1. EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING ENGLISH
1.1. THE ORIGIN OF THE AUTHOR'S IRRESISTABLE FASCINATION
1.1.1. The first words she heard in English from her grandmother
1.1.1.1. sounded like strange music, an exotic melody
1.1.2. Grandmother's stories, esp about her living in New Orleans
1.1.2.1. mysterious English words
1.2. ANOTHER WAYS OF SPEAKING
1.2.1. dramatic and direct
1.2.2. ways
1.2.2.1. cartoons on television
1.2.2.1.1. learned English in a fast, precise manner
1.2.2.1.2. metaphor
1.2.2.2. cowboy movies
1.2.2.3. plays in baseball
1.3. LOVE FOR ENGLISH
1.3.1. dull in the first grades of school
1.3.1.1. a beautiful language <---
1.3.2. integral to her being
1.3.2.1. appreciating literature, esp poetry
1.3.2.2. music lover
1.3.2.3. literature classes
1.3.2.3.1. learn through acting and reading
2. ACADEMIC VS SPOKEN ENGLISH
2.1. THE ENGLISH IN KINDERGARTEN
2.1.1. lacked charm
2.1.1.1. like the noise of her shoes crunching
2.2. THAT OTHER ENGLISH
2.2.1. always amazed the author
2.2.1.1. like the trill of a bird, light and crystalline
3. TRUE ENCOUNTER WITH SPOKEN ENGLISH
3.1. sound strange to everybody
3.2. teenage slang -> their english was almost unintelligible
3.3. a weirdo, spoke like a philosopher
3.3.1. asked to try to talk like normal people
3.4. literature, music
3.4.1. vocabulary from books had not existed in real life conversations
3.4.2. worthless to speak practical English
4. SCHOOL VACATIONS IN THE US
4.1. first impression of the US was idyllic
4.2. part of the life happy memories
4.3. language shock
5. EFFORTS IN RESHAPING ENGLISH MANNERS
5.1. paying extreme attention to expressions and words' choice
5.2. imitating others
5.3. would be left on the fringes of the main current if not improving
5.3.1. try hard