無論是在改變一生文法班、還是在托福口說班，我都一再強調熟悉和不斷學習英文collocations 的重要性 (這一塊嚴重被台灣英文教育忽視)。要寫好TOEFL/GMAT/GRE 寫作? 想要talk in English 而非 in Chinglish? 最大的關鍵就在Collocations.
舉例而言，今天在口說班上分享 "inclement" 一個字，意思是殘酷無情的。因為台灣學生習慣從中文至英文轉換的學習方法，所以不意外的會造出 inclement teachers / inclement approaches 這種文法正確但確非常滷肉飯的英文。對於美國人來說，因為長期在abundant English input 的情況下，用直覺就會知道跟 inclement 最常連用的就是weather (inclement weather) (美國每當下大雪商店要提早關門的告示都是這樣寫 並不是什麼高深用法)。
有時為了考試不得已要一個字一個字背誦單字 (不管是用什麼方法背)，但最終要將英文看成一輩子的資產時，一個Chunk (詞組) 一個 Chunk 的學習，才是最好的學習方法。例如下面幾組有關於 "cause" "lead to" 的collocations 給大家參考
1. The advertising campaign didn't PRODUCE the RESULTS we hoped for.
2. The Finance Minister's decision to raise income tax PROVOKED an OUTCRY.
3. If teachers show favoritism, it BREEDS RESENTMENT.
4. Mary didn't believe the rumors about her boss but they PLANTED DOUBTS in her mind.
5. The film star's photo PROMPTED SPECULATION that she may be pregnant.
6. Email has more or less RENDERED the fax machine obsolete.
7. If you want to make an insurance claim, you can SET THE WHEELS IN MOTION by filling in this form.
8. This wind will WREAK HAVOC with my flowers.
9. Our new neighbors are so noisy, it's enough to DRIVE anyone CRAZY.
10. The strike could SPELL DISASTER for the country.
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