How can I study English?
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My mother tongue is not Enlish, and use English fluently is my dream and goal. But how can I study it? Today my post is thought as fluently, too heartrending!
========================================= 中国，昆明
If you go to a book store or library, get books that are either fiction or biographies. Authors I remember from school are: John Steinbeck and Charlotte Bronte. If you enjoy fantasy, a good author is J.R.R. Tolkien with 'The Hobbit' and then 'The Lord of the Rings Trilogy' (Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Return of the King). You can also get English language news magazines. Where I went to college, a number of people there were French and they said they learned by watching news programs. Tim
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If you go to a book store or library, get books that are either fiction or biographies. Authors I remember from school are: John Steinbeck and Charlotte Bronte. If you enjoy fantasy, a good author is J.R.R. Tolkien with 'The Hobbit' and then 'The Lord of the Rings Trilogy' (Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Return of the King). You can also get English language news magazines. Where I went to college, a number of people there were French and they said they learned by watching news programs. Tim
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Thanks very much. For the four books, I only know one of them. That's "The Merchant of Venice", the name in Chinese is "威尼斯商人". But I heared the old English(古英语) is very difficult to understand.
========================================= 中国，昆明
guiqul163 wrote:
But I heared the old English(古英语 is very difficult to understand
Hey - it's hard for those of us who were bought up with Shakespeare to understand. The problem is that the language has changed a lot since that time - Shakespeare and the writers who immediately followed were responsible for shaping the English language. Interestingly enough, this is one of the reasons why American English differs from British English. The two languages shared a common core, and then began to diverge because of the lack of contact between the two on a day to day basis. Anyway, you probably didn't want to know that. A good source of learning is the BBC World Service. They operate a "learning english" function, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/china/learningenglish/[^]
Arthur Dent - "That would explain it. All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something big and sinister going on in the world." Slartibartfast - "No. That's perfectly normal paranoia. Everybody in the universe gets that." Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Thanks very much. For the four books, I only know one of them. That's "The Merchant of Venice", the name in Chinese is "威尼斯商人". But I heared the old English(古英语) is very difficult to understand.
========================================= 中国，昆明
guiqul163 wrote:
But I heared the old English(古英语 is very difficult to understand.
yes, it's difficult even for most English speakers.
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My mother tongue is not Enlish, and use English fluently is my dream and goal. But how can I study it? Today my post is thought as fluently, too heartrending!
========================================= 中国，昆明
If your current English skill is good enough for your job, then I would suggest you let it be so. Instead, learn more about your own culture. Being fluent in English might help a bit in communication, but won't magically boost you up in peer relationship. As always, only ability counts, regardless of language and culture.
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Read English language books, watch English language TV, listen to English language radio. If you can pick good examples that is better. Find out what high schools in English speaking countries are using in English classes. For example, when I was at school I read books like: * Nineteen eighty four * The Lord of the Flies * The Merchant of Venice (although that uses 400 year old language) * poetry of ee cummings If you are listening to radio or TV choose the news or documentary programmes as the people on them tend speak better, so you will pick up a better understanding of how to express yourself correctly. For an understanding of colloquialisms watch fictional programmes. In particular look out for idiomatic expressions. These don't translate literally, but are often used.
*** Developer Day 4 in Reading, England on 2nd December 2006 - Registration Now Open *** Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog | Photos
you're cruel! ;)
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
Nineteen eighty four
a book full of words Orwell made up for his English-of-the-future ?
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
The Merchant of Venice
that's tough for many native English speakers !
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
poetry of ee cummings
i happen to love ee. but IMO, he's an example of how to creatively break the rules of English grammar, syntax and the formal rules of English poetry. pretty advanced stuff, to fully appreciate.
she being Brand -new;and you know consequently a little stiff i was careful of her and(having thoroughly oiled the universal joint tested my gas felt of her radiator made sure her springs were O. K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her up,slipped the clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she kicked what the hell)next minute i was back in neutral tried and again slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing(my lev-er Right- oh and her gears being in A 1 shape passed from low through second-in-to-high like greasedlightning)just as we turned the corner of Divinity avenue i touched the accelerator and give her the juice,good (it was the first ride and believe i we was happy to see how nice she acted right up to the last minute coming back down by the Public Gardens i slammed on the internalexpanding & externalcontracting brakes Bothatonce and brought allofher tremB -ling to a:dead. stand- ;Still)
you have to pretty good with English already to be able to make sense out of something like "brought allofher tremB / -ling / to a:dead. / stand- / ;Still" maybe William Carlos Williams would be a little less daunting. :)
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold
or maybe Canada's Cheese Bard, James McIntyre:
Ode On The Mammoth Cheese --------------------------- We have seen the Queen of cheese, Laying quietly at your ease, Gently fanned by evening breeze -- Thy fair form no flies dare seize. All gaily dressed soon you'll go To the great Pro
-
Read English language books, watch English language TV, listen to English language radio. If you can pick good examples that is better. Find out what high schools in English speaking countries are using in English classes. For example, when I was at school I read books like: * Nineteen eighty four * The Lord of the Flies * The Merchant of Venice (although that uses 400 year old language) * poetry of ee cummings If you are listening to radio or TV choose the news or documentary programmes as the people on them tend speak better, so you will pick up a better understanding of how to express yourself correctly. For an understanding of colloquialisms watch fictional programmes. In particular look out for idiomatic expressions. These don't translate literally, but are often used.
