Hi, I don't know if the topic will discuss here is posted in appropraite forums. I would like to find a tips on how I can communicate well in English?
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Hi, I don't know if the topic will discuss here is posted in appropraite forums. I would like to find a tips on how I can communicate well in English?
Two things that are helping me learn Spanish. I recently moved to Peru and had to learn the language
Get hold of a software package called Rosetta Stone. It is a really good tool for learning a new language.
Spend as much time as possible with people who speak the language. Dont be afraid to ask them to slow down and explain words/phrases you dont understand. Watching TV evidently also helps - especially if you watch a show you are already familiar with.
Watch TV shows (English)
Read books (English)
While watching TV shows is easy, I'd say that reading books is just as important because you learn more about constructs in a language that way, rather than learning the 'slang' that may be more commonly used on TV. (Such as "I didn't do nothin, dawg")
Actually, I've learned most of my english through video games! Playing Zelda at a young age required me to have a english dictionary by my side:D
I Googled English Language Lessons and got a bunch of hits including this one.
So don't most of the folks that grew up in english speaking environments.Quote:
Originally Posted by matrik02
:pQuote:
Originally Posted by Hack
I will learn it one year! :afrog:
Don't you mean "So do most of the folks that grew up in english speaking environments"? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack
:lol: That is EXACTLY what I meant and I honestly didn't think anyone would pick up on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinLiss
It is nice to know there are some english speaking people that know how to speak english. :thumb:
Hack is an IT geek not an English professor! :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinLiss
I believe you're wrong about that. When he was signing up to vbforums, I believe he was trying to get the username "Hick" but made a typo...
:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by mendhak
That isn't a complete sentence.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinLiss
I'm missing something. Why isn't it???Quote:
Originally Posted by Arrow_Raider
My undergrad degree is English. My MS is Computer Science. I love picking apart professional correpondences for grammatical errors. And these correspondences are by english-as-a-first-language people. Let me also say I know I make many mistakes. My point is, English is a difficult language. I once heard if you can learn English you can learn just about any other language. I have a dictionary in my desk drawer and use it often. That's the best tip - know when you need help and look it up. As for learning to speak it, try to converse with other English-speaking people and let them know to correct you, some people don't like to correct others.
A funny book is Anguished English, it's a compilation of all the mistakes businesses and sign-makers and authors etc. have made publicly. You can't read it without cracking up!
So how many mistakes have I made?
You must be the center of attention on the cocktail party circuit;)Quote:
Originally Posted by MMock
As for the mistakes you have made:
1) That undergrad degree, but you made up for it with the MS.
2) There was that incident back in 3rd grade....but the courts won't let us talk about that, still.
3) Asking that final question in your last post was a pretty serious mistake, because it opened you up to replies like this one.
It is a complete sentence, and except for the fact that you misspelled correspondences and you didn't capitalize English, you didn't make any as far as I can see, but while it's become acceptable, I try to avoid starting sentences with And.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMock
Thank you MartinLiss and Shaggy Hiker. So glad I chimed in!
Marlene (signing it this time so you know I'm a girl and shouldn't subject me to the normal boys' club ridicule).
:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by MMock
Girls are welcome, in the boys club.
:wave:
I would guess that you're a woman and not a girl, but in any case don't worry about ridicule. I keep the boys in line.Quote:
Originally Posted by MMock
I usually do say "woman". Somehow "girl" seemed appropriate just now.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinLiss
You have nothing to fear, we will not MMock you. :afrog:
That's very funny! M-o-c-k are the first four letters of my Lithuanian last name. My car license plate is MMock so that's what I use as my "handle" (that's from CB days, if anyone remembers those days and what a handle is! But most of you are probably young enough to be my sons/daughters :( )Quote:
Originally Posted by mendhak
10-4 good buddy!Quote:
Originally Posted by MMock
Cool! 10-4 back at ya!Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinLiss
Ah, I had to google for "CB" - I thought you were talking about Canadian Bacon.
We use shoutcast these days. It's very convenient. And just as illegal in many cases. :)
Well you were close since people often "chew the fat" when talking via CB radio.Quote:
Originally Posted by mendhak
:D
Mudfish is my handle for sure good buddy.
Got to watch out for the county mounty around here, when you got the peddle down.
CB the first cell phone. :afrog:
:cry:
I am getting old.
By the way, can we just get it straight what the difference is between it's and its?
Its is possessive. You do not need the apostophe as you would for a regular possessive noun, e.g. the dog's bone or Marlene's pet peeve. Because that is my pet peeve - people who don't know the difference between its and it's. Someone just posted to my car repairs thread and said "It will soon enter it's 8th season of competition" which is saying "It will soon enter it is 8th season of competition."
Many people make this mistake so I don't mean to pick on anyone specifically.
And of course, a noun with an apostrophe-s can either be possessive or a contraction, depending how used: My car's in the shop for repairs... My car's new ignition coils better be worth the $1235 it is costing me (sorry for cross threading!)
Thanks for letting me pretend I'm a school teacher! Its' been fun.
Odd that you should choose that example, as it's one that I've never been able to get straight. In fact, I'm sure I would forget what you just posted, except that I didn't read it carefully enough to allow any comprehension to slip in. I'm an agnostic on that subject.
By the way, I'm certainly old enough to know what a CB is, but I just don't care. I was never involved with that sub-culture. We still use a bunch of that stuff out here, though. Radio can often reach where cell cannot....yet. Depends on what's your twenty.
Ohhhh.... I was reading it as a question. If taken as a statement, it is a valid sentence.
It's pretty simple really. If you mean "it is", it's it's, otherwise it's its.:)
I hope you intended that. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MMock
Yes I did!Quote:
Originally Posted by penagate
I love that!Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinLiss
And yes, it is pretty simple.
Its good 2 no.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mendhak
Mendhak, don't butt in to adult conversations, it's bad manners.
I would have usedQuote:
Originally Posted by MMock
So, (comma) how many mistakes have I made?
or just
How many mistakes have I made?
But I could be just as wrong as you. :p
And whilst on the subjectQuote:
Originally Posted by MartinLiss
its vs its'
???
This is what happens when you over-nitpick English: you start finding mistakes that aren't there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxer
All of those forms are correct; the original is most elegant. The difference is a matter of personal taste. Too many commas spoil the broth, or something.
There's no such construction as its'.Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxer