with large white Elder-flowers; so that at first one could not tell whether it was a stuff, or a natural green and real flowers.

"What's that woman's name?" asked the little boy.

"The Greeks and Romans," said the old man, "called her a Dryad; but that we do not understand. The people who live in the New Booths [*] have a much better name for her; they call her 'old Granny'—and she it is to whom you are to pay attention. Now listen, and look at the beautiful Elderbush.

     * A row of buildings for seamen in Copenhagen.

"Just such another large blooming Elder Tree stands near the New Booths. It grew there in the corner of a little miserable court-yard; and under it sat, of an afternoon, in the most splendid sunshine, two old people; an old, old seaman, and his old, old wife. They had great-grand-children, and were soon to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage; but they could not exactly recollect the date: and old Granny sat in the tree, and looked as pleased as now. 'I know the date,' said she; but those below did not hear her, for they were talking about old times.

"'Yes, can't you remember when we were very little,' said the old seaman, 'and ran and played about? It was the very same court-yard where we now are, and we stuck slips in the ground, and made a garden.'

"'I remember it well,' said the old woman; 'I remember it quite well. We watered the slips, and one of them was an Elderbush. It took root, put forth green shoots, and grew up to be the large tree under which we old folks are now sitting.'

"'To be sure,' said he. 'And there in the corner stood a waterpail, where I used to swim my boats.'

"'True; but first we went to school to learn somewhat,' said she; 'and then we were confirmed. We both cried; but in the afternoon we went up the Round Tower, and looked down on Copenhagen, and far, far away over the water; then we went to Friedericksberg, where the King and the Queen were sailing about in their splendid barges.'

"'But I had a different sort of sailing to that, later; and that, too, for many a year; a long way off, on great voyages.'

"'Yes, many a time have I wept for your sake,' said she. 'I thought you were dead and gone, and lying down in the deep waters. Many a night have I got up to see if the wind had not changed: and changed it had, sure enough; but you never came. I remember so well one day, when the rain was pouring down in torrents, the scavengers were before the house where I was in service, and I had come up with the dust, and remained standing at the door—it was dreadful weather—when just as I was there, the postman came and gave me a letter. It was from you! What a tour that letter had made! I opened it instantly and read: I laughed and wept. I was so happy. In it I read that you were in warm lands where the coffee-tree grows. What a blessed land that must be! You related so much, and I saw it all the while the rain was pouring down, and I standing there with the dust-box. At the same moment came someone who embraced me.'

"'Yes; but you gave him a good box on his ear that made it tingle!'

"'But I did not know it was you. You arrived as soon as your letter, and you were so handsome—that you still are—and had a long yellow silk handkerchief round your neck, and a bran new hat on; oh, you were so dashing! Good heavens! What weather it was, and what a state the street was in!'

"'And then we married,' said he. 'Don't you remember? And then we had our first little boy, and then Mary, and Nicholas, and Peter, and Christian.'

"'Yes, and how they all grew up to be honest people, and were beloved by everybody.'

"'And their children also have children,' said the old sailor; 'yes, those are our grand-children, full of strength and vigor. It was, methinks about this season that we had our wedding.'

"'Yes, this very day is the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage,' said old Granny, sticking her head between the two old people; who thought it was their neighbor who nodded to them. They looked at each other and held one another by the hand. Soon after came their children, and their grand-children; for they knew well enough that it was the day of the fiftieth anniversary, and had come with their gratulations that very morning; but the old people had forgotten it, although they were able to remember all that had happened many years ago. And the Elderbush sent forth a strong odour in the sun, that was just about to set, and shone right in the old people's faces. They both looked so rosy-cheeked; and the youngest of the grandchildren danced around them, and called out quite delighted, that there was to be something very splendid that evening—they were all to have hot potatoes. And old Nanny nodded in the bush, and shouted 'hurrah!' with the rest."

"But that is no fairy tale," said the little boy, who was listening to the story.

"The thing is, you must understand it," said the narrator; "let us ask old Nanny."

"That was no fairy tale, 'tis true," said old Nanny; "but now it's coming. The most wonderful fairy tales grow out of that which is reality; were that not the case, you know, my magnificent Elderbush could not have grown out of the tea-pot." And then she took the little boy out of bed, laid him on her bosom, and the branches of the Elder Tree, full of flowers, closed around her. They sat in an aerial dwelling, and it flew with them through the air. Oh, it was wondrous beautiful! Old Nanny had grown all of a sudden a young and pretty maiden; but her robe was still the same green stuff with white flowers, which she had worn before. On her bosom she had a real Elderflower, and in her yellow waving hair a wreath of the flowers; her eyes were so large and blue that it was a pleasure to look at them; she kissed the boy, and now they were of the same age and felt alike.

Hand in hand they went out of the bower, and they were standing in the beautiful garden of their home. Near the green lawn papa's walking-stick was tied, and for the little ones it seemed to be endowed with life; for as soon as they got astride it, the round polished knob was turned into a magnificent neighing head, a long black mane fluttered in the breeze, and four slender yet strong legs shot out. The animal was strong and handsome, and away they went at full gallop round the lawn.

"Huzza! Now we are riding miles off," said the boy. "We are riding away to the castle where we were last year!"

And on they rode round the grass-plot; and the little maiden, who, we know, was no one else but old Nanny, kept on crying out, "Now we are in the country! Don't you see the farm-house yonder? And there is an Elder Tree standing beside it; and the cock is scraping away the earth for the hens, look, how he struts! And now we are close to the church. It lies high upon the hill, between the large oak-trees, one of which is half decayed. And now we are by the smithy, where the fire is blazing, and where the half-naked men are banging with their hammers till the sparks fly about. Away! away! To the beautiful country-seat!"

And all that the little maiden, who sat behind on the stick, spoke of, flew by in reality. The boy saw it all, and yet they were only going round the grass-plot. Then they played in a side avenue, and marked out a little garden on the earth; and they took Elder-blossoms from their hair, planted them, and they grew just like those the old people planted when they were children, as related before. They went hand in hand, as the old people had done when they were children; but not to the Round Tower, or to Friedericksberg; no, the little damsel wound her arms round the boy, and then they flew far away through all Denmark. And spring came, and summer; and then it was autumn, and then winter; and a thousand pictures were reflected in the eye and in the heart of the boy; and the little girl always sang to him, "This you will never forget." And during their whole flight the Elder Tree smelt so sweet and odorous; he remarked the roses and the fresh beeches, but the Elder Tree had a more wondrous fragrance, for its flowers hung on the breast of the little maiden; and there, too, did he often lay his head during the flight.

"It is lovely here in spring!" said the young maiden. And they stood in a beech-wood that had just put on its first green, where the woodroof [*] at their feet sent forth its fragrance, and the pale-red anemony looked so pretty among the verdure. "Oh, would it were always spring in the sweetly-smelling Danish beech-forests!"

     * Asperula odorata.

"It is lovely here in summer!" said she. And she flew past old castles of by-gone days of chivalry, where the red walls and the embattled gables were mirrored in the canal, where the swans were swimming, and peered up into the old cool avenues. In the fields the corn was waving like the sea; in the ditches red and yellow flowers were growing; while wild-drone flowers, and blooming convolvuluses were creeping in the hedges; and towards evening the moon rose round and large, and the haycocks in the meadows smelt so sweetly. "This one never forgets!"

"It is lovely here in autumn!" said the little maiden. And suddenly the atmosphere grew as blue again as before; the forest grew red, and green, and yellow-colored. The dogs came leaping along, and whole flocks of wild-fowl flew over the cairn, where blackberry-bushes were hanging round the old stones. The sea was dark blue, covered with ships full of white sails; and in the barn old women, maidens, and children were sitting picking hops into a large cask; the young sang songs, but the old told fairy tales of mountain-sprites and soothsayers. Nothing could be more charming.

"It is delightful here in winter!" said the little maiden. And all the trees were covered with hoar-frost; they looked like white corals; the snow crackled under foot, as if one had new boots on; and one falling star after the other was seen in the sky. The Christmas-tree was lighted in the room; presents were there, and good-humor reigned. In the country the violin sounded in the room of the peasant; the newly-baked cakes were attacked; even the poorest child said, "It is really delightful here in winter!"

Yes, it was delightful; and the little maiden showed the boy everything; and the Elder Tree still was fragrant, and the red flag, with the white cross, was still waving: the flag under which the old seaman in the New Booths had sailed. And the boy grew up to be a lad, and was to go forth in the wide world-far, far away to warm lands, where the coffee-tree grows; but at his departure the little maiden took an Elder-blossom from her bosom, and gave it him to keep; and it was placed between the leaves of his Prayer-Book; and when in foreign lands he opened the book, it was always at the place where the keepsake-flower lay; and the more he looked at it, the fresher it became; he felt as it were, the fragrance of the Danish groves; and from among the leaves of the flowers he could distinctly see the little maiden, peeping forth with her bright blue eyes—and then she whispered, "It is delightful here in Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter"; and a hundred visions glided before his mind.

Thus passed many years, and he was now an old man, and sat with his old wife under the blooming tree. They held each other by the hand, as the old grand-father and grand-mother yonder in the New Booths did, and they talked exactly like them of old times, and of the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. The little maiden, with the blue eyes, and with Elder-blossoms in her hair, sat in the tree, nodded to both of them, and said, "To-day is the fiftieth anniversary!" And then she took two flowers out of her hair, and kissed them. First, they shone like silver, then like gold; and when they laid them on the heads of the old people, each flower became a golden crown. So there they both sat, like a king and a queen, under the fragrant tree, that looked exactly like an elder: the old man told his wife the story of "Old Nanny," as it had been told him when a boy. And it seemed to both of them it contained much that resembled their own history; and those parts that were like it pleased them best.

"Thus it is," said the little maiden in the tree, "some call me 'Old Nanny,' others a 'Dryad,' but, in reality, my name is 'Remembrance'; 'tis I who sit in the tree that grows and grows! I can remember; I can tell things! Let me see if you have my flower still?"

And the old man opened his Prayer-Book. There lay the Elder-blossom, as fresh as if it had been placed there but a short time before; and Remembrance nodded, and the old people, decked with crowns of gold, sat in the flush of the evening sun. They closed their eyes, and—and—! Yes, that's the end of the story!

The little boy lay in his bed; he did not know if he had dreamed or not, or if he had been listening while someone told him the story. The tea-pot was standing on the table, but no Elder Tree was growing out of it! And the old man, who had been talking, was just on the point of going out at the door, and he did go.

"How splendid that was!" said the little boy. "Mother, I have been to warm countries."

"So I should think," said his mother. "When one has drunk two good cupfuls of Elder-flower tea, 'tis likely enough one goes into warm climates"; and she tucked him up nicely, least he should take cold. "You have had a good sleep while I have been sitting here, and arguing with him whether it was a story or a fairy tale."

"And where is old Nanny?" asked the little boy.

"In the tea-pot," said his mother; "and there she may remain."

그냥 죽죽 읽어 나가세요. 모르는 문장이나 단어가 나와도 그냥 추측하고 지나가시기 바랍니다. 작은 것을 버리고 큰 것을 얻으면 됩니다. 모르는 문장은 그런 상황을 뒤에서 여러번 만나면 저절로 알게 됩니다. 그리고 단어는 미리 혹은 나중에 따로 공부하면 됩니다. 그런 것에 자꾸 걸리면 진도가 안나가고 진도가 안나가면 금방 그만 둡니다. 읽을 때는 오직 줄거리에만 집중하셔야 합니다.

독해는 종합적인 공부로서 단어, 숙어, 문법, 회화, 듣기, 작문 실력을 한꺼번에 늘려 줍니다. 모든 영어공부 중에서 가장 종합적인 것이 읽기 입니다. 독해를 많이 하면 소위 영어의 내공이 쌓여 갑니다. 책을 많이 읽는 사람은 도저히 당할 수가 없습니다. 진짜 영어고수들은 모두 독서를 많이 한 사람들입니다.

중고등학교에서 영어성적 상위 1%에 드는 학생이라면 대체로 초등학교 때 영어동화책을 많이 읽은 학생입니다. 읽기는 모든 공부의 기초이면서 또한 완성입니다. 이런 동화들을 죽죽 읽어 나가다 보면 영문독해력은 그야말로 가랑비에 옷 젖듯이 자기도 모르게 쑥쑥 향상됩니다. 일단은 공부한다는 생각을 버리고 재미있게 읽는데 촛점을 맞추시기 바랍니다. 욕심을 버리고 재미있게 읽다보면 독해실력은 저절로 따라오죠. 욕심을 버리는 것! 이게 어렵습니다.

말이 나온 김에, 단어 이야기도 좀 하겠습니다. 모르는 단어도 여러번 실제 상황 속에서 만나게 되면 대충의 뜻을 저절로 알게 됩니다. 심지어 그 단어의 분위기나 색깔은 사전에서 보다 더 정확히 알 수 있습니다. 또 이렇게 체득된 단어는 아주 오래 갑니다. 단어실력을 유지하는 데도 독해가 최고죠. 최소한의 독서량을 유지만 해도 단어실력은 줄지 않습니다.

독서량이 늘면 어휘력이 증가되는 것은 물론, 기존의 어휘력이 유지 되며, 더 나아가 대충 알고 있던 의미가 더 정확해지고 뚜렷해 집니다. 평소에 무식하게 단어만 따로 외웠더라도 나중에 독해를 많이 하게 되면, 여러 상황 속에서 그런 단어들을 접하게 되므로 독해를 하면서 외운 단어들처럼 깊이 체화됩니다. 한 마디로, 독해야말로 어휘력을 늘리고 유지하고 정확히 하는 데도 최선의 방법입니다. 그래서 독해는 종합공부인 것이죠.

참고로, 상급자라 해도 다 같은 실력은 아닙니다. 하늘과 땅 차이일 수도 있습니다. 그러면 초기 상급자란 무엇인가? 일단 독해에 자신감이 있고 어떤 문장에 대해서도 거부감이 없는 상태이며 모르는 문장들이  나오더라도 실망하기 보다는 의욕과 투지가 불타는 수준을 말합니다. 어떤 상황에서도 포기하지 않고 오히려 모르는 문장들을 발전의 기회로 바라보는 수준이죠. 이 수준까지 가면 일단 그 사람은 영어가 강점이 되었으며 더 이상의 단계로 가는 것은 그냥 시간문제입니다.

미안하지만 이런 사람은 결코 다시 중급자나 하급자가 될 수 없습니다. 한 동안 영어를 놓았더라도 약간만 하면 금방 이전 수준으로 회복 됩니다. 영어실력 자체는 변동이 있을 수 있지만 마음 속에 한 번 자리잡은 자신감은 결코 사라지지 않습니다. 마치 자전거를 한 번 배운 사람은 언제라도 다시 자전거를 탈 수 있듯이요.^^
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THE LEAP-FROG

A Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-frog once wanted to see which could jump highest; and they invited the whole world, and everybody else besides who chose to come to see the festival. Three famous jumpers were they, as everyone would say, when they all met together in the room.

"I will give my daughter to him who jumps highest," exclaimed the King; "for it is not so amusing where there is no prize to jump for."

The Flea was the first to step forward. He had exquisite manners, and bowed to the company on all sides; for he had noble blood, and was, moreover, accustomed to the society of man alone; and that makes a great difference.

Then came the Grasshopper. He was considerably heavier, but he was well-mannered, and wore a green uniform, which he had by right of birth; he said, moreover, that he belonged to a very ancient Egyptian family, and that in the house where he then was, he was thought much of. The fact was, he had been just brought out of the fields, and put in a pasteboard house, three stories high, all made of court-cards, with the colored side inwards; and doors and windows cut out of the body of the Queen of Hearts. "I sing so well," said he, "that sixteen native grasshoppers who have chirped from infancy, and yet got no house built of cards to live in, grew thinner than they were before for sheer vexation when they heard me."

It was thus that the Flea and the Grasshopper gave an account of themselves, and thought they were quite good enough to marry a Princess.

The Leap-frog said nothing; but people gave it as their opinion, that he therefore thought the more; and when the housedog snuffed at him with his nose, he confessed the Leap-frog was of good family. The old councillor, who had had three orders given him to make him hold his tongue, asserted that the Leap-frog was a prophet; for that one could see on his back, if there would be a severe or mild winter, and that was what one could not see even on the back of the man who writes the almanac.

"I say nothing, it is true," exclaimed the King; "but I have my own opinion, notwithstanding."

Now the trial was to take place. The Flea jumped so high that nobody could see where he went to; so they all asserted he had not jumped at all; and that was dishonorable.

The Grasshopper jumped only half as high; but he leaped into the King's face, who said that was ill-mannered.

The Leap-frog stood still for a long time lost in thought; it was believed at last he would not jump at all.

"I only hope he is not unwell," said the house-dog; when, pop! he made a jump all on one side into the lap of the Princess, who was sitting on a little golden stool close by.

Hereupon the King said, "There is nothing above my daughter; therefore to bound up to her is the highest jump that can be made; but for this, one must possess understanding, and the Leap-frog has shown that he has understanding. He is brave and intellectual."

And so he won the Princess.

"It's all the same to me," said the Flea. "She may have the old Leap-frog, for all I care. I jumped the highest; but in this world merit seldom meets its reward. A fine exterior is what people look at now-a-days."

The Flea then went into foreign service, where, it is said, he was killed.

The Grasshopper sat without on a green bank, and reflected on worldly things; and he said too, "Yes, a fine exterior is everything—a fine exterior is what people care about." And then he began chirping his peculiar melancholy song, from which we have taken this history; and which may, very possibly, be all untrue, although it does stand here printed in black and white.

그냥 죽죽 읽어 나가세요. 모르는 문장이나 단어가 나와도 그냥 추측하고 지나가시기 바랍니다. 작은 것을 버리고 큰 것을 얻으면 됩니다. 모르는 문장은 그런 상황을 뒤에서 여러번 만나면 저절로 알게 됩니다. 그리고 단어는 미리 혹은 나중에 따로 공부하면 됩니다. 그런 것에 자꾸 걸리면 진도가 안나가고 진도가 안나가면 금방 그만 둡니다. 읽을 때는 오직 줄거리에만 집중하셔야 합니다.

독해는 종합적인 공부로서 단어, 숙어, 문법, 회화, 듣기, 작문 실력을 한꺼번에 늘려 줍니다. 모든 영어공부 중에서 가장 종합적인 것이 읽기 입니다. 독해를 많이 하면 소위 영어의 내공이 쌓여 갑니다. 책을 많이 읽는 사람은 도저히 당할 수가 없습니다. 진짜 영어고수들은 모두 독서를 많이 한 사람들입니다.

중고등학교에서 영어성적 상위 1%에 드는 학생이라면 대체로 초등학교 때 영어동화책을 많이 읽은 학생입니다. 읽기는 모든 공부의 기초이면서 또한 완성입니다. 이런 동화들을 죽죽 읽어 나가다 보면 영문독해력은 그야말로 가랑비에 옷 젖듯이 자기도 모르게 쑥쑥 향상됩니다. 일단은 공부한다는 생각을 버리고 재미있게 읽는데 촛점을 맞추시기 바랍니다. 욕심을 버리고 재미있게 읽다보면 독해실력은 저절로 따라오죠. 욕심을 버리는 것! 이게 어렵습니다.

말이 나온 김에, 단어 이야기도 좀 하겠습니다. 모르는 단어도 여러번 실제 상황 속에서 만나게 되면 대충의 뜻을 저절로 알게 됩니다. 심지어 그 단어의 분위기나 색깔은 사전에서 보다 더 정확히 알 수 있습니다. 또 이렇게 체득된 단어는 아주 오래 갑니다. 단어실력을 유지하는 데도 독해가 최고죠. 최소한의 독서량을 유지만 해도 단어실력은 줄지 않습니다.

