Are you good at your second language?
By sutent
@sutent (1060)
China
August 17, 2009 12:54am CST
Hi,
I am a Chinese. English is my second language. I learn English all the time since i was only 10 years old. But I still not good at it, especially verbal and written English. I am really puzzled by that, as now i work in a international company and English is necessary and important. And are you good at your second language? And what's your opinion on it? Look forward to your sharing.
Happy mylotting!
5 people like this
25 responses
@praveen057 (79)
• India
17 Aug 09
as everyone should have the knowledge of the second language.as i can speak english as well as hindi very frequently.hindi is our mother tongue and english is only the language which is most important in most of the fields .english is the language that most of the people knows
@patofgold23 (5069)
• Philippines
17 Aug 09
i was born a filipina but my mom's mixed race, (partly american, partly scotch-irish...and a little filipino blood)...
(my dad's pure filipino)
but since i was born in P.I. my first language is Filipino
howeve we speak a great deal of English at home and while I was growing up and I have gotten used to it through the years , so I don't find communicating in English hard at all...could it be written or oral..
i have worked as a college English instructor for over 2 years in the past,,
i think for you to improve your english is to use it as often as possible...talk in English, even in ordinary conversations...
and it helps a lot if you watch american films..
you'll learn so much from it...
..and you know what...sites like myLot could help too...
@sutent (1060)
• China
18 Aug 09
Hi,
I am very jealous of you have such a good english surounding. Just a joke!
In contrast, i always learned in my school. After school, just leave it away. But things much be changed, as now i work in a international company and english is necessary and important. The good news is that i endeavor all the time and make improvement step and step.
By the way, i am very appreciated your help. It is very applicable and useful for me. Keep talking and practicing, then things change.
Happy mylotting!
@patofgold23 (5069)
• Philippines
18 Aug 09
being in myLot can come in handy...
makes you sharpen your english...
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
17 Aug 09
i am from the philippines and our native tongue is called filipino language. english is my second language but i can say that i am more good on written than oral. i talk fast and some can no longer understand it. so i can express my self more no matter if it is in tagalog or english by writting it than talking. although my wife understands we very clearly
2 people like this
@rjblueyes (215)
• United States
17 Aug 09
lol, don't feel bad! I talk so fast that alot of people don't understand me either. I usually end up repeating myself. Tha'ts what I get for moving to the south.
1 person likes this
@sutent (1060)
• China
17 Aug 09
Hi se7enthbird,
I also talked too fast to be understood by others. Of course, it means my home tongue, Chinese. (i wish someday i can also speak English very quick) But now, i speak slower. Just be care of it, and you will speak low down in a long time.
As to English, i had made some improvement on English written by participating on mylot. As to verbal English, it is as bad as before.
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@manunulat (604)
• Philippines
17 Aug 09
They say that the best way to learn a language is to speak it... so I guess this has helped me a lot in speaking. Yet, I owe my early contact with the language from watching action films during the 80's. It is through their lines that I picked up some words and as you grow older, you have to improve on the choices of films that you watch. There are many English language films from which you can also learn best too. Aside from that, I also listen to an English language broadcast through VOA pacific. I picked up a lot there- learning some culture and using English in business. Good luck with your quest. I think you're doing great. Mylot is also here...
2 people like this
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
18 Aug 09
Hello there manunulat. Am I right in assuming that you are a Filipino? I'm also from the Philippines. English is definitely important in our country. We learn to speak it from the first day of school (nowadays even earlier through the informal teachings of our family). I learned a lot of conversational English by watching lots of American movies. Kids today learn English from channels such as Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, etc.
1 person likes this
@sutent (1060)
• China
19 Aug 09
Hi,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Watching english movies and listening VOA are really good choice. Learn english while watch english movies. That's one stone with two birds. I like it. As to listening VOA, i do not do that any more. I often watch our local english channels to learning english.
Additionally, mylotting here is also a good choice, just like you said.
