A Guide to English Speaking and English-Maths Adaptation for New International School Students | 国际学校新生英语口语与英数适应指南

📚 A Guide to English Speaking and English-Maths Adaptation for New International School Students | 国际学校新生英语口语与英数适应指南

Transitioning into an international school is an exciting journey, but it also brings two immediate academic challenges: communicating confidently in spoken English and learning mathematics through the medium of English. For many students whose first language is not English, these two areas can feel like climbing two steep mountains at the same time. However, with the right mindset, practical strategies, and consistent effort, new students can quickly build the skills they need to thrive. This guide breaks down the essential steps to improve English speaking fluency and master English-based mathematics, turning early anxieties into steady progress.

转入国际学校是一段令人兴奋的旅程，但它也带来了两个直接的学术挑战：用英语自信地进行口语交流，以及通过英语学习数学。对于许多母语非英语的学生来说，这两个领域就像同时要攀爬两座陡峭的山峰。然而，只要拥有正确的心态、实用的策略和持续的努力，新生很快就能培养出茁壮成长所需的技能。本指南将分解提高英语口语流利度以及掌握英语数学的关键步骤，将最初的焦虑转化为稳步的进步。

1. Embracing the English-Only Environment | 拥抱全英文环境

One of the biggest adjustments is the expectation to use English not only in lessons but also during break times and group activities. It is normal to feel overwhelmed or tempted to switch back to your first language. Yet, treating every moment as a chance to practise will accelerate your progress dramatically. Start by setting a personal rule: speak only English in the classroom and try to use English in the cafeteria or playground, even if you make mistakes. Mistakes are not failures; they are the stepping stones to fluency.

最大的调整之一就是：不仅课堂上要用英语，休息时间和小组活动中也要求使用英语。感到不堪重负或想切换回母语是很正常的。但把每一刻都当作练习的机会，将极大加速你的进步。开始时可以给自己定个规矩：在教室里只说英语，并尽量在餐厅或操场上也使用英语，哪怕会犯错。错误不是失败，它们是通向流利的垫脚石。

2. Building Everyday Vocabulary for Social and Academic Situations | 建立社交与学术场景的日常词汇

Being able to chat casually with classmates helps you feel part of the community. Focus on learning phrases for greetings, asking for help, and talking about hobbies. For instance, practise: ‘How was your weekend?’, ‘Can you explain that again, please?’, and ‘I really enjoy playing football.’ At the same time, start collecting classroom survival phrases such as ‘What page are we on?’, ‘Could I borrow a pen?’, or ‘I don’t understand this question.’ Write these down in a small notebook or a phone app and review them for a few minutes each day.

能够与同学轻松聊天，能让你更有融入感。集中学习问候、请求帮助以及谈论爱好的短语。例如，练习说：“你周末过得怎么样？”、“你能再解释一下吗？”和“我真的很喜欢踢足球。”同时，开始收集课堂生存短语，比如“我们现在在第几页？”、“我能借一支笔吗？”或者“我不懂这个问题。”把这些短语记在小本子或手机应用程序里，每天花几分钟复习。

3. Overcoming the Fear of Speaking and Making Mistakes | 克服开口说英语与害怕犯错的心理

Many new students remain silent because they are afraid their accent sounds strange or their grammar is not perfect. The truth is that communication is more important than perfection. Your classmates and teachers value your ideas far more than your accent. One effective technique is to practise speaking aloud at home: describe what you see in your room, narrate your actions, or read a short passage and then retell it in your own words. This builds the muscle memory of your mouth for English sounds and reduces hesitation when you speak to real people.

许多新生因为担心自己的口音听起来奇怪或语法不完美而保持沉默。事实上，沟通比完美更重要。你的同学和老师更看重你的想法，而不是你的口音。一个有效的技巧是在家大声练习：描述你房间里看到的东西，叙述你正在做的事情，或者朗读一段短文然后用你自己的话复述。这能锻炼你口腔的英语发音肌肉记忆，并减少你在与真人对话时的犹豫。

4. Classroom Participation Skills | 课堂参与技巧

Active participation does not mean you have to give long, perfect answers. It starts with small contributions: raising your hand to say ‘I agree’ or ‘I have a question’, nodding while the teacher speaks, and using simple English to share an example. Learn a few key phrases to express your opinion, such as ‘In my opinion…’, ‘I think that…’, or ‘Another idea is…’. Even a single sentence spoken willingly builds your confidence and signals to your teacher that you are engaged. The more you participate, the more natural it will feel.