독서량이 늘면 어휘력이 증가되는 것은 물론, 기존의 어휘력이 유지 되며, 더 나아가 대충 알고 있던 의미가 더 정확해지고 뚜렷해 집니다. 평소에 무식하게 단어만 따로 외웠더라도 나중에 독해를 많이 하게 되면, 여러 상황 속에서 그런 단어들을 접하게 되므로 독해를 하면서 외운 단어들처럼 깊이 체화됩니다. 한 마디로, 독해야말로 어휘력을 늘리고 유지하고 정확히 하는 데도 최선의 방법입니다. 그래서 독해는 종합공부인 것이죠.

참고로, 상급자라 해도 다 같은 실력은 아닙니다. 하늘과 땅 차이일 수도 있습니다. 그러면 초기 상급자란 무엇인가? 일단 독해에 자신감이 있고 어떤 문장에 대해서도 거부감이 없는 상태이며 모르는 문장들이  나오더라도 실망하기 보다는 의욕과 투지가 불타는 수준을 말합니다. 어떤 상황에서도 포기하지 않고 오히려 모르는 문장들을 발전의 기회로 바라보는 수준이죠. 이 수준까지 가면 일단 그 사람은 영어가 강점이 되었으며 더 이상의 단계로 가는 것은 그냥 시간문제입니다.

미안하지만 이런 사람은 결코 다시 중급자나 하급자가 될 수 없습니다. 한 동안 영어를 놓았더라도 약간만 하면 금방 이전 수준으로 회복 됩니다. 영어실력 자체는 변동이 있을 수 있지만 마음 속에 한 번 자리잡은 자신감은 결코 사라지지 않습니다. 마치 자전거를 한 번 배운 사람은 언제라도 다시 자전거를 탈 수 있듯이요.^^
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THE SNOW QUEEN

FIRST STORY. Which Treats of a Mirror and of the Splinters
Now then, let us begin. When we are at the end of the story, we shall know more than we know now: but to begin.

Once upon a time there was a wicked sprite, indeed he was the most mischievous of all sprites. One day he was in a very good humor, for he had made a mirror with the power of causing all that was good and beautiful when it was reflected therein, to look poor and mean; but that which was good-for-nothing and looked ugly was shown magnified and increased in ugliness. In this mirror the most beautiful landscapes looked like boiled spinach, and the best persons were turned into frights, or appeared to stand on their heads; their faces were so distorted that they were not to be recognised; and if anyone had a mole, you might be sure that it would be magnified and spread over both nose and mouth.

"That's glorious fun!" said the sprite. If a good thought passed through a man's mind, then a grin was seen in the mirror, and the sprite laughed heartily at his clever discovery. All the little sprites who went to his school—for he kept a sprite school—told each other that a miracle had happened; and that now only, as they thought, it would be possible to see how the world really looked. They ran about with the mirror; and at last there was not a land or a person who was not represented distorted in the mirror. So then they thought they would fly up to the sky, and have a joke there. The higher they flew with the mirror, the more terribly it grinned: they could hardly hold it fast. Higher and higher still they flew, nearer and nearer to the stars, when suddenly the mirror shook so terribly with grinning, that it flew out of their hands and fell to the earth, where it was dashed in a hundred million and more pieces. And now it worked much more evil than before; for some of these pieces were hardly so large as a grain of sand, and they flew about in the wide world, and when they got into people's eyes, there they stayed; and then people saw everything perverted, or only had an eye for that which was evil. This happened because the very smallest bit had the same power which the whole mirror had possessed. Some persons even got a splinter in their heart, and then it made one shudder, for their heart became like a lump of ice. Some of the broken pieces were so large that they were used for windowpanes, through which one could not see one's friends. Other pieces were put in spectacles; and that was a sad affair when people put on their glasses to see well and rightly. Then the wicked sprite laughed till he almost choked, for all this tickled his fancy. The fine splinters still flew about in the air: and now we shall hear what happened next.

SECOND STORY. A Little Boy and a Little Girl

In a large town, where there are so many houses, and so many people, that there is no roof left for everybody to have a little garden; and where, on this account, most persons are obliged to content themselves with flowers in pots; there lived two little children, who had a garden somewhat larger than a flower-pot. They were not brother and sister; but they cared for each other as much as if they were. Their parents lived exactly opposite. They inhabited two garrets; and where the roof of the one house joined that of the other, and the gutter ran along the extreme end of it, there was to each house a small window: one needed only to step over the gutter to get from one window to the other.

The children's parents had large wooden boxes there, in which vegetables for the kitchen were planted, and little rosetrees besides: there was a rose in each box, and they grew splendidly. They now thought of placing the boxes across the gutter, so that they nearly reached from one window to the other, and looked just like two walls of flowers. The tendrils of the peas hung down over the boxes; and the rose-trees shot up long branches, twined round the windows, and then bent towards each other: it was almost like a triumphant arch of foliage and flowers. The boxes were very high, and the children knew that they must not creep over them; so they often obtained permission to get out of the windows to each other, and to sit on their little stools among the roses, where they could play delightfully. In winter there was an end of this pleasure. The windows were often frozen over; but then they heated copper farthings on the stove, and laid the hot farthing on the windowpane, and then they had a capital peep-hole, quite nicely rounded; and out of each peeped a gentle friendly eye—it was the little boy and the little girl who were looking out. His name was Kay, hers was Gerda. In summer, with one jump, they could get to each other; but in winter they were obliged first to go down the long stairs, and then up the long stairs again: and out-of-doors there was quite a snow-storm.

"It is the white bees that are swarming," said Kay's old grandmother.

"Do the white bees choose a queen?" asked the little boy; for he knew that the honey-bees always have one.

"Yes," said the grandmother, "she flies where the swarm hangs in the thickest clusters. She is the largest of all; and she can never remain quietly on the earth, but goes up again into the black clouds. Many a winter's night she flies through the streets of the town, and peeps in at the windows; and they then freeze in so wondrous a manner that they look like flowers."

"Yes, I have seen it," said both the children; and so they knew that it was true.

"Can the Snow Queen come in?" said the little girl.

"Only let her come in!" said the little boy. "Then I'd put her on the stove, and she'd melt."

And then his grandmother patted his head and told him other stories.

In the evening, when little Kay was at home, and half undressed, he climbed up on the chair by the window, and peeped out of the little hole. A few snow-flakes were falling, and one, the largest of all, remained lying on the edge of a flower-pot.

The flake of snow grew larger and larger; and at last it was like a young lady, dressed in the finest white gauze, made of a million little flakes like stars. She was so beautiful and delicate, but she was of ice, of dazzling, sparkling ice; yet she lived; her eyes gazed fixedly, like two stars; but there was neither quiet nor repose in them. She nodded towards the window, and beckoned with her hand. The little boy was frightened, and jumped down from the chair; it seemed to him as if, at the same moment, a large bird flew past the window.

The next day it was a sharp frost—and then the spring came; the sun shone, the green leaves appeared, the swallows built their nests, the windows were opened, and the little children again sat in their pretty garden, high up on the leads at the top of the house.

That summer the roses flowered in unwonted beauty. The little girl had learned a hymn, in which there was something about roses; and then she thought of her own flowers; and she sang the verse to the little boy, who then sang it with her:

     "The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet,
     And angels descend there the children to greet."

And the children held each other by the hand, kissed the roses, looked up at the clear sunshine, and spoke as though they really saw angels there. What lovely summer-days those were! How delightful to be out in the air, near the fresh rose-bushes, that seem as if they would never finish blossoming!

Kay and Gerda looked at the picture-book full of beasts and of birds; and it was then—the clock in the church-tower was just striking five—that Kay said, "Oh! I feel such a sharp pain in my heart; and now something has got into my eye!"

The little girl put her arms around his neck. He winked his eyes; now there was nothing to be seen.

"I think it is out now," said he; but it was not. It was just one of those pieces of glass from the magic mirror that had got into his eye; and poor Kay had got another piece right in his heart. It will soon become like ice. It did not hurt any longer, but there it was.

"What are you crying for?" asked he. "You look so ugly! There's nothing the matter with me. Ah," said he at once, "that rose is cankered! And look, this one is quite crooked! After all, these roses are very ugly! They are just like the box they are planted in!" And then he gave the box a good kick with his foot, and pulled both the roses up.

"What are you doing?" cried the little girl; and as he perceived her fright, he pulled up another rose, got in at the window, and hastened off from dear little Gerda.

Afterwards, when she brought her picture-book, he asked, "What horrid beasts have you there?" And if his grandmother told them stories, he always interrupted her; besides, if he could manage it, he would get behind her, put on her spectacles, and imitate her way of speaking; he copied all her ways, and then everybody laughed at him. He was soon able to imitate the gait and manner of everyone in the street. Everything that was peculiar and displeasing in them—that Kay knew how to imitate: and at such times all the people said, "The boy is certainly very clever!" But it was the glass he had got in his eye; the glass that was sticking in his heart, which made him tease even little Gerda, whose whole soul was devoted to him.

His games now were quite different to what they had formerly been, they were so very knowing. One winter's day, when the flakes of snow were flying about, he spread the skirts of his blue coat, and caught the snow as it fell.

"Look through this glass, Gerda," said he. And every flake seemed larger, and appeared like a magnificent flower, or beautiful star; it was splendid to look at!

"Look, how clever!" said Kay. "That's much more interesting than real flowers! They are as exact as possible; there is not a fault in them, if they did not melt!"

It was not long after this, that Kay came one day with large gloves on, and his little sledge at his back, and bawled right into Gerda's ears, "I have permission to go out into the square where the others are playing"; and off he was in a moment.

There, in the market-place, some of the boldest of the boys used to tie their sledges to the carts as they passed by, and so they were pulled along, and got a good ride. It was so capital! Just as they were in the very height of their amusement, a large sledge passed by: it was painted quite white, and there was someone in it wrapped up in a rough white mantle of fur, with a rough white fur cap on his head. The sledge drove round the square twice, and Kay tied on his sledge as quickly as he could, and off he drove with it. On they went quicker and quicker into the next street; and the person who drove turned round to Kay, and nodded to him in a friendly manner, just as if they knew each other. Every time he was going to untie his sledge, the person nodded to him, and then Kay sat quiet; and so on they went till they came outside the gates of the town. Then the snow began to fall so thickly that the little boy could not see an arm's length before him, but still on he went: when suddenly he let go the string he held in his hand in order to get loose from the sledge, but it was of no use; still the little vehicle rushed on with the quickness of the wind. He then cried as loud as he could, but no one heard him; the snow drifted and the sledge flew on, and sometimes it gave a jerk as though they were driving over hedges and ditches. He was quite frightened, and he tried to repeat the Lord's Prayer; but all he could do, he was only able to remember the multiplication table.

The snow-flakes grew larger and larger, till at last they looked just like great white fowls. Suddenly they flew on one side; the large sledge stopped, and the person who drove rose up. It was a lady; her cloak and cap were of snow. She was tall and of slender figure, and of a dazzling whiteness. It was the Snow Queen.

"We have travelled fast," said she; "but it is freezingly cold. Come under my bearskin." And she put him in the sledge beside her, wrapped the fur round him, and he felt as though he were sinking in a snow-wreath.

"Are you still cold?" asked she; and then she kissed his forehead. Ah! it was colder than ice; it penetrated to his very heart, which was already almost a frozen lump; it seemed to him as if he were about to die—but a moment more and it was quite congenial to him, and he did not remark the cold that was around him.

"My sledge! Do not forget my sledge!" It was the first thing he thought of. It was there tied to one of the white chickens, who flew along with it on his back behind the large sledge. The Snow Queen kissed Kay once more, and then he forgot little Gerda, grandmother, and all whom he had left at his home.

"Now you will have no more kisses," said she, "or else I should kiss you to death!"

Kay looked at her. She was very beautiful; a more clever, or a more lovely countenance he could not fancy to himself; and she no longer appeared of ice as before, when she sat outside the window, and beckoned to him; in his eyes she was perfect, he did not fear her at all, and told her that he could calculate in his head and with fractions, even; that he knew the number of square miles there were in the different countries, and how many inhabitants they contained; and she smiled while he spoke. It then seemed to him as if what he knew was not enough, and he looked upwards in the large huge empty space above him, and on she flew with him; flew high over the black clouds, while the storm moaned and whistled as though it were singing some old tune. On they flew over woods and lakes, over seas, and many lands; and beneath them the chilling storm rushed fast, the wolves howled, the snow crackled; above them flew large screaming crows, but higher up appeared the moon, quite large and bright; and it was on it that Kay gazed during the long long winter's night; while by day he slept at the feet of the Snow Queen.

THIRD STORY. Of the Flower-Garden At the Old Woman's Who Understood Witchcraft

But what became of little Gerda when Kay did not return? Where could he be? Nobody knew; nobody could give any intelligence. All the boys knew was, that they had seen him tie his sledge to another large and splendid one, which drove down the street and out of the town. Nobody knew where he was; many sad tears were shed, and little Gerda wept long and bitterly; at last she said he must be dead; that he had been drowned in the river which flowed close to the town. Oh! those were very long and dismal winter evenings!

At last spring came, with its warm sunshine.

"Kay is dead and gone!" said little Gerda.

"That I don't believe," said the Sunshine.

"Kay is dead and gone!" said she to the Swallows.

"That I don't believe," said they: and at last little Gerda did not think so any longer either.

"I'll put on my red shoes," said she, one morning; "Kay has never seen them, and then I'll go down to the river and ask there."

It was quite early; she kissed her old grandmother, who was still asleep, put on her red shoes, and went alone to the river.

"Is it true that you have taken my little playfellow? I will make you a present of my red shoes, if you will give him back to me."

And, as it seemed to her, the blue waves nodded in a strange manner; then she took off her red shoes, the most precious things she possessed, and threw them both into the river. But they fell close to the bank, and the little waves bore them immediately to land; it was as if the stream would not take what was dearest to her; for in reality it had not got little Kay; but Gerda thought that she had not thrown the shoes out far enough, so she clambered into a boat which lay among the rushes, went to the farthest end, and threw out the shoes. But the boat was not fastened, and the motion which she occasioned, made it drift from the shore. She observed this, and hastened to get back; but before she could do so, the boat was more than a yard from the land, and was gliding quickly onward.

Little Gerda was very frightened, and began to cry; but no one heard her except the sparrows, and they could not carry her to land; but they flew along the bank, and sang as if to comfort her, "Here we are! Here we are!" The boat drifted with the stream, little Gerda sat quite still without shoes, for they were swimming behind the boat, but she could not reach them, because the boat went much faster than they did.

The banks on both sides were beautiful; lovely flowers, venerable trees, and slopes with sheep and cows, but not a human being was to be seen.

"Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay," said she; and then she grew less sad. She rose, and looked for many hours at the beautiful green banks. Presently she sailed by a large cherry-orchard, where was a little cottage with curious red and blue windows; it was thatched, and before it two wooden soldiers stood sentry, and presented arms when anyone went past.

Gerda called to them, for she thought they were alive; but they, of course, did not answer. She came close to them, for the stream drifted the boat quite near the land.

Gerda called still louder, and an old woman then came out of the cottage, leaning upon a crooked stick. She had a large broad-brimmed hat on, painted with the most splendid flowers.

"Poor little child!" said the old woman. "How did you get upon the large rapid river, to be driven about so in the wide world!" And then the old woman went into the water, caught hold of the boat with her crooked stick, drew it to the bank, and lifted little Gerda out.

And Gerda was so glad to be on dry land again; but she was rather afraid of the strange old woman.

"But come and tell me who you are, and how you came here," said she.

And Gerda told her all; and the old woman shook her head and said, "A-hem! a-hem!" and when Gerda had told her everything, and asked her if she had not seen little Kay, the woman answered that he had not passed there, but he no doubt would come; and she told her not to be cast down, but taste her cherries, and look at her flowers, which were finer than any in a picture-book, each of which could tell a whole story. She then took Gerda by the hand, led her into the little cottage, and locked the door.

The windows were very high up; the glass was red, blue, and green, and the sunlight shone through quite wondrously in all sorts of colors. On the table stood the most exquisite cherries, and Gerda ate as many as she chose, for she had permission to do so. While she was eating, the old woman combed her hair with a golden comb, and her hair curled and shone with a lovely golden color around that sweet little face, which was so round and so like a rose.

"I have often longed for such a dear little girl," said the old woman. "Now you shall see how well we agree together"; and while she combed little Gerda's hair, the child forgot her foster-brother Kay more and more, for the old woman understood magic; but she was no evil being, she only practised witchcraft a little for her own private amusement, and now she wanted very much to keep little Gerda. She therefore went out in the garden, stretched out her crooked stick towards the rose-bushes, which, beautifully as they were blowing, all sank into the earth and no one could tell where they had stood. The old woman feared that if Gerda should see the roses, she would then think of her own, would remember little Kay, and run away from her.

She now led Gerda into the flower-garden. Oh, what odour and what loveliness was there! Every flower that one could think of, and of every season, stood there in fullest bloom; no picture-book could be gayer or more beautiful. Gerda jumped for joy, and played till the sun set behind the tall cherry-tree; she then had a pretty bed, with a red silken coverlet filled with blue violets. She fell asleep, and had as pleasant dreams as ever a queen on her wedding-day.

The next morning she went to play with the flowers in the warm sunshine, and thus passed away a day. Gerda knew every flower; and, numerous as they were, it still seemed to Gerda that one was wanting, though she did not know which. One day while she was looking at the hat of the old woman painted with flowers, the most beautiful of them all seemed to her to be a rose. The old woman had forgotten to take it from her hat when she made the others vanish in the earth. But so it is when one's thoughts are not collected. "What!" said Gerda. "Are there no roses here?" and she ran about amongst the flowerbeds, and looked, and looked, but there was not one to be found. She then sat down and wept; but her hot tears fell just where a rose-bush had sunk; and when her warm tears watered the ground, the tree shot up suddenly as fresh and blooming as when it had been swallowed up. Gerda kissed the roses, thought of her own dear roses at home, and with them of little Kay.

"Oh, how long I have stayed!" said the little girl. "I intended to look for Kay! Don't you know where he is?" she asked of the roses. "Do you think he is dead and gone?"

"Dead he certainly is not," said the Roses. "We have been in the earth where all the dead are, but Kay was not there."

"Many thanks!" said little Gerda; and she went to the other flowers, looked into their cups, and asked, "Don't you know where little Kay is?"

But every flower stood in the sunshine, and dreamed its own fairy tale or its own story: and they all told her very many things, but not one knew anything of Kay.

Well, what did the Tiger-Lily say?

"Hearest thou not the drum? Bum! Bum! Those are the only two tones. Always bum! Bum! Hark to the plaintive song of the old woman, to the call of the priests! The Hindoo woman in her long robe stands upon the funeral pile; the flames rise around her and her dead husband, but the Hindoo woman thinks on the living one in the surrounding circle; on him whose eyes burn hotter than the flames—on him, the fire of whose eyes pierces her heart more than the flames which soon will burn her body to ashes. Can the heart's flame die in the flame of the funeral pile?"

"I don't understand that at all," said little Gerda.

"That is my story," said the Lily.

What did the Convolvulus say?

"Projecting over a narrow mountain-path there hangs an old feudal castle. Thick evergreens grow on the dilapidated walls, and around the altar, where a lovely maiden is standing: she bends over the railing and looks out upon the rose. No fresher rose hangs on the branches than she; no appleblossom carried away by the wind is more buoyant! How her silken robe is rustling!

"'Is he not yet come?'"

"Is it Kay that you mean?" asked little Gerda.

"I am speaking about my story—about my dream," answered the Convolvulus.

What did the Snowdrops say?