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@delkar (1712)
• Romania
17 Aug 09
I`m from Romania , and my second language it`s English . I don`t know how bad or good i am , but i can easily understand and speak, even if it`s not all too good, but i`m happy that the one that i`m speaking to , it`s understanding me. I would love to know English better, but that will happen when i`ll practice more, next year when i`ll go to England . I was so good in both speaking and writing, but if i didn`t use it so often ... I know a little french too, but i can understand better than i speak , because i forgot a lot of words, because i didn`t used french for 3 years at all . I would love to know italian and spanish too . Thouse too , will be easy to lear, because there are latin languages like my own .
2 people like this
@sutent (1060)
• China
19 Aug 09
Hi,
You can easily speak. That's better than me, as verbal english is my worst. Even worse is that i have little opportunity to practise it. I know that mylotting here is good chance to improve written english. But i still need some ways to practise my verbal english.
You are fortunate to learn several languages. I ma jealous of you. Just a joke.
Happy mylotting!
@rajupaul (973)
• India
17 Aug 09
Sutent
You may be a Chinese or any part of world but language feel us to communicate to each other and share our views and emtions. English is language in the most part of world it common. So as a second language I am cofident to second language and more over I have made lot of friends in mylot. Thanks my lot.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
17 Aug 09
Hi there. My mother tongue language is English. I learned French for five years when I was at secondary school. I can speak it well enough to get on well with my traveling in French speaking countries. I began learning Spanish last September and I will be beginning my second course in it next month. I like French and I enjoy Spanish even more.
2 people like this
@sutent (1060)
• China
18 Aug 09
Hi,
It seems that you are good at learning language. Besides, there are some kind of similar between English and French, Spanish. in contrast, not only i am not good at learning language, which can be reflected by that even my mother tougue, i also can not use it very accurate, but also there are little similar between english and chinese. Mostly, i have not a good english speaking surrounding. But i endeavor all the time and make impovement step by step.
Happy mylotting!
@here2learn (210)
• United States
17 Aug 09
English is my first language. I have been trying to learn Spanish since high school. My latin friends tell me that I speak it well and that I have even mastered the accent. However, I don't feel comfortable in my Spanish skills because I know that I am not completely fluent. I think it is important to be bilingual in today's changing world and I hope to master Spanish soon so that I can begin learning a third language like maybe french or Chinese.
2 people like this
@sutent (1060)
• China
18 Aug 09
Hi,
Yes, you are right. It is important to be biligual in today's international world. Of course, English is the necessary. You are fortunate English is your first language.
You look forward to your third language. In contrast, i am still struggling to improve my English. But it is ok, as i endeavor all the time and make improvement step and step.
Happy mylotting!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Aug 09
hi sutent hatley here I am embarrassed to say I really dont
have a second language. I think its great for people to know moree
than just their own language .I am an American and all i really
know is English, but I have taken some French and Spanish but
its been many years since I studied them. so I am not fluent in
either language. aNd thats sad really.
2 people like this
@rjblueyes (215)
• United States
17 Aug 09
I currently do not have a second language, but I am wanting to learn spanish. If you're still having some trouble with english I'm willing to help you out. English has been my primary language my whole life and it still confuses me sometimes! I hate all the little rules for english, along with all the words that sound the same. For example: which and witch. I hate that! It's so confusing sometimes. I can see why people trying to learn english as a second language get so confused sometimes. It's so complicated and tricky. I wish it were easier.
2 people like this
@sutent (1060)
• China
17 Aug 09
Hi rjblueyes,
Firstly, i am very appreciated with your offer. It is very helpful for me. In return, i can offer my help too, if you are interest in anything about China.
What i am confused mostly was my English grammar, although i am also confused with those the similar words. Of course i also wish it can be easier.
By the way, i am so curious what time is it now in local area while it is 14:25 PM in China. It seems that you are very energetic.
Look forward to the next exchanging.
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@raghul77ster (2132)
• India
17 Aug 09
Hello Friend. My first language is Tamil. second language is English.
Everyday I am still learning English and still a lot of steps to go.My friends says that i am god in english both in speech and write. To be honest, i must disagree. i love reading english story books. so its fluent for me to read. sameway to write. but during talks, sometimes, i collapses. so to be strict and rate myself for english, i would reward 5 out of 10 marks(comparing those professional's English)
Have a nice time!
