Learning English
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Personally I was learning English with personal tutor activly listening to voice recordings to try to grasp the correct pronunciation. Watching movies with subtitles is also really good for learning English AND slang. I think forums aren't all that useful just because people don't correct your spelling or grammar mistakes when you make 'em so you can't really understand if you've written it wrong or right. -------------------------------- Human stupidity is infinite.
Alex Orovetskiy wrote:
I think forums aren't all that useful just because people don't correct your spelling or grammar mistakes when you make 'em so you can't really understand if you've written it wrong or right.
That is true - But if you are asking questions in the programming forums you can probably tell when the answer comes back. Also, in the programming forums people will more likely say when your question doesn't makes sense. Although sometimes I don't know if it is a lack of understanding of what question to ask or a language problem. Second point about forums is that some people have a tendancy to use 1337 speak or something equally useless. I have difficulty with that and English is my first language. If someone is learning English and they are exposed to that it could cause lots of confusion. Especially as it will be difficult to distinguish different formalities of language. A friend of mine commented on my Spanish as being like that spoken by a grandparent (so I guess at least I probably won't offend anyone) but I didn't realise that - To me it was the correct way to say something in Spanish. If I'd been exposed to a load of SMS speak I might have the mistaken belief that it was the correct way to write Spanish and in a business communication that can make you come across as being less than intelligent.
My: Blog | Photos "Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in." -- Confucious
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I'm not a native english speaker either. I've found that active use of a language is the best way to learn it. You could live in a country where english is spoken. If that's not an option, then tv and movies are good for hearing comprehension. Internet forums, such as this one, are good for reading and writing. Books are good too! Also make sure you speak the language often. I'm sure you have friends who also want to learn the language. Talk to eachother in english! Concentrate on correct pronounciation, as it will make it easier for you to communicate with people whose native language is not english.
-- Pictures[^] from my Japan trip.Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
I'm not a native english speaker either
by the way, you have a good command of the language. Mike "We ain't stuck on stupid." badass Lt. General Russel Honore **"Remember - live bunnies are a great source of nourishment"**silly-assed cartoon A vegan is someone who never heard a carrot cry! I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
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I'm not a native English speaker. In your opinion, what is the best way of learning English ?:-O Ly Hoang Hai
English-speaking girlfriend :) Never forget: "Stay kul and happy" (I.A.)
David's thoughts / dnhsoftware.org / MyHTMLTidy -
Alex Orovetskiy wrote:
I think forums aren't all that useful just because people don't correct your spelling or grammar mistakes when you make 'em so you can't really understand if you've written it wrong or right.
That is true - But if you are asking questions in the programming forums you can probably tell when the answer comes back. Also, in the programming forums people will more likely say when your question doesn't makes sense. Although sometimes I don't know if it is a lack of understanding of what question to ask or a language problem. Second point about forums is that some people have a tendancy to use 1337 speak or something equally useless. I have difficulty with that and English is my first language. If someone is learning English and they are exposed to that it could cause lots of confusion. Especially as it will be difficult to distinguish different formalities of language. A friend of mine commented on my Spanish as being like that spoken by a grandparent (so I guess at least I probably won't offend anyone) but I didn't realise that - To me it was the correct way to say something in Spanish. If I'd been exposed to a load of SMS speak I might have the mistaken belief that it was the correct way to write Spanish and in a business communication that can make you come across as being less than intelligent.
My: Blog | Photos "Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in." -- Confucious
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
Also, in the programming forums people will more likely say when your question doesn't makes sense.
You see from all my English grammar I clearly remember and use only 3 tenses (exxagerating of course but still) and with the use of 3 tenses I can make myself really clear under almost any circumstances. And I doubt people would correct my spelling if they have understood my question. 1337 speak and general stupidity is another problem which I, as forum admin, hate so much I cannot explain using only words. -------------------------------- Human stupidity is infinite.
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Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
I'm not a native english speaker either
by the way, you have a good command of the language. Mike "We ain't stuck on stupid." badass Lt. General Russel Honore **"Remember - live bunnies are a great source of nourishment"**silly-assed cartoon A vegan is someone who never heard a carrot cry! I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
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I'm not a native english speaker either. I've found that active use of a language is the best way to learn it. You could live in a country where english is spoken. If that's not an option, then tv and movies are good for hearing comprehension. Internet forums, such as this one, are good for reading and writing. Books are good too! Also make sure you speak the language often. I'm sure you have friends who also want to learn the language. Talk to eachother in english! Concentrate on correct pronounciation, as it will make it easier for you to communicate with people whose native language is not english.
