english learning
By siaosong
@siaosong (165)
United States
June 23, 2010 10:49am CST
I find English learning is really hard for me. I've been in usa for almost one year, but still i can not understand very well what other guys are talking about, unless i know the topic in advance. I listen to radio every day, but usually it is hard to understand. Do you have any good suggestions? Welcome.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@marcinwise (391)
•
23 Jun 10
When I was came to England I didn't understand any word. When I go to work i just smile if some body talk to me but after one year I was understand every thing I was just problem to speak. My suggestion is spend many time with people. Or the best thing is go to school if you have money and time.
@marcinwise (391)
•
23 Jun 10
I'm sure you will, but really if you have chance to go to school don't think just go it really help. I was just one year because I don't have more money but even this one year give me lot.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
23 Jun 10
I understand your problem. You, perhaps, have learned English 'by the book': you can read English (and write it) reasonably well but colloquial, spoken English bears rather little relationship to written English.
Much colloquial English (whether British or American) is just 'noise'. I suspect that the same is true of most languages. Most of what we say has no real verbal meaning: it just serves to attract people's attention and, somehow, to assert our authority for making the statements that we do. Most language is really just a complicated musical prelude to what is really meant. Understanding what is actually said involves listening for 'key' words and understanding the tone and body language which accompanies them.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
23 Jun 10
I ought to say that I am a native English speaker and, even when I am very familiar with the accent of the person speaking, I probably only really hear about one word in three.
When someone is speaking, there are many words and phrases that people use simply as 'make space'. A good speaker actually knows this well and strings out the important points in his speech so that they happen just at the point in time when his audience have digested the last point and are ready for another. Even people who are not 'public speakers' do this unconsciously in conversation and are considered 'popular' or not, depending on how good they are at it.
@siaosong (165)
• United States
24 Jun 10
Exactly. I have learned English by the book for several years. Thanks for your constructive suggestions. I think the tone is the hardest thing for me to understand.
I have a question: why do you probably only hear one word in three? Because of the tone?
thanks.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
24 Jun 10
It is to do with the 'rhythm' or 'music' of delivery. Listen to a dialogue in any language and you will find that certain words are emphasised by their position in the dialogue rhythm (the speaker can emphasise in different ways: by pronouncing a word more exactly, by pausing after a word or statement, by a rise in tone at a particular point or even by repetition of the word).
All languages use similar techniques but even the same language can use them differently, for example, I speak Standard (UK) English and can understand most people who live in the UK and whose native language is English but I have some difficulty in understanding some regional dialects, even though they may be using words that I know and even though I am familiar with the the way they pronounce certain vowels. The difficulty comes from the very different rhythm and 'music' of their delivery. I suppose that I expect a certain 'pattern' which emphasises key words in the way to which I am accustomed but they are using a different pattern entirely. The same applies to some American dialects.
As far as I can see, the only solution is to forget 'book learning' (where you learn vocabulary and grammar) and to listen to (and copy) the patterns, rhythms and 'music' of the speakers around you. Grammar and syntax is very far from most people's minds when they speak but they still follow rules which were learned as they grew up. These rules may not correspond to the grammar and syntax rules that you learned from a book so you may think that people are using 'bad grammar'. Words may not be pronounced exactly as you were taught and, in normal speech, may be all run together. The answer to "What is that animal with soft fur, whiskers and a tail?" might well sound like "Issa CAT!' but you would have read it in your book as "It is a cat." Both are English and the one is no better or worse than the other!
@gracefuldove (1668)
• Malaysia
23 Jun 10
English is a very easy language to learn. Start with the basic. Look at pictures and the words and associate them. Listen to sounds on the CDs. Once you have gather enough vocabulary, you can string out words. It may not be grammatically correct but you can communicate.
Better English come with practice. Have fun learning this wonderful expressive language!
@kharlav (1667)
• Philippines
23 Jun 10
If you really want to learn English I think it is better to refrain from speaking your native language and speak English. Have American friends, and hang out with them often. People will learn the language if they continuously practice it, listen to it and read it. Continue what you are doing. I hope that you would improve your English.
