English is not my primary language

Indonesia
August 30, 2012 4:44am CST
Do you know how it feel? I'm Indonesian and my english is not too good so i still need to translate word by word to describe what i want to say. And sometime it just not right.. But i think this also will make my english skill improved. So i will just keep train and train my self, while being active in mylot.com Have a good day guys :)
3 people like this
24 responses
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
1 Oct 12
Have you ever stopped and realised that here on myLot you are learning while earning? It seems to me that your English is fine anf you will soon discover that the more you are active here, the better it will become too. Keep it up! Hey, did you notice that even though this topic is a month old, when you added the comments today you brought it back to the top of the lists and it has rceived new responses? It is never too late to add comments and I see that you found something different to say on all of them too
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
1 Oct 12
Fingers crossed that they will arrive for you too echo!
• United States
1 Oct 12
Every comment on my discussions is always a good incentive. It makes me feel like I did something that people pay attention to for once
• United States
1 Oct 12
I just wrote on a topic of mine that I missed a few comments on responding back so maybe it will be getting more soon too
1 person likes this
@hestylim (1210)
• Indonesia
30 Aug 12
hi fellow indonesian.. ^.~ i am as well indonesian. let me tell yoi hpw to improve your english.. cos this is what i do as well.. i am still doing it and trying to find new ways to improve my engish as well. I am learning english by reading english.articles, watching engish movies, listening to english songs.. and practising my engish with people from overseas. I met them in chat rooms.. bit by bit without you knowing you can slowly improved. good luck! ^.^
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
30 Aug 12
yes, it is like me too hesty. your english is good.. do you practice your english in facebook group??
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
6 Sep 12
yeah...you deserve for the compliment hesty why you don`t invite some of your friends join mylot??
@hestylim (1210)
• Indonesia
6 Sep 12
@Adhyz: no, I don't practice English via facebook group.. I don't even know there's group to practice english at facebook.. lol.. Btw, thank you for your compliments.. :)
1 person likes this
@else22 (4317)
• India
31 Aug 12
I too am not different from you.I am from India and my mother tongue is Hindi.English is a foreign language that is imposed on us by our successive governments.Although I am not perfect in English,but I think whatever knowledge of English I have is sufficient for me.In fact,nobody expects us to be perfect in a foreign language,not even our teachers,government officials and employers.They too are not English pundits.In my opinion,you need to be perfect in your mother tongue.If you can read,write and understand your mother tongue well,that's more than enough.Improve your knowledge of English,but don't be too desperate or crazy after it.
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
21 Sep 12
so it happens to me.. english is the foreign language.. Indonesia is our main language.. So it`s only few Indonesia are interested for speaking in english.. we should practice our english.. if we didn`t get in the real life, we can use internet for making better our english.. Mylot is one of the good way for improving our english
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
23 Sep 12
i see..i will make another discussion beside of soccer.. I will follow the last test tomorrow..so maybe i can`t focus too make the quality discussion beside the football or soccer.. But i agree with you...we realize that english is important for us someday, so even it`s harder we just believe that we should practice and practice our english if we get the right situation or right partner of conversation
@else22 (4317)
• India
21 Sep 12
I know one thing,adhyz.Now I have to use English only in government offices,college,banks etc.There also I have to use it only for simple purposes,such as filling in forms etc.From morning till evening I use my mother tongue in my family,in the market,with my friends and everywhere else.I know I would not go the USA or Britain for studies.So I don't need to squander my time in learning a foreign language.My present knowledge of English is sufficient for me for participating in Mylot and article writing sites.So my mother tongue is more important for me.I hope,you can understand me.And yes,with my present knowledge of English I can read,write and understand articles and books in English.I agree with you that Mylot gives us a good platform to hone our English writing skills. Thanks,my dear friend.I am waiting for discussions from you on topics other than soccer so that we may communicate with each other.
