中學英語和大學英語教學之間的一個很大區別是，前者僅強調行文流暢，而後者則側重於學生能否於特定語境使用合適英語，以符合特定目的或角色。電子郵件通訊就是一個很好的例子。假設你正在向主管和同事發送一封電郵，你將如何起草電子郵件？以下是兩個例子。
示例 1:
Hey there,
I know there was a serious complaint from a customer yesterday. However, I have had too much on my plate and so I haven't replied to it yet. SORRY-will handle it soon. But so far, none of you have sent me any ideas about his complaint yet. I beg your input to get away from this trouble, please...
Love,
XXX
示例2:
Dear all,
I am drafting a reply to the customer's concern we received yesterday (for details, please refer to the customer's email below). However, the situation is quite complicated. Could you share your insights so that I could resolve the issue peacefully? Much appreciated if your comments could be received by tomorrow.
Best wishes,
XXX
當我向一些新生展示這兩個示例時，最初，某些學生認為示例1更好，因為當中有很多短語，例如「I have had too much on my plate」和「I beg your input...」但一封好的電郵通訊與詞彙的豐富程度無關，重點是電郵的用字是否切合該語境。當我提醒學生這應該是工作場所的電子郵件時，他們便選擇了示例2。這是為什麼呢？
示例1用字太累贅，就像是一篇涉及太多個人情感的敘事。在工作場所中，忙碌的同事們大多對你是否很忙 「I have had too much on my plate」以及你是否內疚「SORRY」不感興趣。所以寫電郵時，請保持簡潔，省略所有不必要的細節，並直接客觀地說明寫作目的：「I am drafting a reply to the customer's concern we received yesterday... Could you share your insights?」請記得指明一個確切的日期以收集他們意見「if your comments could be received by tomorrow」。簡潔和精確對有效的工作溝通至關重要。
示例1第二個問題是措辭。 郵件中有太多非正式的詞彙用法。例如，開首「Hey there,」以及結語「Love,」。「I have had too much on my plate」以及「I beg your input to get away from this trouble」也是過於口頭化和非正式的詞彙。另外，請避免在正式電子郵件中使用「haven't」之類的縮寫。
示例1的最後一個問題是語氣。句子「But so far, none of you have sent me any ideas about his complaint yet」聽起來很自大，作者似乎在指責主管和同事沒有發表意見。相反，示例二中的「Much appreciated if your comments could be received by tomorrow」聽起來不但有禮，而且不卑不亢。
新的DSE課程似乎也旨在提高學生的語境意識，但就培訓工作場所 / 學術英語的寫作 / 會話技能而言，似乎還不足夠。否則，我收到的某些正式電郵中就不會仍有非正式用語了。■江影玉博士 香港恒生大學英文系高級講師
隔星期五見報