积极参与并不意味着你必须给出长篇完美的回答。它从小小的贡献开始：举手说“我同意”或“我有一个问题”，在老师讲话时点头，以及用简单的英语分享一个例子。学习几个表达观点的关键短语，比如“在我看来…”、“我认为…”或“另一个想法是…”。即便只是主动说一句话，也能建立你的信心，并向老师表明你很投入。你参与得越多，就会感觉越自然。

5. Understanding Teacher Instructions and Following Lessons | 理解老师指令并跟上课堂

It can be frustrating when you miss parts of a lesson because the teacher speaks too fast or uses unfamiliar words. Train your listening by watching educational videos with English subtitles, pausing to repeat difficult sentences. In class, sit near the front, watch the teacher’s gestures and facial expressions, and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification: ‘Could you repeat that, please?’ or ‘What does … mean?’. After class, compare your notes with a buddy to fill in any gaps. Gradually, your ear will catch the rhythm of instructional English.

当因为老师语速太快或使用了不熟悉的词汇而错过部分课程内容时，可能会让人感到沮丧。通过观看带英文字幕的教育视频来训练听力，并暂停以重复难懂的句子。在课堂上，尽量坐在靠前的位置，观察老师的手势和面部表情，并毫不犹豫地请求澄清：“您能重复一下吗？”或者“…是什么意思？”下课后，与伙伴对照笔记以填补空缺。慢慢地，你的耳朵就能捕捉到教学英语的节奏。

6. Introduction to English-Maths Vocabulary | 英数词汇入门

Mathematics in English uses a specific vocabulary that goes well beyond numbers. Words like ‘numerator’, ‘denominator’, ‘integer’, ‘perpendicular’, ‘polygon’, ‘mean’, ‘median’, and ‘mode’ are essential. Start by creating a glossary of 10–15 key maths terms per topic. For each term, write the definition in simple English, the Chinese equivalent, and an example sentence. For instance: ‘A prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that has only two factors: 1 and itself. Example: 7 is a prime number.’ Review this glossary regularly.

用英语学习数学需要使用一套远超数字范畴的特定词汇。像“分子”、“分母”、“整数”、“垂直的”、“多边形”、“平均数”、“中位数”和“众数”这样的词至关重要。开始时，可以为每个主题创建一个包含10至15个关键数学术语的词汇表。对于每个术语，写下简要的英文定义、中文对应词和一个例句。例如：“质数是大于1且只有两个因数（1和它本身）的整数。例子：7是一个质数。”定期复习这个词汇表。

7. Decoding Word Problems and Mathematical Language | 破解文字题与数学语言

Word problems often cause more trouble than pure calculations because they require you to extract mathematical relationships from English sentences. Learn to recognize trigger phrases: ‘more than’ usually means addition, ‘less than’ indicates subtraction, ‘product of’ signals multiplication, and ‘quotient of’ points to division. Practise highlighting or underlining the key numbers and clue words before you attempt any computation. Translating the problem into a simple number sentence – for example, ‘What is 5 more than 12?’ becomes 12 + 5 – is a powerful habit.

文字应用题往往比纯计算更令人头疼，因为它们要求你从英语句子中提取数学关系。学会识别信号短语：“more than”通常表示加法，“less than”表示减法，“product of”表示乘法，“quotient of”则表示除法。在开始计算之前，练习高亮或划出关键词和数字。将问题转化为简单的数字句子——例如，“比12多5的数是多少？”变成12 + 5——是一个非常有效的习惯。

8. Reading Mathematical Notation and Symbols in English | 英文数学符号与读法

Being able to correctly read expressions aloud is vital for classroom discussions and for understanding your teacher. For example, 3² is read as ‘three squared’, 5³ as ‘five cubed’, and 2⁴ as ‘two to the power of four’. The square root of 25 is ‘the square root of twenty-five’. Fractions: ½ is ‘one half’, ⅓ is ‘one third’, ¾ is ‘three quarters’. Decimals: 3.14 is ‘three point one four’. Knowing how to say ‘x is greater than y’ (x > y), ‘x is less than or equal to y’ (x ≤ y), and ‘angle ABC’ (∠ABC) will transform your confidence in maths lessons.