"Between the trees a long board is hanging—it is a swing. Two little girls are sitting in it, and swing themselves backwards and forwards; their frocks are as white as snow, and long green silk ribands flutter from their bonnets. Their brother, who is older than they are, stands up in the swing; he twines his arms round the cords to hold himself fast, for in one hand he has a little cup, and in the other a clay-pipe. He is blowing soap-bubbles. The swing moves, and the bubbles float in charming changing colors: the last is still hanging to the end of the pipe, and rocks in the breeze. The swing moves. The little black dog, as light as a soap-bubble, jumps up on his hind legs to try to get into the swing. It moves, the dog falls down, barks, and is angry. They tease him; the bubble bursts! A swing, a bursting bubble—such is my song!"

"What you relate may be very pretty, but you tell it in so melancholy a manner, and do not mention Kay."

What do the Hyacinths say?

"There were once upon a time three sisters, quite transparent, and very beautiful. The robe of the one was red, that of the second blue, and that of the third white. They danced hand in hand beside the calm lake in the clear moonshine. They were not elfin maidens, but mortal children. A sweet fragrance was smelt, and the maidens vanished in the wood; the fragrance grew stronger—three coffins, and in them three lovely maidens, glided out of the forest and across the lake: the shining glow-worms flew around like little floating lights. Do the dancing maidens sleep, or are they dead? The odour of the flowers says they are corpses; the evening bell tolls for the dead!"

"You make me quite sad," said little Gerda. "I cannot help thinking of the dead maidens. Oh! is little Kay really dead? The Roses have been in the earth, and they say no."

"Ding, dong!" sounded the Hyacinth bells. "We do not toll for little Kay; we do not know him. That is our way of singing, the only one we have."

And Gerda went to the Ranunculuses, that looked forth from among the shining green leaves.

"You are a little bright sun!" said Gerda. "Tell me if you know where I can find my playfellow."

And the Ranunculus shone brightly, and looked again at Gerda. What song could the Ranunculus sing? It was one that said nothing about Kay either.

"In a small court the bright sun was shining in the first days of spring. The beams glided down the white walls of a neighbor's house, and close by the fresh yellow flowers were growing, shining like gold in the warm sun-rays. An old grandmother was sitting in the air; her grand-daughter, the poor and lovely servant just come for a short visit. She knows her grandmother. There was gold, pure virgin gold in that blessed kiss. There, that is my little story," said the Ranunculus.

"My poor old grandmother!" sighed Gerda. "Yes, she is longing for me, no doubt: she is sorrowing for me, as she did for little Kay. But I will soon come home, and then I will bring Kay with me. It is of no use asking the flowers; they only know their own old rhymes, and can tell me nothing." And she tucked up her frock, to enable her to run quicker; but the Narcissus gave her a knock on the leg, just as she was going to jump over it. So she stood still, looked at the long yellow flower, and asked, "You perhaps know something?" and she bent down to the Narcissus. And what did it say?

"I can see myself—I can see myself! Oh, how odorous I am! Up in the little garret there stands, half-dressed, a little Dancer. She stands now on one leg, now on both; she despises the whole world; yet she lives only in imagination. She pours water out of the teapot over a piece of stuff which she holds in her hand; it is the bodice; cleanliness is a fine thing. The white dress is hanging on the hook; it was washed in the teapot, and dried on the roof. She puts it on, ties a saffron-colored kerchief round her neck, and then the gown looks whiter. I can see myself—I can see myself!"

"That's nothing to me," said little Gerda. "That does not concern me." And then off she ran to the further end of the garden.

The gate was locked, but she shook the rusted bolt till it was loosened, and the gate opened; and little Gerda ran off barefooted into the wide world. She looked round her thrice, but no one followed her. At last she could run no longer; she sat down on a large stone, and when she looked about her, she saw that the summer had passed; it was late in the autumn, but that one could not remark in the beautiful garden, where there was always sunshine, and where there were flowers the whole year round.

"Dear me, how long I have staid!" said Gerda. "Autumn is come. I must not rest any longer." And she got up to go further.

Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were! All around it looked so cold and raw: the long willow-leaves were quite yellow, and the fog dripped from them like water; one leaf fell after the other: the sloes only stood full of fruit, which set one's teeth on edge. Oh, how dark and comfortless it was in the dreary world!

FOURTH STORY. The Prince and Princess

Gerda was obliged to rest herself again, when, exactly opposite to her, a large Raven came hopping over the white snow. He had long been looking at Gerda and shaking his head; and now he said, "Caw! Caw!" Good day! Good day! He could not say it better; but he felt a sympathy for the little girl, and asked her where she was going all alone. The word "alone" Gerda understood quite well, and felt how much was expressed by it; so she told the Raven her whole history, and asked if he had not seen Kay.

The Raven nodded very gravely, and said, "It may be—it may be!"

"What, do you really think so?" cried the little girl; and she nearly squeezed the Raven to death, so much did she kiss him.

"Gently, gently," said the Raven. "I think I know; I think that it may be little Kay. But now he has forgotten you for the Princess."

"Does he live with a Princess?" asked Gerda.

"Yes—listen," said the Raven; "but it will be difficult for me to speak your language. If you understand the Raven language I can tell you better."

"No, I have not learnt it," said Gerda; "but my grandmother understands it, and she can speak gibberish too. I wish I had learnt it."

"No matter," said the Raven; "I will tell you as well as I can; however, it will be bad enough." And then he told all he knew.

"In the kingdom where we now are there lives a Princess, who is extraordinarily clever; for she has read all the newspapers in the whole world, and has forgotten them again—so clever is she. She was lately, it is said, sitting on her throne—which is not very amusing after all—when she began humming an old tune, and it was just, 'Oh, why should I not be married?' 'That song is not without its meaning,' said she, and so then she was determined to marry; but she would have a husband who knew how to give an answer when he was spoken to—not one who looked only as if he were a great personage, for that is so tiresome. She then had all the ladies of the court drummed together; and when they heard her intention, all were very pleased, and said, 'We are very glad to hear it; it is the very thing we were thinking of.' You may believe every word I say," said the Raven; "for I have a tame sweetheart that hops about in the palace quite free, and it was she who told me all this.

"The newspapers appeared forthwith with a border of hearts and the initials of the Princess; and therein you might read that every good-looking young man was at liberty to come to the palace and speak to the Princess; and he who spoke in such wise as showed he felt himself at home there, that one the Princess would choose for her husband.

"Yes, Yes," said the Raven, "you may believe it; it is as true as I am sitting here. People came in crowds; there was a crush and a hurry, but no one was successful either on the first or second day. They could all talk well enough when they were out in the street; but as soon as they came inside the palace gates, and saw the guard richly dressed in silver, and the lackeys in gold on the staircase, and the large illuminated saloons, then they were abashed; and when they stood before the throne on which the Princess was sitting, all they could do was to repeat the last word they had uttered, and to hear it again did not interest her very much. It was just as if the people within were under a charm, and had fallen into a trance till they came out again into the street; for then—oh, then—they could chatter enough. There was a whole row of them standing from the town-gates to the palace. I was there myself to look," said the Raven. "They grew hungry and thirsty; but from the palace they got nothing whatever, not even a glass of water. Some of the cleverest, it is true, had taken bread and butter with them: but none shared it with his neighbor, for each thought, 'Let him look hungry, and then the Princess won't have him.'"

"But Kay—little Kay," said Gerda, "when did he come? Was he among the number?"

"Patience, patience; we are just come to him. It was on the third day when a little personage without horse or equipage, came marching right boldly up to the palace; his eyes shone like yours, he had beautiful long hair, but his clothes were very shabby."

"That was Kay," cried Gerda, with a voice of delight. "Oh, now I've found him!" and she clapped her hands for joy.

"He had a little knapsack at his back," said the Raven.

"No, that was certainly his sledge," said Gerda; "for when he went away he took his sledge with him."

"That may be," said the Raven; "I did not examine him so minutely; but I know from my tame sweetheart, that when he came into the court-yard of the palace, and saw the body-guard in silver, the lackeys on the staircase, he was not the least abashed; he nodded, and said to them, 'It must be very tiresome to stand on the stairs; for my part, I shall go in.' The saloons were gleaming with lustres—privy councillors and excellencies were walking about barefooted, and wore gold keys; it was enough to make any one feel uncomfortable. His boots creaked, too, so loudly, but still he was not at all afraid."

"That's Kay for certain," said Gerda. "I know he had on new boots; I have heard them creaking in grandmama's room."

"Yes, they creaked," said the Raven. "And on he went boldly up to the Princess, who was sitting on a pearl as large as a spinning-wheel. All the ladies of the court, with their attendants and attendants' attendants, and all the cavaliers, with their gentlemen and gentlemen's gentlemen, stood round; and the nearer they stood to the door, the prouder they looked. It was hardly possible to look at the gentleman's gentleman, so very haughtily did he stand in the doorway."

"It must have been terrible," said little Gerda. "And did Kay get the Princess?"

"Were I not a Raven, I should have taken the Princess myself, although I am promised. It is said he spoke as well as I speak when I talk Raven language; this I learned from my tame sweetheart. He was bold and nicely behaved; he had not come to woo the Princess, but only to hear her wisdom. She pleased him, and he pleased her."

"Yes, yes; for certain that was Kay," said Gerda. "He was so clever; he could reckon fractions in his head. Oh, won't you take me to the palace?"

"That is very easily said," answered the Raven. "But how are we to manage it? I'll speak to my tame sweetheart about it: she must advise us; for so much I must tell you, such a little girl as you are will never get permission to enter."

"Oh, yes I shall," said Gerda; "when Kay hears that I am here, he will come out directly to fetch me."

"Wait for me here on these steps," said the Raven. He moved his head backwards and forwards and flew away.

The evening was closing in when the Raven returned. "Caw—caw!" said he. "She sends you her compliments; and here is a roll for you. She took it out of the kitchen, where there is bread enough. You are hungry, no doubt. It is not possible for you to enter the palace, for you are barefooted: the guards in silver, and the lackeys in gold, would not allow it; but do not cry, you shall come in still. My sweetheart knows a little back stair that leads to the bedchamber, and she knows where she can get the key of it."

And they went into the garden in the large avenue, where one leaf was falling after the other; and when the lights in the palace had all gradually disappeared, the Raven led little Gerda to the back door, which stood half open.

Oh, how Gerda's heart beat with anxiety and longing! It was just as if she had been about to do something wrong; and yet she only wanted to know if little Kay was there. Yes, he must be there. She called to mind his intelligent eyes, and his long hair, so vividly, she could quite see him as he used to laugh when they were sitting under the roses at home. "He will, no doubt, be glad to see you—to hear what a long way you have come for his sake; to know how unhappy all at home were when he did not come back."

Oh, what a fright and a joy it was!

They were now on the stairs. A single lamp was burning there; and on the floor stood the tame Raven, turning her head on every side and looking at Gerda, who bowed as her grandmother had taught her to do.

"My intended has told me so much good of you, my dear young lady," said the tame Raven. "Your tale is very affecting. If you will take the lamp, I will go before. We will go straight on, for we shall meet no one."

"I think there is somebody just behind us," said Gerda; and something rushed past: it was like shadowy figures on the wall; horses with flowing manes and thin legs, huntsmen, ladies and gentlemen on horseback.

"They are only dreams," said the Raven. "They come to fetch the thoughts of the high personages to the chase; 'tis well, for now you can observe them in bed all the better. But let me find, when you enjoy honor and distinction, that you possess a grateful heart."

"Tut! That's not worth talking about," said the Raven of the woods.

They now entered the first saloon, which was of rose-colored satin, with artificial flowers on the wall. Here the dreams were rushing past, but they hastened by so quickly that Gerda could not see the high personages. One hall was more magnificent than the other; one might indeed well be abashed; and at last they came into the bedchamber. The ceiling of the room resembled a large palm-tree with leaves of glass, of costly glass; and in the middle, from a thick golden stem, hung two beds, each of which resembled a lily. One was white, and in this lay the Princess; the other was red, and it was here that Gerda was to look for little Kay. She bent back one of the red leaves, and saw a brown neck. Oh! that was Kay! She called him quite loud by name, held the lamp towards him—the dreams rushed back again into the chamber—he awoke, turned his head, and—it was not little Kay!

The Prince was only like him about the neck; but he was young and handsome. And out of the white lily leaves the Princess peeped, too, and asked what was the matter. Then little Gerda cried, and told her her whole history, and all that the Ravens had done for her.

"Poor little thing!" said the Prince and the Princess. They praised the Ravens very much, and told them they were not at all angry with them, but they were not to do so again. However, they should have a reward. "Will you fly about here at liberty," asked the Princess; "or would you like to have a fixed appointment as court ravens, with all the broken bits from the kitchen?"

And both the Ravens nodded, and begged for a fixed appointment; for they thought of their old age, and said, "It is a good thing to have a provision for our old days."

And the Prince got up and let Gerda sleep in his bed, and more than this he could not do. She folded her little hands and thought, "How good men and animals are!" and she then fell asleep and slept soundly. All the dreams flew in again, and they now looked like the angels; they drew a little sledge, in which little Kay sat and nodded his head; but the whole was only a dream, and therefore it all vanished as soon as she awoke.

The next day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet. They offered to let her stay at the palace, and lead a happy life; but she begged to have a little carriage with a horse in front, and for a small pair of shoes; then, she said, she would again go forth in the wide world and look for Kay.

Shoes and a muff were given her; she was, too, dressed very nicely; and when she was about to set off, a new carriage stopped before the door. It was of pure gold, and the arms of the Prince and Princess shone like a star upon it; the coachman, the footmen, and the outriders, for outriders were there, too, all wore golden crowns. The Prince and the Princess assisted her into the carriage themselves, and wished her all success. The Raven of the woods, who was now married, accompanied her for the first three miles. He sat beside Gerda, for he could not bear riding backwards; the other Raven stood in the doorway, and flapped her wings; she could not accompany Gerda, because she suffered from headache since she had had a fixed appointment and ate so much. The carriage was lined inside with sugar-plums, and in the seats were fruits and gingerbread.

"Farewell! Farewell!" cried Prince and Princess; and Gerda wept, and the Raven wept. Thus passed the first miles; and then the Raven bade her farewell, and this was the most painful separation of all. He flew into a tree, and beat his black wings as long as he could see the carriage, that shone from afar like a sunbeam.

FIFTH STORY. The Little Robber Maiden

They drove through the dark wood; but the carriage shone like a torch, and it dazzled the eyes of the robbers, so that they could not bear to look at it.

"'Tis gold! 'Tis gold!" they cried; and they rushed forward, seized the horses, knocked down the little postilion, the coachman, and the servants, and pulled little Gerda out of the carriage.

"How plump, how beautiful she is! She must have been fed on nut-kernels," said the old female robber, who had a long, scrubby beard, and bushy eyebrows that hung down over her eyes. "She is as good as a fatted lamb! How nice she will be!" And then she drew out a knife, the blade of which shone so that it was quite dreadful to behold.

"Oh!" cried the woman at the same moment. She had been bitten in the ear by her own little daughter, who hung at her back; and who was so wild and unmanageable, that it was quite amusing to see her. "You naughty child!" said the mother: and now she had not time to kill Gerda.

"She shall play with me," said the little robber child. "She shall give me her muff, and her pretty frock; she shall sleep in my bed!" And then she gave her mother another bite, so that she jumped, and ran round with the pain; and the Robbers laughed, and said, "Look, how she is dancing with the little one!"

"I will go into the carriage," said the little robber maiden; and she would have her will, for she was very spoiled and very headstrong. She and Gerda got in; and then away they drove over the stumps of felled trees, deeper and deeper into the woods. The little robber maiden was as tall as Gerda, but stronger, broader-shouldered, and of dark complexion; her eyes were quite black; they looked almost melancholy. She embraced little Gerda, and said, "They shall not kill you as long as I am not displeased with you. You are, doubtless, a Princess?"

"No," said little Gerda; who then related all that had happened to her, and how much she cared about little Kay.

The little robber maiden looked at her with a serious air, nodded her head slightly, and said, "They shall not kill you, even if I am angry with you: then I will do it myself"; and she dried Gerda's eyes, and put both her hands in the handsome muff, which was so soft and warm.

At length the carriage stopped. They were in the midst of the court-yard of a robber's castle. It was full of cracks from top to bottom; and out of the openings magpies and rooks were flying; and the great bull-dogs, each of which looked as if he could swallow a man, jumped up, but they did not bark, for that was forbidden.

In the midst of the large, old, smoking hall burnt a great fire on the stone floor. The smoke disappeared under the stones, and had to seek its own egress. In an immense caldron soup was boiling; and rabbits and hares were being roasted on a spit.

"You shall sleep with me to-night, with all my animals," said the little robber maiden. They had something to eat and drink; and then went into a corner, where straw and carpets were lying. Beside them, on laths and perches, sat nearly a hundred pigeons, all asleep, seemingly; but yet they moved a little when the robber maiden came. "They are all mine," said she, at the same time seizing one that was next to her by the legs and shaking it so that its wings fluttered. "Kiss it," cried the little girl, and flung the pigeon in Gerda's face. "Up there is the rabble of the wood," continued she, pointing to several laths which were fastened before a hole high up in the wall; "that's the rabble; they would all fly away immediately, if they were not well fastened in. And here is my dear old Bac"; and she laid hold of the horns of a reindeer, that had a bright copper ring round its neck, and was tethered to the spot. "We are obliged to lock this fellow in too, or he would make his escape. Every evening I tickle his neck with my sharp knife; he is so frightened at it!" and the little girl drew forth a long knife, from a crack in the wall, and let it glide over the Reindeer's neck. The poor animal kicked; the girl laughed, and pulled Gerda into bed with her.

"Do you intend to keep your knife while you sleep?" asked Gerda; looking at it rather fearfully.

"I always sleep with the knife," said the little robber maiden. "There is no knowing what may happen. But tell me now, once more, all about little Kay; and why you have started off in the wide world alone." And Gerda related all, from the very beginning: the Wood-pigeons cooed above in their cage, and the others slept. The little robber maiden wound her arm round Gerda's neck, held the knife in the other hand, and snored so loud that everybody could hear her; but Gerda could not close her eyes, for she did not know whether she was to live or die. The robbers sat round the fire, sang and drank; and the old female robber jumped about so, that it was quite dreadful for Gerda to see her.

Then the Wood-pigeons said, "Coo! Coo! We have seen little Kay! A white hen carries his sledge; he himself sat in the carriage of the Snow Queen, who passed here, down just over the wood, as we lay in our nest. She blew upon us young ones; and all died except we two. Coo! Coo!"

"What is that you say up there?" cried little Gerda. "Where did the Snow Queen go to? Do you know anything about it?"

"She is no doubt gone to Lapland; for there is always snow and ice there. Only ask the Reindeer, who is tethered there."

"Ice and snow is there! There it is, glorious and beautiful!" said the Reindeer. "One can spring about in the large shining valleys! The Snow Queen has her summer-tent there; but her fixed abode is high up towards the North Pole, on the Island called Spitzbergen."

"Oh, Kay! Poor little Kay!" sighed Gerda.

"Do you choose to be quiet?" said the robber maiden. "If you don't, I shall make you."

In the morning Gerda told her all that the Wood-pigeons had said; and the little maiden looked very serious, but she nodded her head, and said, "That's no matter—that's no matter. Do you know where Lapland lies!" she asked of the Reindeer.

"Who should know better than I?" said the animal; and his eyes rolled in his head. "I was born and bred there—there I leapt about on the fields of snow."

