不久前，今年31岁的央视主播芮成钢采访了美国总统巴拉克－奥巴马及不少其他出席G20峰会的领导人。他娴熟的英语水平和对国际形势的熟知另观众刮目相看。
IN raising questions for US President Barack Obama and interviewing numerous VIPs at G20, the CCTV anchor Rui Chenggang, 31, has caused audiences to take note with his proficiency in English and understanding of global issues.
其实，早在1997年，芮成钢就在21世纪全国英语演讲比赛中获奖。
Rui was the winner of the 21st Century English speaking competition in 1997.
而今的他更向世人证明：在当今社会，良好的英语水平和全球化思维方式能够帮你走向成功。
He has shown that English and global thinking are part of a recipe for success in today's world.
上周四，《21世纪英文报》记者许薇薇到中央电视台演播室采访了芮成钢，后者分享了英语在他生活中所扮演的角色。
21st Century's Xu Weiwei was in the CCTV studio in Beijing last Thursday to get more on Rui's story and the role of English in his life.
21世纪：在英语学习方面，你有什么独特的技巧么？
21st: What was your unique approach to learning English?
芮：首先，不要期待用英语来追求名利。只把它看作是获取信息与乐趣的一个渠道。
Rui: First, you need to set aside goals of gaining fame or wealth through English. Just take it as an opportunity to open another door to the world of information, fun.
其次，学英语不仅仅是学习语法与规则，而是学习西方文化与观点，用精密的眼光看待周围的事物。
Second, studying English is not about grammar or rules. Instead, it’s about learning culture, perspectives or ways to look at things, critically.
你要用语言来达成你的梦想，而不是仅仅用来通过考试。
You need to use the language to achieve goals rather than just pass tests.
21世纪：在21世纪全国英语演讲比赛中获奖对你的人生有什么影响？
21st: How did winning the 21st Century English speaking contest affect your life?
芮：在中国英语学习群体中，这是个备受瞩目的比赛。
Rui: The competition was very high-profile among China's English learning community.
但它并不像超女那样会让你一夜成名。
But it's not like Super Girl in bringing overnight fame.
这个比赛让我有机会见到其他优秀的英语演讲者，更让我有机会考验自己，探索世界并享受这场比赛。
The competition gave me a chance to meet with other excellent English speakers, a chance to test myself, to explore the world and have fun with it.
英语不是通往成功的唯一渠道，沟通技能和宽阔的眼界同样重要。
English was not the only formula to success; things such as communication skills and a broad scope are also important.
21世纪：那么你能向我们的读者介绍一下如何拓宽自己的眼界么？
21st: So, could you give our readers some advice on how to develop that broad scope?
芮：就我个人而言，我积极地结交世界各地的朋友，并和他们交换想法。在美国耶鲁大学1年的学习拓宽了我的视角。
Rui: My way was through actively making friends with people from other countries and exchanging ideas with them. The one year at Yale University in the US helped me develop the perspective.
21世纪：你有很多机会采访国际上的大人物。对于一些中国问题，尤其是比较敏感的话题，你是如何向他们解说的呢？
21st: You've had a lot of chance to meet with important foreign figures. How do you explain Chinese issues to them, especially sensitive things?
芮：学英语的过程也在学习如何思考。使用不同语言的人们有着不同的思维方式和逻辑。
Rui: Learning English is also about learning how to think. When people use different languages, they have different thinking or logic.
所以，如果我想要保卫中国或者对某事做解释以消除彼此间的隔阂，我必须采取一个合意的方式。
If I want to defend China or explain something to bridge the gap, I have to do it in an acceptable way.
例如：我曾叫西方人不要用水平的视角来看中国，而是采取俯视的视角，这样他们就能得到一个更加准确的中国景观。
For instance, I've asked Westerners to look at China with a vertical view instead of a horizontal one, so they could get a more accurate picture of China.
中国还年轻，因此会有成长之痛，也可能会有错误，但是它是强有力的，而且代表了明天。
China's young, so it may have growing pains and can make mistakes, but it's dynamic and represents the future.
21世纪：在G20峰会上，你“代表中国及世界人民”问了奥巴马两个问题。
21st: You asked Obama two questions "on behalf of the Chinese and the world's people" at G20.
尽管这受到了不少人的好评，但仍有网民质疑你不能代表他们。对此，你是怎么看的？
Although it received some good comments, it generated some noises among netizens who questioned your ability to represent them? How do you respond to that?
芮：人们那样说是因为嫉妒，他们并不清楚我在说什么。
Rui: People say that because they're probably jealous, and they don't really know what I'm talking about.
而我确实有权那样说。因为我是一名中国人，同时还是个记者。面对这样的机会，一定要传达一个观点。
Of course I had the right to say that. That's because I'm a Chinese person and I'm a journalist. It's very important to voice an opinion when there's a chance.
事实上，每个中国人都有权代表国家说话。就仿佛站在奥林匹克站台上的运动员代表着自己的国家一样。世界公民同样有这样的权利。
Actually, any single Chinese could have the right to speak or behalf of the nation. That's like asking whether the athletes standing on the Olympic platform can represent the country. It's the same with a world citizen.
芮成钢答网友问
Quick Q&A from netizens
Liao Xiao：你能为我推荐一本书么？
Could you recommend a book for me? – Liao Xiao
芮：《三十而励》。这本书教导年轻人如何睿智地看待世界、审视自我。
Rui: Life Begins at 30. It will shed light on young people and how they can look at the world and themselves in a wise way.
Cai Zhicheng：在经济危机形势下，你能给我们一些就业方面的建议么？
Could you give us some advice on job-hunting with the financial crisis as a background? – Cai Zhicheng
芮：第一，找个有趣的工作。在这种情况下，他们甚至会去西藏或新疆教英语或数学。不要太看重金钱，试着倾听内心深处的想法。
Rui: 1. Find an interesting job. Under these circumstances, they could even go teaching English or mathematics in Tibet or in Xinjiang. Don't be just concerned with money; try listening to your heart.
第二，要耐心。你需要从最基础、最琐碎的工作做起。
2. Be patient. You need to start with the most basic and trivial work.
Zhan Shuai：你的人生座右铭是什么？
What's your life motto? – Zhan Shuai
芮：做一个有趣的人，做有趣的事。最不想做的就是一个乏味的人。
Rui: I live by the principle of "being an interesting person, and doing interesting things." The last thing in life is being a boring person.