能够正确地口头读出表达式，对于课堂讨论和理解老师至关重要。例如，3²读作“three squared”，5³读作“five cubed”，2⁴读作“two to the power of four”。25的平方根是“the square root of twenty-five”。分数：½是“one half”，⅓是“one third”，¾是“three quarters”。小数：3.14是“three point one four”。知道如何说出“x is greater than y”（x > y），“x is less than or equal to y”（x ≤ y），以及“angle ABC”（∠ABC），将极大改变你在数学课上的自信心。

9. Study Strategies for English-Medium Mathematics | 英数学习策略

Relying on rote memorisation of steps without understanding the English reasoning can leave you lost when problems are phrased differently. Instead, adopt a dual focus: learn the maths concept and the English explanation simultaneously. When revising, read the textbook explanations aloud, then close the book and explain the concept to yourself in English. Use diagrams, number lines, and visual models to connect English terms with their mathematical meanings. Study groups can be especially helpful if you agree to speak only English while solving problems together.

只靠死记硬背步骤而不理解英文推理过程，当题目表述方式稍有变化时你就会感到迷茫。相反，应采用双管齐下的方法：同时学习数学概念和它的英文解释。复习时，大声朗读教科书上的解释，然后合上书，用英语给自己讲解这个概念。使用图表、数线和模型将英文术语与数学含义联系起来。如果约定在小组共同解题时只说英语，学习小组就会特别有帮助。

10. Using Technology and Online Resources Wisely | 合理利用科技与在线资源

A wealth of digital tools can support both your spoken English and your English-maths development. For pronunciation and listening, use apps where you can listen to native speakers and record your own voice for comparison. For mathematics, websites like Khan Academy offer short video lessons in clear English, covering every topic from basic arithmetic to calculus. Set the playback speed to 0.75x if needed, and turn on English subtitles. Interactive games that require you to read instructions in English and solve problems also blend learning with fun.

丰富的数字工具可以同时支持你的英语口语和英数发展。对于发音和听力，可以使用能听母语者发音并录制自己声音进行比较的应用程序。对于数学，像可汗学院这样的网站提供清晰的英语短视频课程，涵盖了从基础算术到微积分的每个主题。需要时可以设置播放速度为0.75倍速，并打开英文字幕。需要你阅读英文指令并解决问题的互动游戏，也能将学习与乐趣结合起来。

11. Building Confidence Through Practice and a Growth Mindset | 通过练习与成长型心态建立信心

Progress in speaking and maths does not happen overnight. There will be days when you struggle to find the right word or cannot solve a problem. Adopting a growth mindset means believing that your abilities can improve through effort. Celebrate small wins: the first time you ask a question without rehearsing, the first maths test where you understand every word, or a conversation with a new friend that flowed naturally. Keep a journal to record these moments. Reflection turns each challenge into evidence that you are growing, which fuels the motivation to keep practising.

口语和数学的进步不会一夜之间发生。会有那么些日子，你难以找到合适的词汇，或者解不出一道题目。采用成长型心态，意味着相信自己的能力能通过努力得到提升。庆祝小小的胜利：第一次无需排练就能提问，第一次数学测试中你理解了所有的词语，或者与一位新朋友顺畅自然的对话。记日记记录这些时刻。反思会将每一次挑战转化为你在成长的证据，从而为继续练习提供动力。

12. Seeking Support from Peers, Teachers, and Mentors | 寻求同伴、老师与导师的支持

You do not have to adapt alone. International schools have a strong support system: your form tutor, subject teachers, English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialists, and school counsellors are all there to help. Join a buddy programme if your school offers one, or simply ask a friendly classmate to be your ‘language partner’ for a week. Be honest about your difficulties; teachers can adjust their explanations or provide extra materials. Often, older students who went through the same transition are the best mentors – they can share shortcuts and encourage you when it feels tough.

你不必独自适应。国际学校拥有强大的支持系统：你的班级导师、学科老师、英语作为附加语言(EAL)专家以及学校辅导员都会提供帮助。如果学校有伙伴计划，就加入一个，或者直接请一位友善的同学做你一周的“语伴”。诚实地表达你的困难；老师可以调整他们的讲解或提供额外材料。通常，经历过同样过渡期的高年级学生是最好的导师——他们能分享捷径，并在你感到艰难时给予鼓励。

Published by TutorHao | General Academic Skills Revision Series | aleveler.com

更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）