"Listen," said the robber maiden to Gerda. "You see that the men are gone; but my mother is still here, and will remain. However, towards morning she takes a draught out of the large flask, and then she sleeps a little: then I will do something for you." She now jumped out of bed, flew to her mother; with her arms round her neck, and pulling her by the beard, said, "Good morrow, my own sweet nanny-goat of a mother." And her mother took hold of her nose, and pinched it till it was red and blue; but this was all done out of pure love.

When the mother had taken a sup at her flask, and was having a nap, the little robber maiden went to the Reindeer, and said, "I should very much like to give you still many a tickling with the sharp knife, for then you are so amusing; however, I will untether you, and help you out, so that you may go back to Lapland. But you must make good use of your legs; and take this little girl for me to the palace of the Snow Queen, where her playfellow is. You have heard, I suppose, all she said; for she spoke loud enough, and you were listening."

The Reindeer gave a bound for joy. The robber maiden lifted up little Gerda, and took the precaution to bind her fast on the Reindeer's back; she even gave her a small cushion to sit on. "Here are your worsted leggins, for it will be cold; but the muff I shall keep for myself, for it is so very pretty. But I do not wish you to be cold. Here is a pair of lined gloves of my mother's; they just reach up to your elbow. On with them! Now you look about the hands just like my ugly old mother!"

And Gerda wept for joy.

"I can't bear to see you fretting," said the little robber maiden. "This is just the time when you ought to look pleased. Here are two loaves and a ham for you, so that you won't starve." The bread and the meat were fastened to the Reindeer's back; the little maiden opened the door, called in all the dogs, and then with her knife cut the rope that fastened the animal, and said to him, "Now, off with you; but take good care of the little girl!"

And Gerda stretched out her hands with the large wadded gloves towards the robber maiden, and said, "Farewell!" and the Reindeer flew on over bush and bramble through the great wood, over moor and heath, as fast as he could go.

"Ddsa! Ddsa!" was heard in the sky. It was just as if somebody was sneezing.

"These are my old northern-lights," said the Reindeer, "look how they gleam!" And on he now sped still quicker—day and night on he went: the loaves were consumed, and the ham too; and now they were in Lapland.

SIXTH STORY. The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman

Suddenly they stopped before a little house, which looked very miserable. The roof reached to the ground; and the door was so low, that the family were obliged to creep upon their stomachs when they went in or out. Nobody was at home except an old Lapland woman, who was dressing fish by the light of an oil lamp. And the Reindeer told her the whole of Gerda's history, but first of all his own; for that seemed to him of much greater importance. Gerda was so chilled that she could not speak.

"Poor thing," said the Lapland woman, "you have far to run still. You have more than a hundred miles to go before you get to Finland; there the Snow Queen has her country-house, and burns blue lights every evening. I will give you a few words from me, which I will write on a dried haberdine, for paper I have none; this you can take with you to the Finland woman, and she will be able to give you more information than I can."

When Gerda had warmed herself, and had eaten and drunk, the Lapland woman wrote a few words on a dried haberdine, begged Gerda to take care of them, put her on the Reindeer, bound her fast, and away sprang the animal. "Ddsa! Ddsa!" was again heard in the air; the most charming blue lights burned the whole night in the sky, and at last they came to Finland. They knocked at the chimney of the Finland woman; for as to a door, she had none.

There was such a heat inside that the Finland woman herself went about almost naked. She was diminutive and dirty. She immediately loosened little Gerda's clothes, pulled off her thick gloves and boots; for otherwise the heat would have been too great—and after laying a piece of ice on the Reindeer's head, read what was written on the fish-skin. She read it three times: she then knew it by heart; so she put the fish into the cupboard—for it might very well be eaten, and she never threw anything away.

Then the Reindeer related his own story first, and afterwards that of little Gerda; and the Finland woman winked her eyes, but said nothing.

"You are so clever," said the Reindeer; "you can, I know, twist all the winds of the world together in a knot. If the seaman loosens one knot, then he has a good wind; if a second, then it blows pretty stiffly; if he undoes the third and fourth, then it rages so that the forests are upturned. Will you give the little maiden a potion, that she may possess the strength of twelve men, and vanquish the Snow Queen?"

"The strength of twelve men!" said the Finland woman. "Much good that would be!" Then she went to a cupboard, and drew out a large skin rolled up. When she had unrolled it, strange characters were to be seen written thereon; and the Finland woman read at such a rate that the perspiration trickled down her forehead.

But the Reindeer begged so hard for little Gerda, and Gerda looked so imploringly with tearful eyes at the Finland woman, that she winked, and drew the Reindeer aside into a corner, where they whispered together, while the animal got some fresh ice put on his head.

"'Tis true little Kay is at the Snow Queen's, and finds everything there quite to his taste; and he thinks it the very best place in the world; but the reason of that is, he has a splinter of glass in his eye, and in his heart. These must be got out first; otherwise he will never go back to mankind, and the Snow Queen will retain her power over him."

"But can you give little Gerda nothing to take which will endue her with power over the whole?"

"I can give her no more power than what she has already. Don't you see how great it is? Don't you see how men and animals are forced to serve her; how well she gets through the world barefooted? She must not hear of her power from us; that power lies in her heart, because she is a sweet and innocent child! If she cannot get to the Snow Queen by herself, and rid little Kay of the glass, we cannot help her. Two miles hence the garden of the Snow Queen begins; thither you may carry the little girl. Set her down by the large bush with red berries, standing in the snow; don't stay talking, but hasten back as fast as possible." And now the Finland woman placed little Gerda on the Reindeer's back, and off he ran with all imaginable speed.

"Oh! I have not got my boots! I have not brought my gloves!" cried little Gerda. She remarked she was without them from the cutting frost; but the Reindeer dared not stand still; on he ran till he came to the great bush with the red berries, and there he set Gerda down, kissed her mouth, while large bright tears flowed from the animal's eyes, and then back he went as fast as possible. There stood poor Gerda now, without shoes or gloves, in the very middle of dreadful icy Finland.

She ran on as fast as she could. There then came a whole regiment of snow-flakes, but they did not fall from above, and they were quite bright and shining from the Aurora Borealis. The flakes ran along the ground, and the nearer they came the larger they grew. Gerda well remembered how large and strange the snow-flakes appeared when she once saw them through a magnifying-glass; but now they were large and terrific in another manner—they were all alive. They were the outposts of the Snow Queen. They had the most wondrous shapes; some looked like large ugly porcupines; others like snakes knotted together, with their heads sticking out; and others, again, like small fat bears, with the hair standing on end: all were of dazzling whiteness—all were living snow-flakes.

Little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer. The cold was so intense that she could see her own breath, which came like smoke out of her mouth. It grew thicker and thicker, and took the form of little angels, that grew more and more when they touched the earth. All had helms on their heads, and lances and shields in their hands; they increased in numbers; and when Gerda had finished the Lord's Prayer, she was surrounded by a whole legion. They thrust at the horrid snow-flakes with their spears, so that they flew into a thousand pieces; and little Gerda walked on bravely and in security. The angels patted her hands and feet; and then she felt the cold less, and went on quickly towards the palace of the Snow Queen.

But now we shall see how Kay fared. He never thought of Gerda, and least of all that she was standing before the palace.

SEVENTH STORY. What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what Happened Afterward.

The walls of the palace were of driving snow, and the windows and doors of cutting winds. There were more than a hundred halls there, according as the snow was driven by the winds. The largest was many miles in extent; all were lighted up by the powerful Aurora Borealis, and all were so large, so empty, so icy cold, and so resplendent! Mirth never reigned there; there was never even a little bear-ball, with the storm for music, while the polar bears went on their hind legs and showed off their steps. Never a little tea-party of white young lady foxes; vast, cold, and empty were the halls of the Snow Queen. The northern-lights shone with such precision that one could tell exactly when they were at their highest or lowest degree of brightness. In the middle of the empty, endless hall of snow, was a frozen lake; it was cracked in a thousand pieces, but each piece was so like the other, that it seemed the work of a cunning artificer. In the middle of this lake sat the Snow Queen when she was at home; and then she said she was sitting in the Mirror of Understanding, and that this was the only one and the best thing in the world.

Little Kay was quite blue, yes nearly black with cold; but he did not observe it, for she had kissed away all feeling of cold from his body, and his heart was a lump of ice. He was dragging along some pointed flat pieces of ice, which he laid together in all possible ways, for he wanted to make something with them; just as we have little flat pieces of wood to make geometrical figures with, called the Chinese Puzzle. Kay made all sorts of figures, the most complicated, for it was an ice-puzzle for the understanding. In his eyes the figures were extraordinarily beautiful, and of the utmost importance; for the bit of glass which was in his eye caused this. He found whole figures which represented a written word; but he never could manage to represent just the word he wanted—that word was "eternity"; and the Snow Queen had said, "If you can discover that figure, you shall be your own master, and I will make you a present of the whole world and a pair of new skates." But he could not find it out.

"I am going now to warm lands," said the Snow Queen. "I must have a look down into the black caldrons." It was the volcanoes Vesuvius and Etna that she meant. "I will just give them a coating of white, for that is as it ought to be; besides, it is good for the oranges and the grapes." And then away she flew, and Kay sat quite alone in the empty halls of ice that were miles long, and looked at the blocks of ice, and thought and thought till his skull was almost cracked. There he sat quite benumbed and motionless; one would have imagined he was frozen to death.

Suddenly little Gerda stepped through the great portal into the palace. The gate was formed of cutting winds; but Gerda repeated her evening prayer, and the winds were laid as though they slept; and the little maiden entered the vast, empty, cold halls. There she beheld Kay: she recognised him, flew to embrace him, and cried out, her arms firmly holding him the while, "Kay, sweet little Kay! Have I then found you at last?"

But he sat quite still, benumbed and cold. Then little Gerda shed burning tears; and they fell on his bosom, they penetrated to his heart, they thawed the lumps of ice, and consumed the splinters of the looking-glass; he looked at her, and she sang the hymn:

"The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there the children to greet."

Hereupon Kay burst into tears; he wept so much that the splinter rolled out of his eye, and he recognised her, and shouted, "Gerda, sweet little Gerda! Where have you been so long? And where have I been?" He looked round him. "How cold it is here!" said he. "How empty and cold!" And he held fast by Gerda, who laughed and wept for joy. It was so beautiful, that even the blocks of ice danced about for joy; and when they were tired and laid themselves down, they formed exactly the letters which the Snow Queen had told him to find out; so now he was his own master, and he would have the whole world and a pair of new skates into the bargain.

Gerda kissed his cheeks, and they grew quite blooming; she kissed his eyes, and they shone like her own; she kissed his hands and feet, and he was again well and merry. The Snow Queen might come back as soon as she liked; there stood his discharge written in resplendent masses of ice.

They took each other by the hand, and wandered forth out of the large hall; they talked of their old grandmother, and of the roses upon the roof; and wherever they went, the winds ceased raging, and the sun burst forth. And when they reached the bush with the red berries, they found the Reindeer waiting for them. He had brought another, a young one, with him, whose udder was filled with milk, which he gave to the little ones, and kissed their lips. They then carried Kay and Gerda—first to the Finland woman, where they warmed themselves in the warm room, and learned what they were to do on their journey home; and they went to the Lapland woman, who made some new clothes for them and repaired their sledges.

The Reindeer and the young hind leaped along beside them, and accompanied them to the boundary of the country. Here the first vegetation peeped forth; here Kay and Gerda took leave of the Lapland woman. "Farewell! Farewell!" they all said. And the first green buds appeared, the first little birds began to chirrup; and out of the wood came, riding on a magnificent horse, which Gerda knew (it was one of the leaders in the golden carriage), a young damsel with a bright-red cap on her head, and armed with pistols. It was the little robber maiden, who, tired of being at home, had determined to make a journey to the north; and afterwards in another direction, if that did not please her. She recognised Gerda immediately, and Gerda knew her too. It was a joyful meeting.

"You are a fine fellow for tramping about," said she to little Kay; "I should like to know, faith, if you deserve that one should run from one end of the world to the other for your sake?"

But Gerda patted her cheeks, and inquired for the Prince and Princess.

"They are gone abroad," said the other.

"But the Raven?" asked little Gerda.

"Oh! The Raven is dead," she answered. "His tame sweetheart is a widow, and wears a bit of black worsted round her leg; she laments most piteously, but it's all mere talk and stuff! Now tell me what you've been doing and how you managed to catch him."

And Gerda and Kay both told their story.

And "Schnipp-schnapp-schnurre-basselurre," said the robber maiden; and she took the hands of each, and promised that if she should some day pass through the town where they lived, she would come and visit them; and then away she rode. Kay and Gerda took each other's hand: it was lovely spring weather, with abundance of flowers and of verdure. The church-bells rang, and the children recognised the high towers, and the large town; it was that in which they dwelt. They entered and hastened up to their grandmother's room, where everything was standing as formerly. The clock said "tick! tack!" and the finger moved round; but as they entered, they remarked that they were now grown up. The roses on the leads hung blooming in at the open window; there stood the little children's chairs, and Kay and Gerda sat down on them, holding each other by the hand; they both had forgotten the cold empty splendor of the Snow Queen, as though it had been a dream. The grandmother sat in the bright sunshine, and read aloud from the Bible: "Unless ye become as little children, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven."

And Kay and Gerda looked in each other's eyes, and all at once they understood the old hymn:

"The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there the children to greet."

There sat the two grown-up persons; grown-up, and yet children; children at least in heart; and it was summer-time; summer, glorious summer!

Source : http://edu.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/06/23/2011062300292.html

[대니얼 변의 SAT 멘토링] '나만의 스토리' 에세이에 정확히 표현을
조선일보

2011.06.22 15:24

FLEX 컬리지 프렙 원장
오늘은 학생들이 실제 쓴 에세이를 통해 잘 쓴 글과 그렇지 않은 글의 차이를 살펴보자. 첫번째 학생은 자신의 리더십 경험에 대해 글을 썼다. 중학교 때부터 리더십 활동이 많은 학생이었으며 현재는 학생회장의 자리를 맡고 있다.

"그 말이 리더십의 이해에 또 새로운 시각을 제공하였다. 지금까지는 학교 축제에서 선배들보다 더 잘하고, 주니어 프롬을 위해 기금을 모으고, 모두를 위해 재미있는 무비 나이트를 준비하는 게 전부였다. 하지만 이제 리더십이 그 이상이라는 것을 알게 되었다. 어떤 경험도 헛되게 하지 않고 말과 행동으로 남을 복돋우는 것, 그것이 바로 내 리더십의 중심이 되어야겠다."

결말을 멋지게 내주었고 솔직한 글이겠지만, 사실 자기 자신에 대한 이야기를 잘 알리지는 못하였다. 이 학생은 10살 때 처음으로 반장 선거에 나서면서 선거본부로 아버지의 자동차 뒷좌석을 사용했고 학교에서 4년 내내 반장 등을 맡아 학생회에 참여했다. 학생회장이 될 때는 제일 친한 친구의 죽음이라는 슬픔을 딛고 일어나 당선된 소중한 경험을 했다. 그러나 이 에세이로는 이런 이야기를 알 수 없다. 이 에세이의 문제는 자신만의 이야기를 표현하지 않았다는 것이다. 입학 사정관의 관점에서 보면 자신의 이야기보다는 리더십이 어떤 것인지에 대한 논평에 불과하다.

두번째 학생은 자신의 특별 활동에 대한 이야기를 썼다.

"2차 세계 전쟁에 직접 참전했던 비에넨필드 씨와 같은 분들에게서 전쟁에 대해 직접 배웠다. 코디네이터로서의 의무도 있었지만, 프로젝트의 기금 모음 책임자라는 직책도 같이 맡았다. 전쟁 이야기(War Stories) 프로젝트를 위해 군중 앞에서 연설한 적도 있지만 200개 이상의 기업체에 편지를 보내기 위해 주소를 찾고 침이 다 마르도록 우표를 붙이며 밤을 지샌 것이 가장 기억에 남는다."

두 번째 학생의 경우 헌신하는 모습을 더 정확히 표현했다는 것이 포인트다. 200개의 편지를 쓰고 침이 마르도록 우표를 붙인 모습에서 헌신의 모습을 찾을 수 있다. 이 에세이의 첫 문단은 알츠하이머에 걸린 자신의 할아버지를 간호하는 과정에서 War Stories 프로젝트를 시작하게 된 동기를 풀어냈다. 두 번째 학생의 에세이가 첫 번째 학생의 에세이보다 높은 평가를 받는 이유는 더 개인적인 이야기로 시작했다는 것이다. 이런 시작을 통해 정이 많은 자신의 모습과 지원서의 큰 부분을 차지하는 War Stories 프로젝트의 시발점을 동시에 표현하고 설명했다. 또한 이 특별활동이 자신에게 진정 의미 있는 활동이라는 것도 간접적으로 알린 것이다.

모든 이의 성격과 인생, 경험이 다르듯 학생들도 자신만의 내용과 목소리를 찾는 것이 중요하다. 이상적인 지원자의 모습이 하나만이 아니듯 이상적인 에세이 역시 한 모습만으로 존재하는 것이 아님을 기억하자. 반대로 가장 좋은 에세이는 글쓴이의 관심사를 실례를 통해서 한 번 더 보여줄 수 있는 그런 글임을 명심하자.

Source : http://edu.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/06/09/2011060900334.html

[대니얼 변의 SAT 멘토링] '에세이'라는 캔버스에 자기 색 입혀라
조선일보 | 대니얼 변 FLEX 컬리지 프렙 원장

2011.06.09 03:01

여름이 다가오면 에세이 준비를 시작할 시즌을 맞는다. 전 세계의 수험생은 자신을 최대한 빛내고 수만 명의 지원자와의 경쟁에서 이기기 위한 500개의 단어를 찾기 위해 많은 밤을 지새울 것이다.

칼리지 에세이를 빈 캔버스라고 생각해 보자. 대학은 학생들에게 이 캔버스를 채워 달라고 요구한다. 하지만 흰 캔버스를 그림으로 채운다는 것은 그리 쉬운 일이 아니다. 캔버스에 어떤 그림이 그려져 있나에 따라 그림의 주인공이 누구인지는 물론이고 대학 공동체에 어떤 영향을 끼칠지도 알 수 있기 때문이다. 바꾸어 말하면 첫째는 자신의 능력을 잘 보여줄 수 있는 내용이 무엇인가를 알아야 하고, 두 번째는 어떻게 읽는 사람의 흥미를 끌어낼 것인지를 고민해야 한다.

먼저, 칼리지 에세이는 개인의 이야기임을 명심하자. 입학 사정관들은 지원서에서 지원자의 진짜 모습을 떠올리고 싶어한다. 하지만 여러 가지 사실만 나열을 해서는 그 모습을 떠올리기가 쉽지가 않다. 매년 3만여 명의 학생들이 지원하는 스탠퍼드 대학의 경우에도 모든 지원자가 원하는 만큼 대학이 개인에 관심을 가질 수가 없다. 따라서 스스로 다른 지원자보다 더 두드러진 모습을 보여야 한다. 예를 들어, 음악에 출중한 학생은 자신이 피아노를 얼마나 사랑하는지에 대해 쓸 수 있을 것이다. 하지만 대학의 입장에선 그 학생의 음악적 능력 자체가 어떤 가치를 갖는지에 관심이 있다. 따라서 피아노를 사랑한다는 내용보다는 덜 좋은 환경에서 자란 학생들에게 피아노를 가르친 경험이 더 좋은 소재가 될 수 있다. 음악을 통한 시민 봉사 정신을 보여주는 것이 효과적일 수 있다는 것이다.

