Another letter to college freshmen: Improve your foreign language ability

Here is another letter to college freshman, which was written by Prof. Chen (陳超明).  The title is 強化外語能力 與世界對話. 

http://mag.udn.com/mag/campus/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=141490

Several of the points he mentioned are what I also told my students every year. 

你可以在短時間內學會一項專業技能（如理財能力、外貿知識、電腦設計繪圖），但是卻無法在短時間內學好一種語言。好好運用大學這四年的時間強化你的英文，也利用時間好好學會另一項外語。台灣企業對外語的需求是非常迫切的，縱使你不是名校的學生，但是熟悉英文、日文或是其他外語的學生，絕對是企業的最愛。你的專業加上外語，是未來競爭的利器。......

記住：我們要「使用」外語，透過使用語言來學會該外語。

I told my students today that when they don't see English as a subject in school, but a tool to use in life, they will learn English well.  I encouraged them to get online and read or listen to some English comments on the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games. I believe when they are reading them willingly, they'll naturally improve their English ability.