-- Pictures[^] from my Japan trip.Whats that, speak English please. :-D Of course I'm kidding. I'm jelous of people that have a fluent grasp of more that one language. I can speak french (though I'm rusty), bits of spanish & italian, but its getting to practice - no chance.
"Je pense, donc je mange." - Rene Descartes 1689 - Just before his mother put his tea on the table. Shameless Plug - Distributed
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English-speaking girlfriend :) Never forget: "Stay kul and happy" (I.A.)
David's thoughts / dnhsoftware.org / MyHTMLTidyOr a good English butler. ;)
"Je pense, donc je mange." - Rene Descartes 1689 - Just before his mother put his tea on the table. Shameless Plug - Distributed Database Transactions in .NET using COM+
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Whats that, speak English please. :-D Of course I'm kidding. I'm jelous of people that have a fluent grasp of more that one language. I can speak french (though I'm rusty), bits of spanish & italian, but its getting to practice - no chance.
"Je pense, donc je mange." - Rene Descartes 1689 - Just before his mother put his tea on the table. Shameless Plug - Distributed
I've been struggling with German now for a while, and I've come to the point where I need daily conversations (or at least attempts at that!) in order to progress further. We need more Germans in Sweden! Specifically Karlstad. :-D
Giles wrote:
I can speak french (though I'm rusty), bits of spanish & italian, but its getting to practice - no chance.
I'm impressed. I'm impressed with anyone knowing the roman languages. They seem incredibly hard to learn. :~
-- Pictures[^] from my Japan trip. -
Or a good English butler. ;)
"Je pense, donc je mange." - Rene Descartes 1689 - Just before his mother put his tea on the table. Shameless Plug - Distributed Database Transactions in .NET using COM+
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English-speaking girlfriend :) Never forget: "Stay kul and happy" (I.A.)
David's thoughts / dnhsoftware.org / MyHTMLTidydnh wrote:
English-speaking girlfriend
:laugh: things could go wrong man :-D MyBlogs http://weblogs.com.pk/kadnan
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I'm not a native English speaker. In your opinion, what is the best way of learning English ?:-O Ly Hoang Hai
IRC :cool: MyBlogs http://weblogs.com.pk/kadnan -- modified at 15:28 Saturday 17th December, 2005
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Whats that, speak English please. :-D Of course I'm kidding. I'm jelous of people that have a fluent grasp of more that one language. I can speak french (though I'm rusty), bits of spanish & italian, but its getting to practice - no chance.
"Je pense, donc je mange." - Rene Descartes 1689 - Just before his mother put his tea on the table. Shameless Plug - Distributed
I only speak dutch and english and a very little bit of german. Don't ask me about my french ;P got really bad figures for that. It was one of the reasons to quit VWO (form of preparing scientific education in holland) and learn computer interface technics. WM.
What about weapons of mass-construction? -
I've been struggling with German now for a while, and I've come to the point where I need daily conversations (or at least attempts at that!) in order to progress further. We need more Germans in Sweden! Specifically Karlstad. :-D
Giles wrote:
I can speak french (though I'm rusty), bits of spanish & italian, but its getting to practice - no chance.
I'm impressed. I'm impressed with anyone knowing the roman languages. They seem incredibly hard to learn. :~
-- Pictures[^] from my Japan trip.Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
I'm impressed with anyone knowing the roman languages. They seem incredibly hard to learn
Interesting you say that. English is an even split between French and a Germanic root. The Germanic root comes form Old Saxon (similar to Fris and Platte Deutch) via the Angles and Saxons, and form Old Norse, from the Danes that settled the north of England. There is virtually no Celtic (no more than a few words) in the English language. So, from our point of view it is as easy to lean French as a Germanic language because we have so many ellements of both. For example, the germanic emglish word 'give', from gefen, is duplicated by a french word, 'donate'. The same is true for 'help' and 'aid', and many others. Many long English words come directly from french: Economy, history, governement, impression, situation, delay, arrive, comprehend etc Some of our grammer is very germanic; 'Is that apple' being translated by the Dutch 'Is dat apple', and 'Have you eaten' being translated by 'Hept u gegeten'. And many of the more common, shorter words are Germanic, his, her, we, I , you, that, is, was, door, boat, hound, sea, earth, land, see, hear, speak, out, in etc. As you can see, English is a young, impure languge. But flexible, and allowing a native speaker to understand the root languages. Nunc est bibendum