확실히 알아야 할 것은 입학 사정관이 좋아할 것 같은 소재와 실제로 입학 사정관이 원하는 글은 상당한 차이가 있다는 것이다. 여전히 대다수의 학생은 에세이를 쓸 때 이력서를 쓰듯 성취한 모습과 수준 높은 단어로 강한 인상을 남기려 한다. 하지만 그런 내용은 지원서의 다른 부문에서 찾을 수 있기에 사실상 기회를 하나 날려 버리는 셈이다. 입학 공통원서(Common Application)에 나와 있는 '칼리지 에세이는 학교 수업, 성적, 시험 점수, 그 외 객관적인 정보를 떠나 그 학생을 더 잘 이해하기 위한 수단이다'라는 점을 명심하라. 에세이는 지원서 다른 곳에선 찾을 수 없는 색다른 모습을 보여줄 유일무이한 기회이다.

FLEX의 입학 사정관들은 이구동성으로 말한다. "에세이를 읽기 시작하면서 이 학생이 나를 어떻게 현혹시킬 것인지, 어떻게 웃길 것인지 생각하지 않는다. 단지 이 학생은 도대체 누구인가를 알고 싶을 뿐이다."

출처: http://edu.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/04/28/2011042800299.html

[대니얼 변의 SAT 멘토링] SAT 에세이, 논리적 근거 제시하라
조선일보 | 대니얼 변 · FLEX 컬리지 프렙 원장

2011.04.27 15:26

미국에서는 작문(writing)을 음악, 미술처럼 예능의 한 분야로 분류한다. 그림이나 음악처럼 글쓴이와 읽는이 사이에도 개인적이고 주관적인 소통이 이뤄지기 때문이다. 에세이(essay)라는 단어는 논설문, 수필, 담론 등 여러 가지 스타일과 장르를 포함한다. 이 때문에 모든 에세이를 평가할 수 있는 공통적인 표준은 없다. 하지만 철자법, 문법, 정확한 어휘 등 모든 글이 기본적으로 갖춰야 하는 기준은 에세이에도 적용된다.

SAT에 나오는 에세이는 25분 내에 작성해야 하는 논설문이다. 이는 대학 지원서에 많이 나오는 수필 형식이나 더 독창적인 글, 예를 들어 영어 수업에서 많이 쓰는 소설이나 설명문 형식의 글과는 전혀 다른 장르의 글이다. SAT의 에세이는 글 자체의 설득력만으로 평가된다. 예를 들어, 한 학생이 자신의 에세이를 뒷받침하는 이야기를 허위로 만들었어도 주관사인 칼리지보드는 절대 감점할 수 없다. 사실의 진위가 아니라 주장과 논리의 설득력만으로 평가하는 것이다.

SAT 에세이는 800점 만점의 SAT 작문의 약 3분의 1인 250점을 차지한다.(나머지 550점은 문법문제) 2명의 채점관이 5개의 항목을 각 6점 만점으로 채점한다. 기준이 되는 5개의 항목은 다음과 같다.

▶주어진 주제를 효과적이고 통찰력 있게 분석하고 자신의 관점을 뒷받침하기 위해 알맞은 이유, 예시 및 증거를 제공한다.

▶문단의 연결과 내용의 정리가 잘 되어 있고 글의 초점이 확실하다.

▶다양하고 정확한 단어 사용을 통해 언어구사의 숙련도를 보여준다.

▶다양한 문장구조를 사용한다.

▶문법, 철자법, 사용법 등의 오류가 없다.

항목별로 2명의 채점관 점수를 합하여 12점 만점으로 채점한다. 단, 두 채점관의 점수가 1점 이상 차이가 있으면 세 번째 채점관이 재채점을 한다. 이 에세이 점수는 문법 부문의 기록과 합쳐서 800점 만점의 작문 부문 점수로 환산한다. 아예 글을 쓰지 않거나 주제에서 완전히 벗어나는 내용을 쓰지 않는 한 0점을 받지는 않는다.

대부분의 학생이 에세이 때문에 많은 걱정을 하지만 평가하는 데 표준화된 항목이 존재하기 때문에 적절한 지도를 제대로 받는다면 좋은 점수를 획득하는 것은 그리 어렵지 않다. 효과적인 SAT 에세이 준비를 위한 포인트는 다음과 같다.

1. 시험에서 자주 등장하는 주제와 형식을 두루 익히자.

2. 자주 나오는 주제로 자신의 주장을 펼치는 연습을 하자. 찬성, 반대 어떤 편도 상관은 없다.

3. 자신의 주장을 뒷받침해 줄 예시를 몇 개 생각해 보자.

4. 연습! 연습! 연습! 많은 학생이 알면서도 글로 표현하지 못할 때가 잦다. 연습을 통해 글을 작성하고 완성하는 과정을 익혀야 한다.

지난 10년의 SAT 지도 경험과 노하우의 결정판인 FLEX 컬리지 프렙의 SAT 프로그램은 가장 많이 등장하는 SAT 에세이 주제를 분석해 매번 성공적인 에세이를 쓸 수 있도록 만들어져 있다. 학생들은 각 주제에 맞는 내용을 시간 내에 생각하고 정리하여 FLEX의 에세이 형식에 맞춰 글을 완성하도록 구성되어 있으며, 반복 연습을 통해 그 능력을 개발하고 향상시키는데 초점이 맞추어져 있다.

출처: http://edu.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/12/2010081200561.html

[쿠도스 유학 컨설팅] 에세이 고득점 비법 'Why·How'에 있다
조선일보 | 사무엘 황 쿠도스 유학컨설팅 수석 컨설턴트

2010.08.12 03:26

SAT 준비
미국대학에 진학하려면 많은 조건이 필요하다. 학교 내신, 시험성적, 교사 추천서, 리더십과 봉사활동(extracurricular activities), 에세이 등이다. 이들 중 가장 중요한 것은 학교 내신이다. 국제 학생들이 반드시 봐야 하는 시험은 TOEFL, SAT I 그리고 SAT II다.

TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language) 시험은 모두가 잘 알고 있듯이 국제학생들이 치러야 하는 영어 실력 평가 시험이다.

SAT I 시험은 수학(Math), 독해(Critical Reading), 작문(Writing) 총 3개로 나누어지는데 각 section 당 800점, 총 2400점이 만점이다. 한국 학생들의 SAT I 수학 성적은 대부분 만점에 가깝다. SAT I 수학은 Geometry와 Algebra I/II만 끝낸다면 문제없이 볼 수 있는 시험이다. SAT I Writing 점수는 800점 만점에서 30%는 에세이, 70%는 49개의 객관식 문제가 차지한다. SAT 에세이는 학교 에세이와는 다르게 에세이에 대해서 따로 점수를 주기 때문에 에세이 점수를 높이 받을 수 있는 요령만 터득한다면 점수가 잘 나오는 편이다. 그 요령은 한두 가지가 아니겠지만 그중에서도 가장 중요한 것은 2장의 에세이 종이를 다 채우는 것이다. 다음으로 중요한 것은 대주제문(Thesis)이 확실하게 두 가지 질문에 대한 답을 제시해야 한다. Why? (왜 내가 이런 주장을 하는 건지) 그리고 How? (어떻게 내가 이에 대해 주장할 것인지) 에세이 공부에 도움이 될 수 있는 것은 중학교 때부터 뉴욕타임스를 읽는 것이다. 특히 Opinions Section의 기사를 하루에 2개 정도 읽으면 많은 도움이 된다. SAT 시험에서만 나오는 문법은 반드시 공부를 해야 한다. SAT에서 중요하게 여기는 16개 문법 콘셉트가 있는데 이것들은 반드시 문제를 풀기 전에 공부해야 한다. SAT Reading은 총 67개의 객관식 문제가 있는데 그 중 19문제는 단어실력을 평가하는 문제이고 나머지 48문제는 읽는 객관식 문제들이다. SAT 단어는 대략 만개에 달하는데 단어와 Root Words를 완벽하게 외우면 별문제 없이 풀 수 있다. 그렇다면 단어는 어떤 단어가 좋을까? 처음 시작하는 단계에서 지금 현재 SAT 책 중 가장 정리가 잘 되어 있는 책은 Barron's에서 만드는 SAT 책인데, 이 책에 있는 3500개 단어를 먼저 외우는 게 좋다. 그렇다면 많은 학생이 어려워하는 Reading의 두 번째 부분은 어떻게 공부하면 좋을까? 그 방법은 독서에 있다. 중학교 때부터 SAT I 을 만드는 College Board가 추천해주는 미국의 클래식 책들을 읽으면 많은 도움이 된다.

SAT II 시험은 여러 과목별로 나누어져 있는데 대부분 상위권 대학들은 2개 과목의 시험점수를 요구한다. 이과 쪽으로 갈 학생들은 반드시 수학과 과학 과목 중 하나를 봐야 한다. 문과 쪽으로 공부할 계획이면 수학 한 과목을 보고, US History, World History, Literature 중에서 1개를 선택하는 것이 좋다.

출처: http://edu.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/31/2011103101716.html

[신진상의 고등 공부 이야기] 외국어 영역 스타 강사 김찬휘의 영어 공부법(3)
조선일보 | 맛있는교육

2011.10.31 16:12

 
최근 외국어 영역 교재 중에서 EBS 교재를 제외하면 가장 많이 팔리는 책은 바로 변형독해 책입니다. 티치미 대표이며 사교육 1번지 대치동에서 제일 유명한 영어 강사인 김찬휘 강사가 집필한 책입니다. 정식 제목은 ‘적중 김찬휘의 EBS 변형 독해’ 시리즈로 현재까지 3탄이 나와 있습니다.

외국어 영역 스타 강사 중에서 드물게 서울대 출신인 그는 서울대 1년 선배인 수리영역 한석원 강사와 함께 90년대 후반 ‘깊은 생각’이라는 보습학원을 대치동에 설립, 수리 영역과 외국어 영역에서 대치동 최상위권 학생들을 싹쓸이하다시피 했던 인물입니다.

2004년 초 메가스터디에 대한 대항마로 티치미(www.teachme.co.kr)를 설립한 후에 그의 독특한 강의법과 내실 있는 콘텐츠는 전국의 학생들에게 퍼졌습니다. 김 강사는 메가스터디 김기훈 강사와 함께 대중적 인지도와 실력 면에서 최고라는 평가를 받고 있습니다.
 
그가 지금까지 지도한 최상위권 학생 수만 5만여 명. 2004년 온라인 교육 사이트 티치미를 설립했고 5년 동안 누적 수강생은 75만여 명에 이릅니다.

이중에서 오소독스 문법 강의는 연 인원 10만 명 이상이 듣는 국내 최고 인기 온라인 강좌 중의 하나입니다. 그로부터 영어 공부에 왕도가 있는지 들어 보았습니다.

 
Q : 공교육에는 없고 사교육에만 있는 강점이 바로 영어의 전달 방법이 아닐까요? 바로 재미인데요, 영어를 재미있게 공부하기 위해서 필요한 노력들은 무엇이 있을까요?
A : 여러 가지 방법이 있겠습니다만 한 가지만 말씀드리겠습니다. 콩글리쉬를 십분 활용하라고 말씀드리고 싶습니다. 자동차 충격 흡수 장치를 우리나라에서는 보통 “쇼바”라고 부릅니다.

도대체 어디서 나온 말일까요? 쇼바는 shock absorber라는 영어에서 황당하게도, 뒷 단어의 중간을 잘라서 만든 콩글리쉬입니다. 재밌죠? 자동차는 콩글리쉬의 보고입니다. 자동차 핸들은 영어로 steering wheel이죠. 이렇게 steering wheel을 학습하면 steer가 ‘조종하다’라는 뜻이라는 것도 쉽게 기억할 수 있습니다.

자동차에서 handle은 문 손잡이를 말하죠. 자동차가 그려진 그림 사전(picture dictionary)를 놓고 콩글리쉬와 대비해 가면서 공부하면 매우 재미있습니다.

우리나라 말 ‘아파트’의 영어 표기는 apartment죠. 하지만 영어의 apartment는 주인이 따로 있고 세 들어 사는 사람이 월세 내면서 사는 ‘임대 아파트’를 의미합니다. 모양도 우리나라 아파트와 많이 다르고요. 그러면 아파트 소유자가 직접 살고 있는 아파트는 뭐라고 부를까요? condominium이라고 합니다.

헉! 우리나라에서 ‘콘도’라고 하면 휴양지에 있는 숙박시설의 일종으로서, 여러 사람이 공동으로 소유하고 1년 중의 기간을 나눠서 쓰는 것을 말하는데요, 영어에서는 자가 거주 아파트를 말하네요?

그러면 우리나라말의 콘도는 영어로 뭐라고 부를까요? time-share라고 부릅니다. 1년 중의 특정 시간을 나눠서 쓴다는 의미죠.

이렇듯 콩글리쉬를 통해서 영어 학습을 하면 재미있기도 하거니와, 호기심이 계속 유발되면서 꼬리에 꼬리를 물면서 공부를 할 수 있습니다. 요즘같이 인터넷이 발전되어 있는 상황에서는 특정 콩글리쉬를 검색했을 때 제대로 된 영어 표현을 찾기가 쉬워져서, 이런 방식으로 공부하는 게 실제로 가능합니다.

Q : 정말 재미있네요. 콩글리쉬를 통한 영어 공부 맛들이기. 그게 바로 김찬휘 영어 학습법의 정수가 아닐까요? 듣기와 읽기, 말하기, 쓰기 네 영역별로 김선생님이 추천해 주시는 학습법은 무엇이 있을까요?
A : 듣기에서 가장 중요한 것은 listening source를 다양화하는 것입니다. 교육기관에서 제공하는 교재나, 토플, 토익, 텝스 등의 검정 시험 교재만이 아니라, 뉴스, 광고, 다큐멘터리, 영화 등을 광범위하게 활용하여야 합니다. 여기서는 영화를 듣기 학습에 활용하는 방안에 대해서만 말씀드리겠습니다.

우선 자기 수준에 적절한 영화 선택이 가장 중요합니다. 너무 어려운 영화를 선택하다 보면 오히려 이런 학습법에 대한 흥미를 잃게 되기 십상입니다. 영화를 선택할 때는 미국 영화 등급위원회(MPAA)의 영화 등급을 잘 보시면 됩니다.

G는 General Audiences를 의미하는 것으로서 누구나 볼 수 있는 영화입니다. 이런 영화가 당연히 제일 쉽고 속어, 비어들도 거의 없습니다. PG는 Parental Guidance Suggested, 즉 아동의 경우 부모의 지도를 권장한다는 것이고, PG-13은 Parents Strongly Cautioned의 의미로 우리나라의 초등학생 관람불가와 비슷합니다.

R은 Restricted로서 미성년자는 성인을 동반해야 볼 수 있는 영화입니다. 뒤로 갈수록 나이대가 높아지므로, 일반적으로 영어 수준도 높아지고 발음도 현실에 맞게 빠르고 많이 굴리게 됩니다. G의 경우는 아무래도 Animation이 극영화보다 쉽습니다.

Animation 중에는 Disney의 만화가 Pixar나 Dreamworks의 만화보다 쉽습니다. 대충 이 정도를 고려하면, 적절한 영화를 선택할 수 있습니다. 컴퓨터를 통해서 영화를 보는 것이라면, 자막 파일을 잘 활용하면 영어 공부에 큰 도움을 받을 수 있습니다.

먼저 자막 없이 영화를 봅니다. 그 다음에 영어 자막을 동영상과 동시에 띄워 놓고 자막을 보면서 영화를 봅니다. 마지막으로 다시 자막을 빼고 보면 처음에 안 들리던 부분이 들리게 됩니다.

영화 전체에 대해서 이 과정을 반복하는 것보다는, 주요 scene별로 나누어서 이 과정을 반복하는 것이 더 큰 효과가 있습니다.

읽기의 경우는 자신의 관심 분야를 통해서 읽기 컨텐츠의 종류를 다각화할 수 있습니다. 예컨대 잉글리쉬 프리미어 리그 등의 축구에 관심이 있다면, World Soccer와 같은 잡지를 구독하는 것이 그 방법입니다.

메이저리그 야구를 좋아한다면 mlb.com 의 기사를 계속 보면 영어가 많이 늘겠죠. 컴퓨터 게임을 좋아한다면 게임 잡지를 보면 됩니다. 즉 취미와 공부를 분리할 것이 아니라, 오히려 취미를 적극적으로 영어 학습 쪽으로 끌어들이는 것입니다.

쓰기의 경우는 많이 하고 있겠지만 영어 일기 쓰는 것을 습관화하는 것이 좋습니다. [영어일기 표현사전] 같이 일기 쓰기를 도와주는 좋은 책도 많이 나와 있습니다. 우선 이렇게 일상 표현을 영어로 표현하는 것부터 시작하여, Essay 등을 쓸 수 있는 단계로까지 전진해야 합니다.
 
Q : 아무리 재미가 필요하다고 해도 영어 실력을 높여주는 궁극의 요소는 암기가 아닐까요, 그런 면에서 영어는 가장 전형적인 암기 과목이라고 불 수 있지 않을까요?
A : 언어의 숙달 정도는 노출량과 활용 정도에 달려 있다고 볼 수 있습니다. 즉 얼마나 그 언어의 소리와 글자에 노출되었는가, 또 그 언어를 얼마나 음성과 글로 표현하였는가의 양과 질에 따라 숙달 정도가 결정된다는 것이죠. 그런데 영어가 모국어나 공용어가 아닌 환경에 있는 사람이, 영어가 모국어인 환경에 있는 사람과 유사한 노출량을 갖게 된다는 것은 불가능합니다.

또한 모국어 학습을 저해하는 면도 있으므로 바람직하지도 않습니다. 그렇기 때문에 암기를 통해서 그 노출량 부족을 채우는 것입니다. 암기는 영어의 숙명이라기보다는 시간을 적게 들이고도 큰 효과를 내기 위한 지름길과도 같은 것이라고 보아야 합니다.

따라서 원론적으로 말하면, 영어에 대한 노출량과 활용 정도를 늘릴 수 있다면 영어는 암기 과목이 아니게 되는 것입니다. 원어민 수준으로는 높일 수 없겠지만, 많이 접하면 많이 접할수록 학습자가 처리해야 하는 암기량은 반비례하여 줄어든다는 것은 분명합니다.

※다음편에 계속됩니다.

[무념무상 암기법] 이것도 역시 전체를 1~2일에 한 번씩 아무 생각없이 무념무상으로 읽어 나가십시오. 2~3개월 정도 후면 거의 무의식적인 상태로 암기가 될 것입니다. 즉 장기기억장치로 내려가서 암기가 되는 것이죠. 그러면 아주 오래 오래 오~래 갑니다.

우리말로 번역하여 이해하려 하지마시고, 영어 그대로를 음미하며 암기하시기 바랍니다. 그러면 앞으로 영어를 대하는 폭과 깊이가 달라질 것입니다. 영어는 영어 그대로를 음미할 때 제 맛을 가장 잘 느낄 수 있습니다. 진정한 독해는 이해가 아니라 음미입니다. 머리로 이해하는 것이 아니라 가슴으로 느끼는 것이죠. 이게 바로 독해의 최고봉이며 원어민들의 방법이기도 합니다. 이렇게 자꾸 연습하시면 전반적인 영문독해 속도도 당근 빨라지죠.

여기 나오는 속담은 미국의 여러 사이트에서 공통으로 나오는 것만 추린 것으로 영어속담 중에서 가장 많이 인용되는 것들입니다.

