Does anyone want to improve their English skills???
By daeckardt
@daeckardt (6237)
United States
February 7, 2011 5:37am CST
Hi everyone!!!
I haven't used this interest area in years and thought it was time to get it started again. I set this area up when I was teaching English in China back in 2006 or so when I first joined mylot. I often would post a question here and ask people to respond and I could make suggestions of the correct grammar to use to make it sound better. If you would like to participate in this, let me know. I will try to post at least one topic a week so that as many people as are interested can respond and possibly make this a learning experience for all. Have a great day!!!
3 people like this
10 responses
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
7 Feb 11
I think this is a wonderful idea, I have just come back to Mylot and I can remember helping a few people from China with a little English...I remember one student was trying to review a book with a lot of Australian slang in it, so I helped her to understand some of the silly things we Aussies say... I think your idea is fantastic, good luck to you...
2 people like this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
7 Feb 11
I had this going for a while when I first joined the site. I had several people for various countries who would respond to messages and I would help them. If people do start responding to this discussion and we start getting lots of topics going, maybe you can help as well. Thanks for the response!
@jessxu (35)
• China
7 Feb 11
Gee!It's a great idea,I've been here for only one week.I come here in order to practice my English while making some earning.I come from China.As for me,I can read the standard English,but it is too hard for me to understand the English with lots of slang in it or English with abridging.So,I think it will be very useful for most of the people who come from No-English speaking countries.And we can also learn from each other.I think you can give some topics about the difference of the standard and non-standard English,the slang that be used regularly in English,etc.By the way,what's mean of your 100 words idea,can you be a litter specific?
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
7 Feb 11
Hi jessxu,
Don't worry about the small stuff. I know what you meant. I was thinking to put a word limit on these discussions so that you could really earn from them. As a rule, a response has to be longer if you want to earn more. I will try to come up with a topic and see what happens in the next couple of days.
@amirev777 (4117)
• India
8 Feb 11
Hi Daeckardt,
Yes, I would definitely love to improve my English. I feel my command over technical English is fair enough as I am an Engineer. But I still need to improve my spoken English. As far as the grammatical part is concerned, I certainly do feel the need to improve it. I would also like to learn the use of various phrases to make my English more presentable and interesting.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
8 Feb 11
amirev777,
I have posted a topic in this area. I will try to make group suggestions on problems I see rather than individual suggestions to prevent any potential embarrassment in case some of you actually know each other. I'm not sure about phrases right now, but I will look into them. Writing is different from oral but I will see what I can come up with. Have a great day!
@amirev777 (4117)
• India
8 Feb 11
Hi
Thank you very much for the consideration shown. Yes, written English is certainly different from spoken English, and my personal views are that it is more difficult to achieve proficiency in spoken English, especially if it isn't your native language.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
7 Feb 11
adhyz82,
What I might try to do is give a topic and ask for certain guidelines such as 100 words or something. Make it like homework in school. It would be a challenge, but that is how you grow. Do you think that would be something you could do? Let me know.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
8 Feb 11
Just so you know, I have posted the first topic. Include as much as you can. You can look at my example, but tell about yourself. Don't worry if it is not perfect. We will all work together and if you see something that doesn't seem quite right, you might ask the person if something would sound better. Would it bother you to have someone do that to you? Good luck and have fun!
@cashsearcher11 (153)
• Philippines
8 Feb 11
yeah, i want to improve my grammar. I am not very good in English. I want to write an article but i dont know where to start, how to compose it. Before, im not interested in English subject. I did not even listened to my teacher when i was in school. I often ignore that subject. I only realize the importance of it when i took a civil service exam... I failed! and regretting the time when i was able to learn it. whoa, i need a teacher here in grammar... and i think you are the one.... i have a problem in organizing paragraph, correct grammar and finding error..
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
8 Feb 11
Hi cashsearcher11,
Actually, what you have written here looks pretty good to me. I know how it goes to not listen to the teacher if you don't see the importance of a subject. I think the best way to improve writing is by writing. Don't worry if it is not perfect, just express an idea. the mechanics of writing will come later. If you look at the new topic I posted in this area today, you will be able to get started. Good luck and have fun!
@cashsearcher11 (153)
• Philippines
8 Feb 11
Thank you. i will follow this discussion to learn more. I want to see more explanation and examples.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
8 Feb 11
Hi Lucifa,
Welcome to MyLot. We can use this area to work on improving your skills. What part of China are you in? I was teaching English majors in Yancheng (Jiangsu Province) until I came back to the states for medical treatment. Look at the other discussion I posted today and we can get started. Good luck and have fun with this!
@mermaidivy (15395)
• United States
8 Feb 11
I do. My English is not very good, I'm from Hon gKong, and we always speak "Chinglish" as you might know - Chinese + English. I can speak and listen very well but I just can't write good, I found my writing is very crappy and not smooth...
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
8 Feb 11
Hi mermaidivy,
I am very much used to listening to Chinglish because I taught English in China for two and a half years. You have to start somewhere. It is good that you are able to speak and listen well. I guess you just need more practice with writing. I have posted the first topic for you to practice. Don't worry if it is not perfect. The important thing is that you express your ideas. I can give you suggestions after I see what you actually write. Good luck and have fun!
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
7 Feb 11
The 'hillbilly' in me fears that this might result in China taking America's place as leading Super-Power (with our failing health, economy and government, the only thing we've got left is our talkin`, carn`sarn it!)
But--as Jessica Alba shows in The Sleeping Dictionary (also starring Bob Hoskins, separate from Alba)--aiding China's conquest of the language barrier won't be as violent as would aiding their conquest of any physical barriers!
(And yes, you can sign me up to be a Sleeping Dictionary for students down the street at Oklahoma City University!)
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
7 Feb 11
I like that! I have worked in China teaching English for over two years. I would still be there now if it weren't for medical reasons. Have fun!
@margeryann (1845)
• United States
8 Feb 11
That sounds like a very good idea for those that don't know English very well. Good luck.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
7 Feb 11
I look forward to working with you. I will start out fairly simple and I will provide examples. Perhaps other native speakers can also respond and provide examples. If we all work together, we can all do well!
