中国学生为什么要学习美国历史?

最近，网上流传着一篇难得见到的好文，《中国学生为什么要学习美国（或者其他）历史?》，经查，作者为江博教育资深历史外教Alan老师，毕业于弗吉尼亚大学历史专业的Alan三言两语就解释清楚了一个很吊诡的问题：

中国人为什么要学美国或者其他历史？

为了便于大家理解，我们特别邀请张浩轩（Albert）(英国杜伦大学翻译硕士，布里斯托大学电影硕士，杜伦大学符号学博士)全文翻译。

Why should Chinese students learn American history?

Sometimes Chinese students ask me why they should bother to learn American History (or study any history at all for that matter) when they already have such a heavy course load. My personal motivation is obvious, I enjoy it. But, it may not be so obvious for some. Even today events from hundreds of years ago affect the way people in different parts of the United States speak and act. History affects their diet and what people feel about political and religious issues. History affects every, or nearly every, aspect of life. Knowing why people act the way they do (being familiar with historic foundations of culture) in different parts of the country can give you an advantage when and if you decide to study there.

Another reason is that, given that human nature has remained pretty much constant over the course of recorded history, people tend to make the same mistakes over and over again. By studying history, any history, you can avoid, or try to avoid, blundering into the same mistakes as those that have gone before you. Learning from the experiences of others, if you can manage to do it, is much less costly in terms of both heartbreak and money.

Lastly, and considered by some but not myself to be more practically, it is required. History, specifically American History, is almost always a required course at almost every university in the United States. If you study it now you can skip the class altogether by taking either the AP US History exam before college or the C.L.E.P. (College Level Examination Program) test once you get there. This will allow you to save time and money, and move on to major specific classes more quickly than otherwise possible.

Each of these reasons taken separately would be enough to encourage you to take an American History class (or other history class for that matter). Taken together, along with countless other reasons, it becomes not only easy to justify taking the course but difficult to justify not taking it.

中国学生为什么要学习美国（或者其他）历史?

有时候中国学生会问我，在身负各种课业重担的情况下，他们何必要去学美国历史（亦或是缘何去学历史个东西）。激发我个人学历史的原因很简单，我乐在其中。不过这个乐趣对于某些人来说可能不那么显而易见。即便是现在，几百年前的所发生的种种事件还会影响着现今美国不同地区的人的言谈举止。历史影响着他们的饮食习惯，劝化着他们的政治观念和宗教信仰。历史感化着他们生活的方方面面。通晓美国各地人民所作所为的各中原因（了解一个文化的历史基石）能够让你更好的在是否赴美留学的问题上做出更合理的决定。

学习历史的另一个原因是，因人性“纵千年仍故我”的特质，人类也在周而复始的重蹈覆辙。对于任何一种历史的学习都能够让你或多或少避免复蹈前车之鉴。若可以前人之行过为鉴，你大可避免心力俱焚、千金散尽之悲苦。

最后，在某些人看来，对美国历史的学习在实际操作上是一种硬性要求。历史，尤其是美国历史是几乎所有美国大学的必修课。如果你现在就开始着手准备，你可以通过参加美国历史的大学预修考试AP或是CLEP来免修这门课。这样一来，你可以节省大量的时间和留学经费，从而更快进入你的专业课。

以上任何一条原因都足以激励你来上美国历史课（或是其他历史课）了。综上所述，通观全局，学史之必要不但是显而易见的，更是毋庸置疑的。