이 속담들은 영어공부에 뿐 아니라 우리 생활의 전반에 엄청난 영감과 활기를 줄 수도 있을 것입니다. 모두 수백년의 세월을 견디며 지금까지 살아남은 것들로 이미 충분히 검증된 진리 중의 진리라 할 수 있겠습니다. 어쩌면 수십 혹은 수백 권의 책을 읽는 것보다 여러분들의 생활에 더 큰 힘이 될 수도 있을 것입니다. 여러 번 읽으셔서 다 외워보시기 바랍니다. 저도 꼭 그럴 참입니다.
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A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
A bad excuse is better than none at all.
A bad husband cannot be a good man.
A beggar can never be bankrupt.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
A burnt child dreads fire.
A cat may look at a king.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
A change is as good as a rest.
A cheerful look makes a dish a feast.
A cheerful wife is the joy of life.
A clear conscience is a coat of mail.
A drowning man will catch at a straw.
A drunkard’s purse is a bottle.
A fault confessed is half redressed.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
A fool may give a wise man counsel.
A fool may make money, but it takes a wise man to spend it.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
A friend is easier lost than found.
A friend’s frown is better than a fool’s smile.
A full purse makes the mouth to speak.
A good beginning makes a good ending.
A good dog deserves a good bone.
A good husband makes a good wife.
A good man is hard to find.
A good name is better than riches.
A good name is sooner lost than won.
A great talker is a great liar.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
A heavy purse makes a light heart.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
A house is not a home.
A hungry man is an angry man.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
A leopard cannot change its spots.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
A little of what you fancy does you good.
A man in debt is caught in a net.
A man is as old as he feels.
A man’s house is his castle.
A miss is as good as a mile.
A new broom sweeps clean.
A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse.
A penny for your thoughts.
A penny saved is a penny earned.
A penny saved is a penny gained.
A person is known by the company he keeps.
A picture paints a thousand words.
A place for everything and everything in its place.
A pound of care won’t pay an ounce of debt.
A problem shared is a problem halved.
A prophet is not recognized in his own land.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
A rose between two thorns.
A short cut is often a wrong cut.
A stitch in time saves nine.
A thing begun is half done.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men.
A watched pot never boils.
A wise man changes his mind sometimes, a fool never.
A woman's place is in the home.
A woman's work is never done.
A wonder lasts nine days.
A word to the wise is enough.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Actions speak louder than words.
Advice when most needed is least heeded.
After a storm comes calm.
All covet, all lose.
All good things come to those who wait.
All that glitters is not gold.
All the world loves a lover.
All things must pass.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All you need is love.
All’s fair in love and war.
All’s fish that comes to his net.
All’s well that ends well.
Among the blind the one-eyed man is king.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
An army marches on its stomach.
An empty bag will not stand upright.
An Englishman's home is his castle.
An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.
An old bird is not to be caught with chaff.
An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Any port in a storm is shaken a little.
Appetite comes with eating.
As a man lives so shall he die.
As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
As you make your bed so you must lie on it.
As you sow, so you shall reap.
Ask much to get little.
Ask no questions and hear no lies.
Attack is the best form of defence.
Avoid evil and it will avoid thee.
Back again, like a bad penny.
Barking dogs seldom bite.
Be just before you are generous.
Be not the first to quarrel, nor the last to make it up.
Be sure before you marry, of a house wherein to tarry.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Beauty is only skin deep.
Beggars can't be choosers.
Beggars must not be choosers.
Behind every great man there's a great woman.
Better be alone than in ill company.
Better be happy than wise.
Better late than never.
Better safe than sorry.
Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't.
Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Blood is thicker than water.
Books and friends should be few and good.
Borrowing thrives but once.
Boys will be boys.
Boys will be boys.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
Bullies are generally cowards.
By other’s faults wise men correct their own.
By timely mending save much spending.
Call a spade a spade.
Care killed the cat.
Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance.
Catch the bear before you sell his skin.
Catch who catch can.
Charity begins at home but should not end there.
Charity begins at home.
Cheapest is dearest.
Children are what you make them.
Christmas comes but once a year.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Cold hands, warm heart.
Comparisons are odious.
Count you blessings.
Courtesy costs nothing.
Curses are like chickens, they come home to roost.
Cut you coat according to your cloth.
Cut your coat to suit your cloth.
Dead men tell no tales.
Delays are dangerous.
Devil takes the hindmost.
Diligence is a great teacher.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
Discretion is the better part of valour.
Distance lends enchantment to the view.
Do as I say, not as I do.
Do as you would be done by.
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
Do not cut off you nose to spite your face.
Do not put all your eggs in one basket.
Do not spur a willing horse.
Do not tell tales out of school.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Don't burn your bridges behind you.
Don't change horses in midstream.
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Don't cross the bridge till you come to it.
Don't keep a dog and bark yourself.
Don't let the bastards grind you down.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Don't put new wine into old bottles.
Don't rock the boat.
Don't spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tar.
Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs.
Don't try to walk before you can crawl.
Don't upset the apple-cart.
Doubt is the beginning not the end of wisdom.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Easier said than done.
Easy come, easy go.
Eat to live, but do not live to eat.
Employment brings enjoyment.
Empty vessels make the most noise.
Enough is as good as a feast (to one that’s not a beast).
Enough is as good as a feast.
Enough is better than too much.
Enough is enough.
Every ass loves to hear itself bray.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Every dark cloud has a silver lining.
Every dog has his day.
Every little helps.
Every man for himself and God for us all.
Every man has his price.
Every man must carry his own cross.
Every stick has two ends.
Every why has a wherefore.
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.
Everyone can find fault, few can do better.
Everyone knows best where the shoe pinches.
Everyone thinks his own burden the heaviest.
Everything comes to those who wait.
Example is better than precept.
Exchange is no robbery.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
Experience teaches.
Extremes are dangerous.
Facts are stubborn things.
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Failure teaches success.
Faint heart never won a fair lady.
Faint heart never won fair lady.
Faith will move mountains.
Fall out with a friend for a trifle.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
Fancy kills and fancy cures.
Finders keepers, losers weepers.
Fine feathers made before forks.
Fire is a good servant but a bad master.
First come first served.
First things first.
Fish and guests smell after three days.
Flattery brings friends, truth enemies.
Flattery will get you nowhere.
Flies are easier caught with honey than with vinegar.
Follow the river and you will find the sea.
Fools build houses and wise men buy them.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Fortune favors fools.
Fortune favors the brave.
Genius is a capacity for taking trouble.
Give a dog a bad name and hang him.
Give a fool rope enough and he will hang himself.
Give and spend and God will send.
Give everyone his due.
Give him an inch and he’ll take and tell.
Give the devil his due.
God helps those who help themselves.
God never shuts one door but he opens another.
Good beginning makes good endings.
Good fences make good neighbours.
Good talk saves the food.
Good things come to those who wait.
Good to begin well, better to end well.
Good wine needs no bush.
Grasp all, lose all.
Gratitude is the least of virtues, ingratitude the worst of vices.
Great haste makes great waste.
Great minds think alike.
Great profits, great risk.
Great talkers are little doers.
Habit is second nature.
Hail fellow, well met.
Half a loaf is better than no bread.
Handsome is as handsome does.
Hard work never did anyone any harm.
Haste makes waste.
Hasty climbers have sudden falls.
He gives twice that gives in a trice.
He is idle that might be better employed.
He is richest that has fewest wants.
He knows most who speaks least.
He knows which way the wind blows.
He laughs best that laughs last.
He runs with the hounds and hunts with the hare, himself must either hold or drive.
He that comes first to the hill may sit where he will.
He that doth lend doth lose his friend.
He that goes borrowing goes sorrowing.
He that loves glass without G takes away L, and that is he.
He that will eat the kernel must crack the nut.
He that will not when he may, when he will he shall have any.
He that will thrive must rise at five; He that hath thriven may lie till seven.
He who ceases to pray ceases to prosper.
He who hesitates is lost.
He who knows little soon repents it.
He who knows nothing doubts noting.
He who laughs last laughs longest.
He who likes borrowing dislikes paying.
He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.
He who pays the piper calls the tune.
He’s no man who cannot say “No”,
Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.
His bark is worse than his bite.
His heart is in his boots.
History repeats itself.
Home is home, though it never be so homely.
Home is where the heart is.
Honest men marry soon, wise men not at all.
Honesty is the best policy.
Hope is the last thing that we lose.
Hope springs eternal in the human breast.
Hunger is the best sauce.
If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well.
If a man deceives me once, shame on him; if twice, snare on me.
If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again.
If fools went not to market bad wares would not be sold.
If God had meant us to fly he'd have given us wings.
If ifs and ands were pots and pans there'd be no work for tinkers.
If life deals you lemons, make lemonade.
If the cap fits, wear it.
If the mountain will not go to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain.
If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain.
If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.
If you cannot make a man thing as you do, make him do as you think.
If you can't be good, be careful.
If you can't beat em, join em.
If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
If you wish for peace, prepare for war.
Ill got, ill spent.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
In the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king.
In the midst of life we are in death.
Into every life a little rain must fall.
It goes without saying.
It is a good horse that never stumbles, and a good wife that never grumbles.
It is a long lane that has not turning.
It is always time to do good.
It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.
It is easier to get money than to keep it.
It is easier to pull down than to build.
It is folly to live in Rome, and strive with the Pope.
It is never too late to mend.
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
It never rains but it pours.
It takes a thief to catch a thief.
It takes one to know one.
It takes two to make a quarrel.
It's all grist to the mill.
It's an ill wind that blows no one any good.
It's better to give than to receive.
It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
It's better to travel hopefully than to arrive.
It's never too late.
It's no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.
It's not worth crying over spilt milk.
It's the early bird that gets the worm.
It's the empty can that makes the most noise.
It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
Jack of all trades and master of none.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
Keep your chin up.
Keep your powder dry.
Kill not the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Kill two birds with one stone.
Kind words are worth much and cost little.
Kindle not a fire that you cannot put out.
Kindness begets kindness.
Kissing goes by favor.
Knowledge is power.
Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and, you weep alone.
Laughter is the best medicine.
Lazy people take the most pains.
Learning makes the wise wiser, but the fool more foolish.
Least said, soonest mended.
Lend only what you can afford to lose.
Let bygones be bygones.
Let not the sun go down on your wrath.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
Let the cobbler stick to his last.
Let the punishment fit the crime.
Liars should have good memories.
Life begins at forty.
Life is what you make it.
Life's not all beer and skittles.
Lightening never strikes twice in the same place.
Like father, like son. Like mother, like daughter.
Little boats must keep the shore, larger boats may venture more.
Little pitchers have big ears.
Little strokes fall great oaks.
Live and let live.
Live for today for tomorrow never comes.
Live not to eat, but eat to live.
Loans and debts make worries and frets.
Look before you leap.
Lost time is never found.
Love is blind.
Make every bargain clear and plain, that none may afterwards complain.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Make love not war.
Make short the miles, with talk and smiles.
Man does not live by bread alone.
Man proposes, god disposes.
Manners make a man.
Many a little makes a mickle.
Many find fault without an end, any yet do nothing at all to mend.
Many hands make light work.
Many straws may bind and elephant.
Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
Masters two, will not do.
Men are as old as they feel; women as old as they look.
Men make houses, women make homes.
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.
Misery loves company.
Misfortunes never (seldom) come singly.
Money doesn't grow on trees.
Money makes the mare go.
Money makes the world go round.
Money talks.
More haste, less speed.
Much cry, little wool. (Great cry, little wool).
Murder will out.
Music has charms to soothe the savage breast.
Nature abhors a vacuum.
Nearest is dearest.
Necessity hath no law.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Needles and pins, when a man is married then trouble begins.
Neither wise men nor fools can work without tools.
Never a rose without thorns.
Never cross the bridge until you have come to it.
Never damn the bridge that you have crossed.
Never do things by halves.
Never hit a man when he’s down.
Never judge a book by its cover.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Never say die! Up man, and try.
Never spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar.
Never too old to learn; never too late to turn.
Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.
New brooms sweep clean.
No gains without pains.
No living man, all things.
No man is an island.
No man is indispensable.
No man is without enemies.
No news is good news.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
No rest for the wicked.
None as blind as those who will not see.
None as deaf as those who will no hear.
No-one knows where the shoe pinches but he who wears it.
Nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Nothing succeeds like success.
Noting venture, nothing have-win.
Oaks fall when reeds stand.
Of one ill come many.
Of two evils choose the less.
Oil and water don't mix.
Old age is a heavy burden.
Old birds are not caught with chaff.
Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.
Old wounds soon bleed.
On a long journey even a straw is heavy.
One can live on a little, but not on nothing.
One cannot die twice.
One fool makes many.
One good turn deserves another.
One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
One may lead a horse to water, but twenty cannot make him drink.
One may sooner fall than rise.
One swallow does not make a summer.
One today is worth two tomorrows.
Only fools and horses work.
Opportunity only knocks once.
Other fish to fry.
Out of debt, out of danger.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Out of the frying pan into the fire.
Pearls of wisdom.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Pigs grow fat where lambs would starve.
Plaster thick, some will stick.
Possession is nine tenths of the law.
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Practice makes perfect.
Practice thrift or else you’ll drift.
Praise makes good men better and bad men worse.
Presents keep friendships warm.
Prevention is better than cure.
Pride and poverty are ill, yet often dwell together.
Pride goes before a fall.
Pride must (or will) have a fall.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
Punctuality is the politeness of princes.
Punctuality is the soul of business.
Put not your trust in money; put you money in trust.
Put your best foot forward.
Put your own shoulder to the wheel.
Quick believers need broad shoulder.
Reckless youth makes rueful age.
Red sky at night shepherds delight; red sky in the morning, shepherds warning.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Rome was not built in a day.
Rumour is a great traveler.
Save me from my friends.
Saying is one thing, doing another.
Scratch my back and I will scratch yours.
Second thoughts are best.
See a pin and let it lie, you’re sure to want before you die.
Seeing is believing.
Set a thief to catch a thief.
Set not your loaf in till the oven is hot.
She’s the cat’s mother.
Show me a liar and I’ll show you a thief.
Silence gives consent.
Sink or swim.
Six of one and half a dozen of the other.
Skill is stronger than strength.
Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Slow and sure.
Small beginnings make great endings.
Soft words break no bones.
Soft words win hard hearts.
Some men are wise and some are otherwise.
Sometimes the best gain is to lose.
Soon hot soon cold.
Sooner said than done.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Speak little but speak the truth.
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
Speak well of your friends, and of your enemy nothing.
Speaking without thinking is shooting without aim.
Speech is silver, silence is golden.
Spilt salt is never all gathered.
Still waters run deep.
Strike while the iron’s hot.
Study the past if you would divine the future.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Suspicion is the bane of friendship.
Sympathy without relief is like mustard without beef.
Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves.
Talk is cheap.
Talk of the devil and he’ll appear.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
That which is evil is soon learnt.
That which proves too much proves nothing.
The best defence is a good offence.
The best of friends must part.
The biter bit.
The boy is father to the man.
The cat is fain the fish to eat, but hath no will to wet her feet.
The child is father of the man.
The cobbler always wears the worst shoes.
The company makes the feast.
The darkest hour is just before the dawn.
The darkest hour is nearest the dawn.
The Devil finds work for idle hands to do.
The devil lurks behind the cross.
The early bird catches the worm.
The end justifies the means.
The ends justify the means.
The exception proves the rule.
The exception which proves the rule.
The fountain is clearest at its source.
The game is not worth the candle.
The goat must browse where she is tied.
The habit does not make the monk.
The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
The heart sees further than the head.
The last straw breaks the camel’s back.
The less people think, the more they talk.
The longest journey starts with a single step.
The love of a woman and a bottle of wine are sweet for a season but last for a time.
The master’s eye fattens the horse.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The morning sun never lasts the day.
The nearer the church the further from God.
The pen is mightier than sword.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
The public pays with ingratitude.
The receiver is as bad as the thief.
The stone that lieth not in your way need not offend you.
The strength of a chain is its weakest link.
The tongue ever turns to the aching tooth.
The unexpected always happens.
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
The wise make jests and the fool repeats them.
The wish is father to the thought.
The world is a staircase; some are going up, some are coming down.
There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.
There are more foolish buyers than foolish sellers.
There are more ways to kill a dog than by hanging him.
There are none so blind as those, that will not see.
There are two sides to every question.
There but for the grace of God, go I.
There could be no great ones if there were no little.
There is a But in everything.
There is a salve for every sore.
There is no true love without jealousy.
There is no venom like that of the tongue.
There’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip.
There’s safety in numbers.
There's always more fish in the sea.
There's many a slip twixt cup and lip.
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no place like home.
There's no smoke without fire.
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
There's no such thing as bad publicity.
There's no time like the present.
There's none so deaf as they that will not hear.
There's one born every minute.
They who only seek for faults find nothing else.
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do nothing generally take to shouting.
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Those who make the best use of their time have none to spare.
Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas.
Throw a sprat to catch a whale.
Time and tide wait for no man.
Time cures more than the doctor.
Time flies.
Time is a great healer.
Time is money.
Time is the best counselor.
Tit for tat is fair play.
To be born with a silver spoon in the mouth.
To err is human, to forgive divine.
To err is human; to forgive divine.
To forget a wrong is the best revenge.
To kill two birds with one stone.
To know the disease is half the cure.
To look for a needle in a haystack.
To make one hole to stop another.
To make two bites at one cherry.
To put the cart before the horse.
To scare a bird is not the best way to catch it.
To stir up a hornet’s nest.
To take the chestnut out of the fire with the cat’s paw.
To the victor go the spoils.
To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.
Tomorrow never comes.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Too much of one thing is good for nothing.
Train a tree when it is young.
Tread on a worm and it will turn.
True love never grows old.
Trust but not too much.
Trust dies because bad pay poisons him.
Truth is stranger than fiction.
Turn over a new leaf.
Two eyes see more than one.
Two heads are better than one.
Two is company, three is a crowd.
Two is company, three is none.
Two wrongs do not make a right.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Undertake no more than you can perform.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
Union is strength.
Vice is its own punishment, virtue its own reward.
Walk softly but carry a big stick.
Walls have ears.
Wash your dirty linen at home.
Waste makes want.
Waste not, want not.
We are such stuff as dreams are made on.
We can live without our friends, but not without our neighbors.
Wedlock is like a place besieged: those within wish to get out, those without wish to get in.
Well begun is half done?
What belongs to everybody belongs to nobody.
What can’t be cured must be endured.
What cost nothing is worth nothing.
What is learnt in the cradle lasts to the tomb.
What is one man’s meat is another man’s poison.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
What is worth doing at all is worth doing well.
What man has done man can do.
What the eye does not admire the heart does not desire.
What the eyes don’t see the heart does not grieve for.
What the heart thinketh the tongue speaketh.
What’s done can’t be undone.
Whatever you are, be a man.
When a man is going down the hill everyone will give him a push.
When in Rome do as the Romans do.
When money’s taken freedom’s forsaken.
When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window.
When rogues fall out honest men come into their own.
When the cat is away the mice will play.
When the wine is in, the wit is out.
When thy neighbor’s house doth burn, be careful of thine own.
When two friends have a common purse, one sings and the other weeps.
When wits meet sparks fly out.
Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.
Where there is nothing to lose there is nothing to fear.
Where there is smoke there is fire.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
While the grass grows the horse starves.
While there is life there is hope.
Who chatters to you will chatter of you.
Who judges others condemns himself.
Who knows most says least.
Who spends more than he should, shall not have to spend when he would.
Who will bell the cat?
Who will not hear must be made to feel?.
Whom the gods love dies young.
Willful waste makes woeful want.
Wine and wenches empty men’s purses.
Words are wind, but blows are unkind.
Worrying never did anyone any good.
X mas is enjoyable, only if it comes once in a year.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
You cannot eat your cake and have it.
You cannot get blood out of a stone.
You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
You cannot see the wood for the trees.
You cannot shoe a running horse.
You cannot teach old dogs new tricks.
You can't get blood out of a stone.
You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear.
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.
You can't make bricks without straw.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
You can't tell a book by looking at its cover.
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
You never know till you have tried.
Young men think old men fools; old men know young men to be so.
Youth and age will never agree.
Youth is wasted on the young.
Youth lives on hope, old age on remembrance.
Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse.

영어의 어느 분야에서도 결국에 가서는 많이 읽은 사람이 최고!

한국에 살면서도 기초적인 회화까지는 누구나 어느 정도 할 수 있습니다. 하지만 어떤 화제에 대해서 유창하게 말하기란 정말 어렵습니다. 한국은 영어가 외국어인 환경이기 때문이지요. 영어를 잘하기 위한 가장 중요한 조건 중 하나는 양질의 영어에 많이 노출되는 것입니다. 하지만 한국에서는 이것이 쉽지 않지요. 말하기, 쓰기, 듣기 모두 나름대로 큰 제약들이 있습니다.

하지만 읽기만큼은 마음만 먹으면 얼마든지 가능합니다. 즉 읽기를 통해 영어에 노출될 기회를 얼마든지 늘일 수 있다는 것입니다. 회화를 잘 하기 위해 읽기를 강조하는 또 다른 이유는 읽기를 통해 회화에 필요한 수많은 어구들을 익힐 수 있기 때문입니다. 중급자 이상이 되면 읽기에서 익힌 표현을 바로 회화에 응용할 수도 있습니다. 결국 말이란 것은 형식보다는 내용인데, 양질의 깊이있고 정확한 내용을 얻는 데 가장 좋은 수단은 역시 읽기입니다.

Blaine Ray라는 학자는 초급 수준의 학습자들은 주로 듣기 입력자료를 통해서 언어가 습득되지만, 중고급 수준이 되면 읽기를 통해 말하기, 쓰기 능력이 향상된다고 말하고 있습니다. 많은 독해를 하지 않고는 reading/speaking/writing/listening 어느 것 하나도 고급 수준까지 올라가기 어렵다는 말입니다.

저도 살아오면서 여러 영어고수들의 경험담을 들을 기회가 있었는데 역시 그들은 한결같이 많은 독해를 한 사람들이었습니다. 그저 말은 유창한듯 보이지만 약간만 깊이 들어가면 금방 바닥을 드러내는 껍데기 고수가 아니라 진짜 속속들이 알찬 진정한 고수들은 모두 엄청난 양의 영문을 읽은 사람들이었습니다.

저는 개인적으로 압구정동 현대고등학교 1학년에서 전교 1~2등을 다투던 여학생에게 영어를 가르친 적이 있었습니다. 그 여학생은 1학년인데도 지나간 수능영어시험을 쳐보면 대체로 만점을 맞았습니다. 그 학생의 비결은 초등학교 때부터 책을, 특히 영어 동화책을 많이 읽은 것이었습니다. 뭐 달리 비결이 없었어요. 독서가 최고의 공부였습니다. 이런 사례들은 각종 영어시험에서 어린 나이에 만점을 획득한 많은 학생들의 공통적인 이야기였습니다. 물론 어린 학생들만이 아니라 성인들 중에서도 고수들은 마찬가지로 독서광들이었습니다.

내가 영어 공부한 방법

출처 : http://sungmooncho.com/2011/04/04/how-i-learned-english/

조성문 : 
서울대에서 전자공학과 컴퓨터 공학을 공부하고 게임빌 창업멤버로 조인해서 7년간 회사 성장과 함께하다가 2007년 미국으로 와 UCLA에서 MBA를 마쳤습니다. 현재 캘리포니아 마운틴뷰에 거주하고 오라클에서 Principal Product Manager로 일하고 있으며 글쓰기와 여행, 분석하기를 좋아합니다.

제 배경
쑥스러운 이야기이지만, 미국에 공부하러 온 지 1년 쯤 되었을 때 미국인들을 처음 만나면 저더러 미국에서 태어났거나 오랫동안 미국에서 살았었냐고 많이들 물었습니다. 그럼 저는 한국에서 태어나 한국에서 교육받으며 평생을 한국에서 살았고, 미국으로 짧은 여행을 왔던 적은 있지만 제대로 미국에서 산 것은 최근 1년 뿐이라고 으쓱하며 이야기합니다. 그럼 다들 놀라죠. 어떻게 영어 공부를 한거냐고. 그러면 ‘내 영어 공부 방법이 효과가 있기는 했나보다’라고 속으로 생각하며, 사실은 미국 티비 쇼를 통해 영어를 배웠다고 이야기를 하곤 합니다. “프렌즈”, “앨리 맥빌”, “로스트”, “24″, 같은 인기있었던 미국 드라마들을 나열하면 재미있어하다가 “위기의 주부들 (Desperate Housewives)”을 이야기하면 웃음을 빵 터뜨립니다. 남자가 좋아하기엔 좀 뭣한 드라마라고 생각해서인가보죠.

저는 어렸을 때부터 영어를 좋아하기는 했습니다. 사실, 원래 좋아했다기보다는 잘 하게 되니 좋아하게 됐습니다. 왜 잘하게 되었느냐 생각하면 초등학교 5학년으로 거슬러 올라갑니다. 당시 어머니가 자녀 교육에 지대하게(!) 관심이 많았는데, 사촌형이 영어를 잘 한다는 걸 알고 저를 무작정 맡겼습니다. 사촌형은 당시 서강대에서 석사 논문을 쓰면서 대학원 강연을 하느라 바빴는데 숙모가 간곡히 부탁을 하니 할 수 없이 저에게 영어를 가르치기 시작했다고 하더군요. 한 번 해보고 제대로 못따라오면 그만둘 생각으로. 다행히 제가 그럭저럭 시키는대로 따라갔나봅니다. 그 때는 뭐가 뭔지도 잘 몰랐지만, 단어 제대로 안 외우면 손에 매를 맞으니까 열심히 외웠습니다. 지금도 기억나는데, 사촌형이 저를 불러 앉혀 놓고 제일 먼저 가르쳤던 것은 발음 기호였습니다. ‘성문기초영어’를 펴놓고, 발음 기호 읽는 법부터 배웠습니다. 그 후엔 단어를 외우기 시작했습니다. 예를 들어, 성문기초영어 첫 열페이지 안에 있는 모르는 단어는 죄다 외우는 게 첫 번째 숙제였습니다. 95%가 모르는 단어였지요. 그 때 trousers(바지), scissors(가위)같은, 초등학생에겐 어려운 단어들을 처음 외웠던 것이 기억이 납니다.

그 이후에는 일주일에 한 두번씩 사촌형한테 가서 단어를 제대로 외웠는지 시험 보고.. 이를 계속했습니다. 3년을 그렇게 하니 고등학교 1학년 단어까지 다 알게 되어서, 독해 실력은 아직 부족해도 적어도 단어만큼은 누구에게도 뒤지지 않을만큼 자신이 생겼습니다. 그 위에 문법을 쌓으니 영어 공부할 때 시간도 훨씬 적게 들고 영어 과목이 쉬워졌습니다. 그 덕분에 생각지도 않게 외국어 고등학교 영어과에 입학할 수 있었지요. 외고에서는 영어 작문, 영어 독해, 영어 회화, 영어 문법… 등등 영어 관련 과목만 무려 13단위였기 때문에 본의 아니게 영어 공부에 정말 많은 시간을 투자하게 됐습니다. 이렇게 하니 영어 기초가 잘 쌓일 수는 있었는데, 그렇다고 해서 리스닝, 스피킹이 뻥 뚫려서 고등학교 졸업할 때 자신이 있게 된 건 아니었습니다. 대입 수능 시험에 필요한 정도로 리스닝 실력이 늘어난 것 뿐이지, 여전히 CNN이나 AFKN 틀어놓으면 들리는 건 하나도 없었습니다.

 
리스닝, 스피킹 실력이 눈에 띄게 향상된 것은 종로 파고다 학원 인석민 선생님의 AFKN/CNN 리스닝 강의를 듣기 시작하면서부터였습니다. (찾아보니 지금도 파고다에서 강의하고 계시네요.) 대학교 1학년 때부터 겨울 방학 때마다 2달씩 끊어서 강의를 들었습니다. (여름방학때는 배낭여행이다 뭐다 해서 놀기 바빴지요..) 그렇게 2, 3년 하고 나니 스스로 느껴질 만큼 리스닝 실력이 늘더군요. 그게 재미있어서 나중에 회사 다닐 때도 토요 주말반을 신청해서 계속 강의를 들었습니다. 한 3년동안 토요일마다 찾아갔던 것 같습니다.

그렇게 학원에서 공부를 한 게 도움이 많이 되긴 했는데, 학원에 가서 앉아있다고 해서 영어 실력이 늘고 입이 열리는 건 당연히 아닙니다. 그 때 인석민 선생님의 조언을 받아 제가 나름대로 썼던 방법이 있는데, 저한테는 이 방법들이 매우 효과적이었습니다. 제가 사용해서 효과를 봤던 듣기/말하기 연습법에 대해 설명해 보겠습니다.

제가 사용했던 영어 말하기/듣기 능력 향상법
1. 발음 나는 그대로 연습하기

저에게 정말 도움이 되었던 방법 중 하나는, 여러 개의 단어로 이루어진 표현을 통째로 묶어서 발음을 연습하는 겁니다. 예를 들면,

“You ought to know about this by now.”

이런 표현을 읽을 때, 단어별로 발음을 익힌 다음에 그걸 이어서 발음하다보면 영 어색하고 폼도 안납니다. 무슨 말이냐 하면, “유 오우투 노우 어바웃 디스 바이 나우” 이러다 보면 한이 없고, 또 그렇게 발음하며 이야기하면 듣는 입장에서도 좀 답답합니다. 그대신 “유 어러너바웃디스바이나우” 처럼, 발음이 나는 대로 연음 연습을 많이 하는 게 중요합니다. 그래서 저는 “어러노바웃”, “어러노바웃” 하면서 연습하곤 했습니다.

또 하나 예를 들어보겠습니다.

“He should have (should’ve) joined this meeting.”

마찬가지로, 이걸 “히 슈드 해브 조인드 디스 미팅” 이러기보다는 “히 슈르브조인디스미링“이라고 통째로 발음을 익혀야 합니다. 그래서 저는 “슈르브”, “슈르브” 이렇게 연습하고, “조인디스”, “조인디스” 이렇게 연습했습니다. 영어에 이런 식으로 묶어서 등장하는 표현들이 많이 있는데, 나올 때마다 연습을 해두는 게 좋지요. 모든 문장을 이렇게 연습하겠다고 하면 수천가지의 변형이 있을텐데, 그렇다고 겁먹을 필요는 없습니다. ought to, should’ve 같은 표현은 또나오고 또나오고 하거든요. 몇 십가지만 익혀둬도 듣기가 훨씬 수월해질겁니다. 그 후 하나씩 쌓아나가면 됩니다.

2. 같은 표현을 반복해서 듣고, 듣는 것과 동시에 따라하기

 
소위 ‘앵무새 공부법‘이라고도 하는데, 저한테는 이 방법이 매우 효과적이었습니다. 듣기 실력뿐 아니라 말하기 실력을 크게 향상시킬 수 있었습니다. 물론 발음 교정도 되구요. 조금 더 구체적으로 설명하면,

학원에 가서 한 시간 정도 리스닝 수업을 듣거나 혼자 일정 분량을 연습합니다. 이 때는 영상을 보며 한 문장 한 문장 표현을 살펴봅니다. 새로운 표현을 배우고 새로운 발음들을 연습해 봅니다.
수업했던 내용, 또는 연습했던 내용을 MP3 플레이어에 담습니다. (비디오에서 오디오 트랙만 따로 뽑아내는 소프트웨어가 있습니다. 구글에서 찾아보니 하나 나오네요.)
출퇴근하는 지하철에서, 운전하는 동안에, 또는 짬이 날 때마다 이걸 반복해서 듣습니다. 10번 이상. 이미 한 번 익혔던 표현이므로 자꾸 듣다보면 처음에는 들리지 않던 단어 하나하나까지 귀에 들어오게 될 겁니다. 영상으로 봤던 장면이 하나하나 연상이 되어 꽤 재미가 있습니다. 그러니까, 원래 내용이 재미있는 것이면 더 좋겠지요.
계속 듣다보면 다음에 무슨 표현이 나올 지 예상할 수 있는 수준이 됩니다. 그러면 따라할 수 있습니다. 뉴스 앵커 또는 티비쇼에서 누군가가 이야기하는 걸 그대로 따라해봅니다. 처음엔 도저히 그 속도를 따라갈 수 없지만 그래도 상관 없습니다. 우물주물하면서 그냥 그 속도에 맞추어 따라해 봅니다. 계속 하다보면 언젠가는 프렌즈에서 모니카(Monica)가 하는 말을 같은 속도로 따라할 수 있을 정도가 됩니다 (이 드라마를 보신 분은 무슨 뜻인지 아시겠지요? 모니카 말이 무척 빠릅니다.) 나중에는 뜻을 모르는 단어나 표현도 따라할 수 있게 됩니다. 뭔지 모르면서 일단 발음만 익혀보는거죠.
여기서 중요한 건, 자꾸 새로운 표현을 듣기보다는 같은 표현을 반복해서 듣는 것이 더 도움이 된다는 겁니다. 영어를 무작정 들으면 어느 날 귀가 뻥 뚫리지 않을까 싶어서 하루 종일 AFKN을 틀어놓아보기도 하고, 자는 동안에도 귀를 뚫자 하고 영어 방송을 틀어놓고 자 보기도 했는데, 별 도움이 안되더군요. 어느 정도 실력 이상이 되어 그 중 80% 정도를 알아들을 수 있으면 이 방법이 유용할 수 있습니다. 그런데 그 중 20%정도만 귀에 들어오고 10%만 이해하는데 하루종일 틀어놓고 있는다고 귀가 뚫리리라 기대할 수는 없습니다. 영어에서, 특히 구어체에서는 같은 표현이 자꾸자꾸 등장합니다. 차라리 이런 표현을 또 듣고 또 들어서 완전히 귀에 익게 만들면, 그 표현을 약간 변형한 말이 나온다 하더라도 알아들을 가능성이 높아질 겁니다.

3. 한글 자막만 켜놓고 미국 드라마/영화 보기

 
영어 듣기/말하기 실력 향상에 큰 도움을 주었던 드라마, "프렌즈"

영어를 익히기 위해 일부러 영어 자막만 켜놓거나 한/영 통합자막을 켜놓고 미드를 보시는 분들이 많은데, 그보다는 한글 자막만 켜놓고 보는 편이 더 효과적입니다. 특별한 일이 없는 토요일 아침이면 미국 드라마를 몇 시간동안 보는 게 취미였습니다. 쉬면서도 동시에 영어 공부도 되니까 시간이 아깝지 않은 놀이라고 할까요.. 이 때 중요한 게 있습니다. 너무 드라마/영화에 빠져서 한글 자막만 멍하니 보면 안됩니다. 그 한글 표현에 해당하는 영어 단어/문장이 무엇일까 끊임없이 생각하면서 봐야 도움이 됩니다. 예를 들어 설명하면 다음과 같습니다. 드라마 “프렌즈(Friends)”에 나오는 표현 중 하나입니다.  드라마를 보는데 자막에 다음과 같이 나왔다고 합시다.

“완벽한 일주일을 완벽하게 끝내는구나.“

이 자막을 보는 순간 재빠르게 머리속에서 영어로 작문을 해봅니다.

“You are finishing a perfect week perfectly.“

그러는 동안 들어봅니다. 과연 주인공은 뭐라고 할까? 실제로 들어보니 다음과 같이 이야기합니다.

“It’s the perfect end to this perfect weekend.“

이걸 듣는 순간 “아하~” 하는 생각이 듭니다. 제가 작문한 건 그냥 단순히 한글을 영어로 순서대로 옮긴 표현이었는데, 영어로는 이렇게 표현하니까 깔끔하게 나오는 겁니다. 그러면 “아하~” 하고 넘어가면 됩니다. 이걸 머리속에 일일이 담을 필요까지는 없습니다 (물론 외우면 좋지요 ^^). 가끔 너무 재미난 표현이 나오면 메모를 하기도 했는데, 이걸 너무 자주 하면 흐름이 끊겨서 드라마 보는 재미를 잃게 되더군요.

반대로, 영어를 다 들을 때까지 한글 자막을 보지 않고 있다가 다 듣고 나서 무슨 말일까 한 번 생각해본 후 한글 자막을 보며 자기가 생각했던 것과 비교하는 것도 효과적입니다.

물론 이 방법이 효과가 있으려면 어느 정도의 작문 실력이나 리스닝 실력이 되어야 합니다. 그래서, 이 방법은 앞서 말씀드린 두 가지 방법으로 연습을 어느 정도 한 후에 시도해 보는 것을 것을 권장합니다.

영어 리스닝/스피킹에 관한 내 생각
발음이 중요한가? 뜻만 통하면 되는 것 아닌가?

많은 사람들이 ‘뜻만 통하면 된다.’, ‘대충 말해도 다 알아듣더라’ 라고 이야기하는데, 글쎄요.. 저는 발음도 중요하다고 생각합니다. 상대방이 못알아들어서가 아니라 (대충 말해도 미국인들은 다 알아듣기는 합니다), 스스로 민망해서 그렇습니다. 자신감에도 영향을 주고요. 제 발음도 네이티브 따라가려면 아직 한참 멀었지만 (사실, 미국에서 어린 시절을 보냈던 적이 없었던 저로서는 불가능할 거라고 생각합니다.), 그래도 남한테 얘기할 때 스스로 ‘이정도면 괜찮은 발음 아냐’라고 느낄 만큼이 됩니다. 그게 중요한 것 같습니다. 스스로 만족할 수 있는 발음이요. 어느 정도 발음이 좋아야 만족할 수 있느냐는 사람마다 다르겠지요. 어쨌든, 저는 이 발음의 중요성을 강조하고 싶습니다. 이게 되려면 처음 단어를 외울 때부터 주의해야 합니다. 단어를 외울 때 철자만 외운 다음에 나중에 가서 발음을 익히려고 생각하면 잘 되지도 않고 시간도 엄청 걸립니다. 새로운 단어를 외울 때 무조건 발음기호부터 보거나 전자사전으로 발음을 들어보고 익혀야 합니다. 돌이켜보면 저는 이 원칙을 철저히 지켰습니다. 발음을 모르는 채 새로운 단어를 외웠던 기억은 없습니다.

듣기가 먼저일까 말하기가 먼저일까?

많은 사람들이 듣기 실력이 어느 정도에 이르기 전에 영어 회화 수업부터 신청해서 듣는데, 저는 그게 과연 효과적일까 의문이 듭니다. 사람은 아는 만큼 듣는다는 말이 있지요. 저는 듣기 공부를 먼저 해야한다고 생각합니다. 두 가지 이유가 있습니다.

1. 듣기가 되면 말하기가 자연스럽게 되기 시작하고, 말할 때 발음을 제대로 할 수 있습니다. 앞서 발음의 중요성을 강조했지요. 듣기가 제대로 안되면 표현을 많이 들어도, 그걸 캐치할 수가 없습니다. 새로운 표현을 캐치하지 못하면 아는 표현만 자꾸 어색한 발음으로 이야기하게 됩니다. 쓰는 표현만 또 쓰면 말하기 실력이 잘 늘지 않겠지요.

2. 듣기가 되어야 외국인들하고 대화할 때 대화가 끊기지 않고 연결이 됩니다. 첫 질문하는 건 쉽지만 그 다음 상대방 말에 대꾸를 못하면 대화는 그냥 중단되어버리고 상대방은 즉시 답답함을 느낍니다. 예를 들어 보겠습니다.

나: Hey, what’s up? (헤이, 잘 지내?): 이런 짧은 질문을 던지는 건 쉽습니다.
외국인: Not much. I am heading to the office now. 별로. 지금 사무실 가는 길이야 (이런 짧은 대답은 쉽게 알아들을 수 있지요.)
나: Oh, I see. How are you today? 아 그렇구나. 오늘은 무슨 일? (그래서 짧은 질문을 던져봅니다.)
외국인: Not very good. My boss told me that they would announce reorg today. I am afraid that they will decrease the salesforce this quarter. Because we are already losing battle in the smart phone war, things might get worse if they cut…. 별로.. 보스가 내일 조직 개편을 하게 될거라고 하는데, 세일즈팀 숫자가 줄어들 것 같아. 스마트폰 전쟁에서 이미 지고 있는데, 세일즈팀을 줄이면 더 문제가 될 것 같아… (이제 듣기에 문제가 생기기 시작합니다.)
나: ??? Pardon me? Excuse me? Can you say that again? Can you speak slowly? 뭐라고? 다시 이야기해줄래? 천천히 이야기해줄래? (뭔소리여…)

이렇게 못알아 들었을 때 다시 물어보면 되기는 합니다만, 이런 게 너무 잦아지면 상대방도 좀 귀찮아지기 시작합니다. 대화가 오랫동안 이어지기 힘들겠지요. 상대 외국인이 학원 강사가 아니라면. 듣기라도 제대로 되면, 적어도 그런 상황에서 몸짓이나 짧은 단어 한 두마디로도 상대방의 말을 이해했다는 것을 보일 수 있습니다. 즉, 계속 대화가 진행될 수 있습니다.

해외 연수, 해외 여행, 필요한가?

 
첫 배낭여행지였던 아름다운 호주의 누사 해변

잘 아시다시피, 해외에서 몇 달 있는다는 것만으로 영어 실력이 눈에 띄게 향상되지는 않습니다. 그렇다고 도움이 안된다는 것은 아닙니다. 저는 대학교 1학년 겨울방학 때 호주 배낭 여행을 했는데(태어나서 첫 해외여행이었지요), 2주의 짧은 여행이었지만 큰 도움이 되었습니다. (이전 블로그, “내 인생을 바꾼 스무살의 호주여행” 참고) 그 짧은 시간동안 영어 몇 마디 한다고 영어가 갑자기 늘었다기보다는, 이렇게 영어만 사용하는 곳에 가서 스스로 여기저기 부딪히면서 불편함을 느껴보니 동기 부여가 확실히 되었습니다. 블로그에서도 썼었지만, 영어가 ‘공부할 대상’이 아닌 ‘의사소통 도구’로 인식이 된 거죠. 더 넓은 세상과 커뮤니케이션하기 위한 도구 말입니다.

결론
영어는 한국인이라면 누구에게나 골치거리고, 정복해야 할 대상인 것 같습니다. 정복하는데 시간이 많이 필요하고, 또 힘도 들지만, 시간이 지나면 투자한 시간이 아깝지 않음을 알게 되실 겁니다. 지금보다 더 풍요롭게 살 수 있도록 도와주는 하나의 도구를 갖추는 셈이니까요. 모두 화이팅!

출처: http://ko.usmlelibrary.com/entry/30-secrets-of-engslish-study-by-nymd

이제 영어공부의 비결의 연재를 시작한지 벌써 일년이 되었습니다. 제 블로그의 탄생과 더불어 시작한 연재니까 제 블로그도 이제 한 살이 되었다는 이야기이기도 합니다. 지난 일년 동안 제가 지금까지 살아오면서 터득한 영어공부의 오해와 진실을 지난 일년간 거의 모두 다 기록한 것 같습니다. 이번 포스트를 마지막으로 영어공부에 대한 총론이 되는 부분은 마무리가 됩니다. 오늘은 일단 지난 일년을 결산하는 의미로 지금까지 제가 말해온 영어공부의 비결을 총정리 하는 시간을 갖겠습니다. 구체적인 배경설명이 궁금하신 분은 본 블로그의 ‘영어공부 제대로 하기’ 카테고리를 포스트들을 읽으시면 됩니다. 이제 제가 일년 동안 이야기한 비결을 시작합니다.

이상 제가 생각하는 영어공부 방법의 핵심을 짚어 보았습니다. 앞으로는 지난 번 포스트로 올라갔던 ‘영어의 어순을 이해하는 가장 쉬운 방법’과 같은 각론에 대한 글을 계획하고 있습니다만 제가 시간적인 여건이 점점 어려워지고 있어 집필이 쉽지는 않을 것 같습니다. 혹시 앞으로 전개될(혹은 전개될지도 모르는) 각론에 대해 기대가 많은 분을 위해 미리 말씀 드리면 각론의 중요성은 지금까지 연재되었던 총론에 비해 십 분의 일도 되지 않습니다.

이 많은 무리들에서도 꾸준한 놈만 살아남는다. ^^;;

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   저렴하고 효과 최고의 영어공부, 영어로 일기쓰기

출처: http://cafe.vaccineenglish.com/

영어 공부 제대로 하기 2008/04/27 19:26 Posted by 고수민

예전에 제가 세인트루이스의 병원에서 근무할 때 함께 일하다가 이제는 미국 동부의 아이비리그의 명문대학 병원으로 자리를 옮기신 선배 한국인 의사분이 계십니다. 대부분의 한국인 이민 1세대들이 다 그러하듯(저를 포함해서) 영어가 미국 사람들에 비해서 딸리는 가운데서도 정말 실력으로 인정받아서 레지던트 시절에 동료 레지던트들이 투표에 의해 선정하는 최고의 레지던트에 뽑히는 영예를 누리기도 했던 분이셨습니다. 비자문제나 언어의 문제를 다 극복하고 오로지 실력 하나만으로 아이비리그의 명문대학교 병원으로 옮기실 때도 많은 미국 사람들이 그 양반은 그럴 줄 알았다는 식으로 충분히 수긍을 하고 존경을 보내주었습니다.
 
우리가 어렸을 때 읽었던 동화책의 내용에 보면 온갖 고난을 겪은 주인공이 마지막에 원하는 목표를 성취하고 남은 생을 편하고 행복하게 잘 살았다는 내용이 종종 나오곤 하는데 이런 해피엔딩은 그저 동화책의 이야기일 뿐이고 우리의 실제 생활은 한 번의 대단한 성취가 그 인생의 끝이 아니고 또 다른 난관을 만나고 다시 극복하는 일이 끝없이 지속되는 것 같습니다. 나중에 위에서 말씀드린 선배 의사분의 근황을 들었는데 의외로 영어로 고전을 하고 계시다는 이야기였습니다.
 
 
 
 
 
영어를 어느 정도 할 줄 알아도 스트레스는 끝이 없다
 
물론 저와 함께 근무하실 때도 일하는데 아무런 부족함이 없을 정도의 충분한 영어구사 능력을 가지신 분이었고 일하는 장소가 바뀐다고 영어 실력이 줄어들 이유도 없을 것이지만 문제는 함께 일하는 동료들의 영어가 너무 훌륭한 나머지 자신의 제한된 영어 실력이 비교가 되어 심적으로 스트레스를 받는다는 것이었습니다.
 
영어공부를 하다보면 그저 영화나 드라마의 주인공처럼 일상생활을 하는데 지장이 없는 정도의 수준만 되면 소원이 없겠다는 생각을 많이 했습니다. 미국 영화나 드라마의 주인공들이 사용하는 언어는 대부분 복합문보다는 단문이고, 표현이 은유적이기 보다는 직설적이며, 문장 자체의 길이도 길지 않아서 언어에서조차 최고의 경제성을 추구하는 미국인들의 성격을 잘 나타내줍니다. 그런데 영화도 장르에 따라서 어떤 경우는 주인공들의 영어 표현이 수사적으로 아주 유려하고 한 번 생각을 해야 뜻이 파악이 될 만큼 은유성이 많은 표현을 쓰는 경우를 보았는데 저의 경우는 이런 대사를 공부과정에서 생략하면서 지나갔습니다.
 
비유를 하자면 내 수준이 유치원생 수준인데 대학원생 수준의 영어를 당장 공부할 필요가 있겠는가 하고 생각했던 것입니다. 지금 생각해도 그런 생각은 상당히 현실적이고 합리적인 선택이었다고 봅니다. 그런데 제 영어실력이 점차 늘어서 초등학생과 중학생의 수준을 지나서 점차 늘어갈수록 점차 이런 고급 수준의 영어에 대한 갈망이 커 갔습니다. 오해하지 말아야 할 것은 한국 사람들이 그러하듯이 미국인들도 교육 수준이 높을수록 고급 영어를 구사하긴 하지만 미국 드라마에서 흔히 볼 수 있는 보통 사람들이 사용하는 보통의 수준의 영어 정도만 익숙해도 미국 사회의 지식인층인 의사, 변호사, 교수들과 이야기하는데 아무런 불편이 없거니와 그다지 열등감을 느끼지도 않게 됩니다. 한국의 경우를 생각해봐도 삶의 현장에서 쓰이는 한국말과 대학 강의실에서 쓰이는 한국말이 크게 다르지 않은 것처럼 말이죠.(물론 학문적인 용어는 대학에서 더 쓰이겠지만 문장의 구조나 표현이 큰 차이가 없을 것이라는 말입니다.)
 
 
 
 
 
유려한 고급 영어를 구사하는 미국인들을 만나는 스트레스
 
그런데 문제는 미국에서 가끔 말을 잘 하는 사람들(대개 각 기관의 장들이나 정치인 등)의 연설이나 발표, 강의 등에서 쓰이는 말을 들어보면 표현이 아주 품위가 있고 제가 한국어로도 그만한 수준을 구사하지 못하겠다는 느낌이 드는 상황이 있었습니다. 정말 부럽고 열등감(?)이 느껴지는 순간인데 이런 훌륭한 영어를 구사하는 사람들이 주위에 많기라도 하다면 정말 저처럼 평범한 이민 1세의 영어 실력 부족이 더욱 드러나 보이기 마련입니다. 이런 사람들과 매일 부대끼면서 살아가야 하는 운 없는(?) 한국인의 예가 바로 위에서 소개드린 제 선배의 경우가 아닐까 합니다.
 
한국에서의 경험으로는 우리말을 사용하면서 일상생활뿐이 아니고 유명 학자나 정치인의 강연 등에서도 그다지 어렵게 혹은 아름답게 꾸며서 말하는 것을 들어본 일이 별로 없습니다. 이런 식으로 현학적인 표현을 사용해서 말을 하는 것에 대한 일반의 거부감 때문인지(저자신 조차도 이런 경우 별로 기분이 좋지 않으니까요), 아니면 한국어 문화상 영어에 비해서 문어체와 구어체가 확연히 다르게 분리가 더 되어있는 것인지, 그것도 아니라면 아름답게 말하는 것에 대한 학교 교육 과정중의 교육과 훈련이 없어서인지 모르겠습니다. 우리말이라 너무 자연스럽게 이해하는 바람에 차이를 느끼지 못하는 것일 수 도 있겠습니다. 하지만 미국에 와서 보니 일반인들이 쓰는 말과는 조금 다른 고급스런(혹은 복잡한) 영어를 발표나 연설에서 종종 듣게 됩니다.
 
조금 부끄럽습니다만 이렇게 고급스런 영어를 구사하고 싶은 욕심은 있으되 지금의 상태에 큰 불편을 느끼지 못하는 저는 나중에 시간이 나면 좀 더 영어 공부를 해봐야지 하고 안주하고 있는 상태입니다. 하지만 제가 고급스런 영어 표현을 익히려고 한다면 제가 해야 할 방법이 무엇인지는 정확히 알고 있습니다. 다시 말해서 저에게는 영어 표현력을 기르는데 가장 좋은 방법이 무엇인지 경험으로 얻은 해답이 있다는 말입니다.
 
영어 표현력을 기르는 가장 좋은 방법
 
전에 영어 공부를 열심히 할 때는 서점에 가면 항상 영어공부 관련 서적 코너로 나서 무슨 무슨 책이 나와 있나 살펴보는 것이 큰 즐거움이었습니다. 어쩌다가 새로운 공부법에 대한 책이 나오면 무슨 비결이 있나하고 찾아보는 것이 생활의 일부가 될 정도였습니다. 그런데 이 많은 영어공부 학습법에 관한 책들 중에 항상 제 눈길을 끌었지만 책을 떠들어 보지 않았던 책들이 있었으니 그것은 바로 영어로 일기쓰기에 관한 책들이었습니다. 제가 지금까지 읽었던 많은 책들에서 영어공부의 방법의 하나로 영어로 일기쓰기를 추천한 책이 매우 많았고 저도 영어로 일기를 쓴다는 것은 영작문 실력을 늘리는 하나의 비결로써 뭔가 긍정적인 효과가 있을 것이라고 막연히 생각은 했지만 책 한권 전체가 영어로 일기쓰기에 관해서책은 도대체 무슨 이야기를 하고 있는 것일까 궁금해 했었습니다.
 
 
 

그러면서도 이런 책을 사서 읽거나 책장을 열어보기조차도 시도를 안했던 이유는 어차피 영어로 일기를 쓰지 않을 것인데 읽을 필요가 있나 하는 생각이었습니다.제가 영어 공부를 여러 가지로 다 시도해 보았지만 영어 일기 쓰기를 심정적으로 거부했던 몇 가지 이유들이 있었습니다. 일단은 매일 뭔가를 쓸 시간이 없다는 것이 큰 핑계이고 어떻게 내 영어 실력으로 머릿속에 생각하는 모든 내용을 영어로 옮길 수 있는가 하는 자신감의 부족에서 오는 두려움, 그리고 일기에 잘못되고 부정확한 영어 표현을 계속 적어가는 것이 영어 실력에 무슨 도움이 되겠는가하는 회의적인 생각이 바로 그런 이유들이었습니다.
 
그러다가 토플 시험을 앞두고 억지로 하기 싫은 영작문 연습을 해야 했고 비교적 비싼 돈을 주고 영작문의 교정 서비스를 받으면서 알고 보니 내 영작문 실력이 생각보다는 낫다는 것을 인식하게 되었습니다. 한 페이지를 쓰면 처음부터 끝까지 엉터리 표현으로 가득 찰 것이라는 두려움이 있었지만 원어민에 의해 교정된 제 작문을 보면 물론 무수한 교정 부호들이 가득했지만 이들은 대개 철자, 구두점, 어색한 표현 때문이었고 문법적으로 틀린 표현들이 예상만큼 많지는 않았습니다.
 
드디어 영어로 일기쓰기를 시작해 보다

토플 시험이 끝나고도 영어로 글쓰기는 계속 되었고 나중에는 영어 일기식으로 매일 뭔가 쓰는 습관을 들이게 되었습니다. 지금 생각해보면 영어 일기는 제 작문 실력만 늘려준 것이 아니고 문장을 두뇌 속에서 구성해야 하는 영어로 말하기 능력도 늘려주었으며 일기를 쓰다보면 사전과 인터넷을 뒤지며 내가 말하고 싶은 표현이 무엇인지 찾아보았기 때문에 표현력도 늘려 주어서 대단히 유익했던 공부 방법으로 생각이 됩니다. 미국에 오면서 바쁘다는 이유로 저의 영어 일기 쓰기도 중단되었지만 한국에서 삼년정도 영어 일기 쓰기를 했었던 것은 제 영어 실력 향상에 상당한 효과가 있었습니다.
 
나중에 영어 일기를 추천하는 영어 교육자들의 글을 읽어보니 영어 일기라는 것이 비록 선생님이나 원어민의 감수를 받지 못하더라도 그냥 나름대로 쓰는 자체로도 굉장한 가치가 있다고 합니다. 그리고 제가 가졌던 여러 가지 두려움이 사실은 그다지 근거가 없다는 것도 알게 되었습니다. 일단 내 영어 실력을 가지고 내가 하고 싶은 말을 일기장에 한 줄 이라도 쓸 수 있을 것인가 하는 의문이 있습니다. 저의 조언을 통해 공부를 했던 지인들의 경우를 보면 놀랍게도 아무리 영어 실력이 낮더라도(아마도 평균적인 중학생 실력 이상이라면) 영어로 일기를 쓸 수 있다는 것입니다.
 
  
 
엉터리로 일기써도 괜찮은 두가지 이유
 
물론 영어 표현이 상당히 제한적이고 글을 쓰다보면 쓴 표현을 또 쓰고 또 쓰게 되어 초등학생이 한글로 쓴 일기만도 못하게 보일 수 있습니다. 하지만 이런 식으로 계속 쓰다보면 자기의 생각을 적절히 표현할 말한 영어 표현을 찾기에 상당히 적극적이 되고 이런 표현이 하나 나오면 놓치지 않게 됩니다. 그냥 수동적으로 영어 교재에 쓰여 있는 수많은 표현을 읽는 것은 아무런 감흥이 없지만 자신이 평소에 알고 싶었던 표현이 하나 나오면 그냥 읽는 순간 외워진다고나 할까요. 그리고 이런 표현이 영어 일기에 하나 둘 씩 더해지면 몇 년이 지나면 영어 구사력이 매우 풍부해 질 것은 당연한 이치입니다.
 
두 번째 문제는 틀린 표현으로나마 계속 일기를 쓰는 것이 영어실력 향상에 정말 도움이 되느냐 하는 것입니다.  물론 원어민의 감수를 매일 받을 수만 있다면 그보다도 좋은 것이 있겠습니까. 하지만 그런 친절함을 가진 원어민을 찾는 것도 문제고 그런 능력을 가진 사람을 고용하는 것도 경제적으로 큰 문제이며 지극히 개인적일 수 있는 일기를 매일 남에게 보여주는 것도 사람들이 별로 하고 싶지 않은 일일 것이므로 현실성이 없습니다. 그런데 저의 경험과 제가 읽은 책에서 얻은 결론은 감수를 받지 않고 영어 일기를 써도 효과가 훌륭하다는 것입니다. 그 이유는 위에 문제와 겹치는 해석인데 일단 사람들이 글을 쓸 때 무의식적으로 자신이 알고 있는 검증이 되고 익숙한 표현을 주로 쓰게 됩니다.
 
따라서 틀리는 표현을 만들 여지가 적습니다. 또 자신이 틀린 표현을 계속적으로 쓰더라도 나중에 맞는 표현을 (책이든, 영화이든, 선생님으로부터 이든지) 만나게 되면 수 개월간 써 온 자신의 표현이 틀렸다는 것을 더 확실하고 생생하게 각인하게 되어 다시는 틀리지 않게 됩니다. 제가 사실 걱정했던 부분은 틀리는 표현에 너무 익숙해진 나머지 바른 표현을 알게 되어도 잘 고쳐지지가 않으면 어쩌나 하는 것이었는데 위에 쓴 대로 그 반대의 현상이 일어났습니다. 하지만 영어 일기쓰기는 전에 제 다른 글에서 말씀드렸다시피 영어책 큰 소리로 읽기와 병행되어야 합니다. 그래야 일기 속의 틀리는 표현도 찾을 수 있고 평소에 표현하고 싶었으나 어떻게 표현하는지 몰랐던 표현도 발견하는 기쁨을 누릴 수 있습니다.
 
 
 

결론적으로 영어로 일기쓰기는 영어 표현력을 길러주는 보약입니다. 영어 실력이 모자라도 상관없습니다. 그냥 쓸 수 있는 만큼 오늘부터 쓰기 시작하면 됩니다. 틀리는 표현도 걱정 말고 일단 쓰십시오. 이것도 배움의 과정입니다. 나중에 맞는 표현을 발견했을 때의 깨달음과 기쁨은 오랫동안 써온 틀리는 표현의 기억을 지우는 데 명약입니다. 또한, 영어 회화에서도 다양한 표현을 쓰지 못한 안타까움이 있습니까. 영어 일기가 답입니다.