Are you still a poor speaker after studying a foreign language for many years?
By hiddenwing
@hiddenwing (3719)
China
December 14, 2008 12:12am CST
Oh my golly gosh!
I have learned English for twenty years since I was in a kindergarten. Shame on so many levels! Every time, when I read some discussion that was started by someone, I almost got jealous to death! How come they write so excellently? Me, on the other hand, I still write sub-English though the kind people here don't look down upon me somehow! In order to speak English like an American, I went to new Oriental training my accent when I was in high school, which cost me an arm and a leg, yet it didn't really work. Haha, couldn't tell you my accent is bad. Attribute to the native speakers' amazing listening comprehension, they understand me effortlessly. It doesn't mean that I am doing any good!
Then, I tried to imitate tons of awesome sentences again and again... Well, bearing so many lines in mind, my English was still awful! Later, there were lots of knowledgeable foreigners around me. One is supposed to take the color of one's company whereas I am out! People said that practice makes perfect, which sounds pretty good. If they could see me now...
"To learn, or not to learn" Poor Shakespeare would be rolling over in his grave for the misuse of his famous words by me. God, excuse for my crappy writing!
How are you doing?
2 people like this
13 responses
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
14 Dec 08
Please stop putting yourself down. I can't hear your accent, but you write well. I don't know how you keep all the languages you speak straight in your head. There are times that I can't come out with the right English word, and that's the only language I speak.
1 person likes this
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
Thanks a lot for backing me up and the kind words. I will try to work a little bit harder! Have a great day!
@iamcucu (194)
• China
14 Dec 08
First, I have to say that your English is good,judging from the discussion you posted,at least better than mine,I also studied English for like twenty years.
I'm a poor speaker too,let's work together on this!
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
Hey there, Mr Kungfu Panda! Ok, they say either a person has what it takes to learn, or they don't. You are one of the greats. Me, on the other...I'm kinda screwed. Haha
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
15 Dec 08
Hello, how are you doing? I've studied Spanish since 15 years old. I know that I have a somewhat accent, however I'm good at reading, writing, speaking, and listening. I can talk on the phone in Spanish (in fact I'm one of the Spanish speakers at our customer service rep job with my company). To be honest, learning a language can take a long time if one hasn't lived in the country where the language is spoken. I lived in Spain (as study abroad) for about 3 months, and I did a few vacations in Mexico. I wish I could spend WAY more time, perhaps I can when I save up money. I find it is WONDERFUL to talk in the language on the telephone. I have done that before, would you like to do that with me? I don't mind doing that at all. I did take an "oral proficiency" exam and I was "mid advanced" speaker, so of course I CAN do better just like any other speaker. I DO still read and listen in Spanish, but I wish I could live in a Spanish speaking country. I would like to teach the language as well one day.
And, no, your writing skills are pretty good! Have a wonderful day!
Pablo
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
It is very kind of you! Are you an American? I just wondered...haha! Thanks for your encourage!
@magojordan (3252)
• Philippines
15 Dec 08
Well I don't think after studying french for four years I'm not a poor speaker at all I think it all comes down to confidence to speak the language and practice it. Just keep on speaking and surely you'll be a good speaker of it.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
Congratulations! It takes but a few months for a language genius to learn something well. Wouldn't it be cool if I were able to do it! haha
@Linglingking (75)
• China
15 Dec 08
I also have learnt English for as many as 12 years, and i have the same problem with you. Although i can write smoothly with few mistakes,it's hard for me
to speak fluently. I ever recorded what i said in English, and after listening to it, i found that there were a lot of mistakes in it and so many interjection words like "eh", "en","a","ya", etc....I know it's due to lack of practice, but i can really hardly find more chances to speak English except in my work.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
Haha, well, I mean so far my writing is replete with stinky all city! It is much more awful than my speaking! At least, I can spell. lol
@xian1982517 (17)
• China
15 Dec 08
i am also a english learner. and i have learn english for about 10 years. i have studied so many years ,but my english level still much low.when i know mylot then i came.i saw so much disuccison and responses.then speak so well.but i can't.i want to write down more,but i don't how to write down in english.there are too many words that i dont know.so i hope i can improve my english through mylot and i want to know more foreign friends.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
You are almost there! Mylot is really an awesome place to learn English. Lots of people are good at writing! If you want to learn English well, just earn it here!
@ashish_answer (784)
• India
14 Dec 08
Well, I agree that I was a poor speaker earlier. But, after I learnt foreign language efficiently I don't think I am poor speaker any more. In fact, I believe I speak quiet well now.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
Well, at long last, all your dreams will come into flowers, I promise! Have a great day!
@nannacroc (4049)
•
14 Dec 08
As a person who is a native English speaker and knows no other language I admire your writing skills and wish I could do as well in a language other than my own.
Many English and American people would do not do as well in English writing as you. Be proud of your acheivement.
Incidentally I don't speak American I speak Midlands English which can sometimes be hard for others to understand.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
Most people can't find the difference between Midlands English and American English! Thanks a lot for your kind words! Have a great day!
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
14 Dec 08
Congratulations! Learning to talk in another language is an extremely complex process. I'm glad that you've already make it! Have a great day!
@vanonas (949)
• United States
14 Dec 08
I took Spanish for 4 years in middle school then continued in high school and I wasn't a great speaker. It was hard to learn especially when you wouldn't learn or speak any Spanish over the summer vacation between school years. I haven't taken spanish for 3 years now and I'm beginning to forget a lot of the rules in grammar.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
14 Dec 08
I learned Japanese from my Japanese grandpa when I was young! It didn't really interest me! Now, the only words that I can say is "ahayaogozayimas", which means good morning! haha
I have learned korean for five years. But my korean is much worse than a korean baby! lol
@mazdakid (347)
• Philippines
14 Dec 08
hi there hiddenwing! this is a very interesting and good topic! in my case, since English and Filipino are mandatory subjects on all education levels, learning the two were very easy. and, at the same time, although i live in manila, i was born in cebu, which means that i should be able to speak Cebuano, a local dialect. oddly enough, even though we moved to manila when i was only 3 years old, i can perfectly understand Cebuano, but my spoken dialect needs a lot of work. haha.
as for foreign languages that i am poor at, i have to say that i am very very poor in mandarin, fookien and cantonese. my clan is chinese, so a handful of us were taught mandarin (and i did not take it seriously), some speak fluent fookien and/or cantonese. in my case, aside from my ridiculously laughable chinese handwriting (they say i write like a kindergarten), i keep getting the tones wrong, which eventually offended someone in Hong Kong because of the wrong tone resulting in a decent question turning into an offensive one.
hopefully i can still get the chance of perfecting my chinese skills despite being old already. anyways, thanks and more power to you! =)
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
My Chinese handwriting is pretty bad! Luckily, most of the time, all I have to do is to type out all my words
@janet8893 (283)
• China
14 Dec 08
Hello,hiddenwing,
you are so modest, i'm poorer than you. Anyway, English is our secong language, and you have tried in improving it both oral and written.The best way is to practice in its mother tongue countries if you have the chance. So keep on studying and reach your ideal level in English.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
15 Dec 08
Thanks a lot for your kind words. Hope someday I will speak Enlish just like an American! Take care!
@coffeecoffee310 (69)
• China
14 Dec 08
There comes a moment when it's more than just a game. You either take that step forward , or turn around and walk away!
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
14 Dec 08
Well, it sounds reasonable! I do worry about my Enlish, which is really really bad! Have a great day!