*** Developer Day 4 in Reading, England on 2nd December 2006 - Registration Now Open *** Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog | Photos
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
poetry of ee cummings
what about the poetry of CP members? ;)
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
poetry of ee cummings
what about the poetry of CP members? ;)
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
mm k: here's Bob (no, a different Bob).
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guiqul163 wrote:
But I heared the old English(古英语 is very difficult to understand
Hey - it's hard for those of us who were bought up with Shakespeare to understand. The problem is that the language has changed a lot since that time - Shakespeare and the writers who immediately followed were responsible for shaping the English language. Interestingly enough, this is one of the reasons why American English differs from British English. The two languages shared a common core, and then began to diverge because of the lack of contact between the two on a day to day basis. Anyway, you probably didn't want to know that. A good source of learning is the BBC World Service. They operate a "learning english" function, available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/china/learningenglish/[^]
Arthur Dent - "That would explain it. All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something big and sinister going on in the world." Slartibartfast - "No. That's perfectly normal paranoia. Everybody in the universe gets that." Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
Hey - it's hard for those of us who were bought up with Shakespeare to understand. The problem is that the language has changed a lot since that time - Shakespeare and the writers who immediately followed were responsible for shaping the English language. Interestingly enough, this is one of the reasons why American English differs from British English. The two languages shared a common core, and then began to diverge because of the lack of contact between the two on a day to day basis.
I don't think its merely lack of contract. Noah Webster actually made intentional changes in his dictionary seeking to 'free' American English from the encumbrances of Queen's English.
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you're cruel! ;)
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
Nineteen eighty four
a book full of words Orwell made up for his English-of-the-future ?
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
The Merchant of Venice
that's tough for many native English speakers !
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
poetry of ee cummings
i happen to love ee. but IMO, he's an example of how to creatively break the rules of English grammar, syntax and the formal rules of English poetry. pretty advanced stuff, to fully appreciate.
she being Brand -new;and you know consequently a little stiff i was careful of her and(having thoroughly oiled the universal joint tested my gas felt of her radiator made sure her springs were O. K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her up,slipped the clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she kicked what the hell)next minute i was back in neutral tried and again slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing(my lev-er Right- oh and her gears being in A 1 shape passed from low through second-in-to-high like greasedlightning)just as we turned the corner of Divinity avenue i touched the accelerator and give her the juice,good (it was the first ride and believe i we was happy to see how nice she acted right up to the last minute coming back down by the Public Gardens i slammed on the internalexpanding & externalcontracting brakes Bothatonce and brought allofher tremB -ling to a:dead. stand- ;Still)
you have to pretty good with English already to be able to make sense out of something like "brought allofher tremB / -ling / to a:dead. / stand- / ;Still" maybe William Carlos Williams would be a little less daunting. :)
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold
or maybe Canada's Cheese Bard, James McIntyre:
Ode On The Mammoth Cheese --------------------------- We have seen the Queen of cheese, Laying quietly at your ease, Gently fanned by evening breeze -- Thy fair form no flies dare seize. All gaily dressed soon you'll go To the great Pro
-
you're cruel! ;)
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
Nineteen eighty four
a book full of words Orwell made up for his English-of-the-future ?
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
The Merchant of Venice
that's tough for many native English speakers !
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
poetry of ee cummings
i happen to love ee. but IMO, he's an example of how to creatively break the rules of English grammar, syntax and the formal rules of English poetry. pretty advanced stuff, to fully appreciate.
she being Brand -new;and you know consequently a little stiff i was careful of her and(having thoroughly oiled the universal joint tested my gas felt of her radiator made sure her springs were O. K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her up,slipped the clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she kicked what the hell)next minute i was back in neutral tried and again slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing(my lev-er Right- oh and her gears being in A 1 shape passed from low through second-in-to-high like greasedlightning)just as we turned the corner of Divinity avenue i touched the accelerator and give her the juice,good (it was the first ride and believe i we was happy to see how nice she acted right up to the last minute coming back down by the Public Gardens i slammed on the internalexpanding & externalcontracting brakes Bothatonce and brought allofher tremB -ling to a:dead. stand- ;Still)
you have to pretty good with English already to be able to make sense out of something like "brought allofher tremB / -ling / to a:dead. / stand- / ;Still" maybe William Carlos Williams would be a little less daunting. :)
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold
or maybe Canada's Cheese Bard, James McIntyre:
Ode On The Mammoth Cheese --------------------------- We have seen the Queen of cheese, Laying quietly at your ease, Gently fanned by evening breeze -- Thy fair form no flies dare seize. All gaily dressed soon you'll go To the great Pro
-
mm k: here's Bob (no, a different Bob).