2 people like this
@sutent (1060)
• China
18 Aug 09
Hi,
Do more reading books in english. Many people said that is a good method of learning english. I am also think so. Unfortunately, i do not like reading.
As to the speaking english, i am very bad on it. Mostly, i just combine some words or terms, no matter what grammar should be captured. So I should practice more. Hope someday i can speak english fluently.
Happy mylotting!
@bluehibiscus (702)
• United States
17 Aug 09
Maybe you are focusing too much on the grammatical aspects. If when you're doing something and you other think it, you'll frustrate yourself into making mistakes.
Try finding English speaking penpals to practice on, watch English movies, read English books. If you spend all of your time practicing English on people who speak your native tongue then you will continue to make the same mistakes.
Bets of luck.
2 people like this
@sutent (1060)
• China
18 Aug 09
Hi,
I am very appreciate your help. It is very applicable for me. I know i need someone from english speaking country to practice english. But it is not easy for me. I will keep mylotting here. And at same time, look for someone to practice every day for at least one or two hours
Happy mylotting!
@Autumnne (59)
• Romania
17 Aug 09
I'm actually pretty good at my second language. I'm Romanian and my second language is English. I have been speaking it since I was four years old and writing and reading since the first grade. I find it more easy to espress myself in English than my mother language, for some strange reason, I'm actually a good author in english.
I think it is very good since English is the main spoken language in the world, and because of that I can learn a lot of things, in comparison with the case in which I would have known only one language.
2 people like this
@sutent (1060)
• China
18 Aug 09
Hi,
Cheers for that.
In contrast, i am so bad at english. I also learn english since i was ten years old, but i just learn it in school. After school, i just leave it away.
But now, i work in a international, english is very important to me. If i speak english fluently and write english accuately, i will have more opportunity to be promoted. I start to learn english again and i just purchased a grammar book for learning grammar. Could you give me some your personal advice on learning english?
I am very appreciated that.
Happy mylotting!
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Aug 09
Your English looks pretty decent to me. My second language is German and it's fairly fluent, but not 100%.
@asdf544asdf (9)
• United States
17 Aug 09
Hey
I learned English as a second language as well. It was easy for me since I started learning at six years old. The best thing to do is to read a lot of books in English (this will help you with your grammar and spelling) and watch a lot of TV (this will help you with your listening and pronounciation.)
Hope I helped!
@sutent (1060)
• China
18 Aug 09
Hi,
It is really a good suggestion to read a lot of books in English. Unfortunately, i do not like reading, much less reading books in English. As to learning listening and pronounciation by watching TV, i think i can do that. But firstly, i must change the habit of seeing the subtitle while watching TV. You are think so, aren't you?
Happy mylotting!
@wahyueQ (223)
• Indonesia
18 Aug 09
I am an Indonesian, English also my second language. I learn English since I in the elementary school at the third grade. Now I am in a high school at the third grade and my English still not good. But I hope my English will be good.
@yourbetteroffasian (178)
• United States
18 Aug 09
Hello, I myself, is Vietnamese. I used to be horrible at this language but then while I was a kid, I used to take Vietnamese school every week until I finished high school. It was such torture and such a pain but then, I was forced. Vietnamese parents you know, haha. So I speak fluent English and Vietnamese and I also speak a little bit of Spanish back when I learned it in high school. It is really great to learn different languages because you can communicate with a lot of more people. My opinion on learning new languages is that everyone should learn a second language because it is very interesting and can help you in life. I hope my experience andswers your question and I hope you have Happy Mylotting also !
@virusxtreme24 (805)
•
17 Aug 09
Yes, I know how to speak English fluently as my first language. I started learning Spanish when I was in middle school, I have improved my skills ever since then going into high school and almost speak it perfectly.
@sutent (1060)
• China
17 Aug 09
Hi virusxtreme,
Yes, you can speak English fluently as your first language. Some kinds of funny. I can also speak mother tongue very fluently.
As to your second language, it only took your several years to be skilled at it. i am jealous of that. Can you share some experience with me, no matter your experience on learning Spanish or your suggestion on your native language? I will be very appreciated on that.
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this