dusty1 (Australia)

What needs to change is the approach: the language should not be reduced to memorable words. The learners should focus on information transfer, how to impart it in a different language. Information consists of more than mere words. Whole sentences are the elements of successful locutions, not single words.

Therefore the learners should learn to fill gaps in sentences with words that fit. They should learn to anticipate parts of the sentences and guess the meanings of key words rather than memorize new words outside of any context.

Two high school students buy goods from the foreign "owner" of a grocery store near No 2 High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University on Monday. [Photo provided to China Daily]