well, I have no Bob poems... I guess I will have to write one sometime.... Of Youthful Ignorance A youthful heart, ahhh, to be young again... To find a lady, a beautiful miss And place on her lonely brow love's first kiss. Joyful curiosity beyond ken Safe in my ignorance, time and again. Looking to the future with childish bliss, Looking without knowing something's amiss. Those youthful eyes, ahhh, to be young again. And yet, my soul I would have to deny To keep youth's innocently darkened veil, To think that life never has a good-bye, To sing of the future and never cry. I would rather try knowing I may fail, Finding comfort in the wisdom of "why." Written by Jeffry J. Brickley, January 2000
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
Read English language books, watch English language TV, listen to English language radio. If you can pick good examples that is better. Find out what high schools in English speaking countries are using in English classes. For example, when I was at school I read books like: * Nineteen eighty four * The Lord of the Flies * The Merchant of Venice (although that uses 400 year old language) * poetry of ee cummings If you are listening to radio or TV choose the news or documentary programmes as the people on them tend speak better, so you will pick up a better understanding of how to express yourself correctly. For an understanding of colloquialisms watch fictional programmes. In particular look out for idiomatic expressions. These don't translate literally, but are often used.
*** Developer Day 4 in Reading, England on 2nd December 2006 - Registration Now Open *** Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog | Photos
Isn't all that regarded as subversive in some country.
Blog Have I http:\\www.frankkerrigan.com
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Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
Hey - it's hard for those of us who were bought up with Shakespeare to understand. The problem is that the language has changed a lot since that time - Shakespeare and the writers who immediately followed were responsible for shaping the English language. Interestingly enough, this is one of the reasons why American English differs from British English. The two languages shared a common core, and then began to diverge because of the lack of contact between the two on a day to day basis.
I don't think its merely lack of contract. Noah Webster actually made intentional changes in his dictionary seeking to 'free' American English from the encumbrances of Queen's English.
Ah, that is true, but the two languages had started to diverge quite significantly before this. Bear in mind that Shakespeare invented over 1700 words that we use today. Bill Bryson wrote an excellent book called Mother Tongue which discusses the changes to the language over this period.
Arthur Dent - "That would explain it. All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something big and sinister going on in the world." Slartibartfast - "No. That's perfectly normal paranoia. Everybody in the universe gets that." Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
Hey - it's hard for those of us who were bought up with Shakespeare to understand. The problem is that the language has changed a lot since that time - Shakespeare and the writers who immediately followed were responsible for shaping the English language. Interestingly enough, this is one of the reasons why American English differs from British English. The two languages shared a common core, and then began to diverge because of the lack of contact between the two on a day to day basis.
I don't think its merely lack of contract. Noah Webster actually made intentional changes in his dictionary seeking to 'free' American English from the encumbrances of Queen's English.
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Isn't all that regarded as subversive in some country.
Blog Have I http:\\www.frankkerrigan.com
I guess it could be. I would recon most of George Orwell's stuff would be regarded as subversive by certain pseudo-democratic totalitarian regimes.
*** Developer Day 4 in Reading, England on 2nd December 2006 - Registration Now Open *** Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog | Photos
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leckey wrote:
Yeah, no 'u' in our color!
I had the most difficult time with that as a child... that and adding an e to the end of bath.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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leckey wrote:
Yeah, no 'u' in our color!
I had the most difficult time with that as a child... that and adding an e to the end of bath.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
How's that? "I bathe in the bath." Simple really.;)
Arthur Dent - "That would explain it. All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something big and sinister going on in the world." Slartibartfast - "No. That's perfectly normal paranoia. Everybody in the universe gets that." Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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How's that? "I bathe in the bath." Simple really.;)
Arthur Dent - "That would explain it. All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something big and sinister going on in the world." Slartibartfast - "No. That's perfectly normal paranoia. Everybody in the universe gets that." Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
I was young, what do you expect? :) of course the net result I wanted to add/subtract all silent e's for a year. :)
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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I guess it could be. I would recon most of George Orwell's stuff would be regarded as subversive by certain pseudo-democratic totalitarian regimes.
*** Developer Day 4 in Reading, England on 2nd December 2006 - Registration Now Open *** Upcoming Scottish Developers events: * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog | Photos