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
1 Oct 12
I have heard many on myLot saying that this site has helped them to learn english. It does not seem to be bothering you too much because I can understand what you've written here pretty well. As others have suggested and I will second it - take your time and do the best you can here to learn as you go along.
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
1 Oct 12
I can confirm that many started off with a poorish level of English and over time they improved so muych that I hardly recognised them anymore
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
1 Oct 12
It certainly is! And mylot is the only place that allows it too!
• United States
1 Oct 12
That is great news for them. So it is really true what you said "learn and earn"
@goldtc (40)
• United States
2 Oct 12
Hi, There are many free online translation sites to help you translate information from Indonesian into English ( or from any language into English) Here is one such site: http://www.stars21.com/translator/
@goldtc (40)
• United States
2 Oct 12
As I stated in my original respons there are many options. Plus, I only made the suggestion because in your post you sounded like you were complaining or should I say lamenting about having to translate from Indonesian to English.
@lynnes75 (443)
• Malaysia
1 Oct 12
I feel you. I'm from Malaysia myself but I love the English language. One of the reasons I join forums is to polish my English. Sometimes my grammar is a mess, lol! But I do find it helpful to keep posting in English, I have improved a lot. So I hope you'll keep on posting and join in discussions, and soon you'll notice a marked improvement in your English. I'm sure of it. Good luck :)
• Indonesia
2 Oct 12
Yes i have notice myself after joining mylot, i felt more confident. Now i'm not shy to answer my teacher's question (in english subject) even though sometime its wrong, but sometime its also the right answer.. I think i'm developed.. LOL ..
@lynnes75 (443)
• Malaysia
2 Oct 12
That's the way to go :) Maybe for now we're 'speaking' broken English here, but practice makes perfect :) I think it's great as well that the English-speaking people here makes no mention of our mistakes but in their own way, by continuing to converse with us, they're actually encouraging us. I feel grateful for that ;)
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 Aug 12
I congratulate you my friend, I wish you the best of luck.
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
thanks for the sweet respond my friend winterose :) as i remember, you always support me in every of my discussion with giving me more spirit.. thank you so much :) good luck to you too ..
@mr_pearl (5018)
• India
30 Aug 12
Hi there... There is something you should know... MyLot improves one's English.. I'm an Indian... I joined myLot before 6 years... I can assure you that my English's improved great deal since I joined here... I used to make blunders while speaking... I remember, they'd laugh at me and I'd feel confused... My english was worse than yours... Now, I can say with pride that I can speak... And right now, that is what helps me earn my living... Good Luck buddy... :-)
@mr_pearl (5018)
• India
1 Oct 12
Oh the native americans... They re the 'Red Indians'.. We are East Indians... I'm not sure why the native Americans were termed as 'Red Indians'... With the frequent use of the word Indians, it led to mis-pronounciation- 'Injuns'... I too have always found it funny that native Americans were termed as Indians... I guess, it happened because the discoverer of America had actually began his journey to search for 'India'... I'm sure your english will improve too, friend... Good Luck to you!
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
mmm, Indian... that means you live in India right ? but if i'm not wrong, indian is the name of native people of USA .. so now i felt a little confuse about this.. nevermind that.. thanks for the respond mr_pearl.. i hope that us will be more improved in english :)
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
30 Aug 12
The best way that you could improve your English is by reading a lot of English books. And also make it a habit to check on the dictionary whenever you come across new words.
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
yap. thanks for the respond jenny1015 :) honestly i don't really like reading book but i wonder why i felt so happy to read on mylot... lol
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
2 Oct 12
If you really want to learn the English Language, you should take time to read books and newspapers. They are the best tools that can help you with it. Mylot can also be a fun way to learn the language, but not all members can be posting with the correct grammar and all. Some of their sentences might make sense to you, but they do not always present it in the correct way.
@varier (5685)
• Indonesia
23 Sep 12
'Sup sistah. Greetings from fellow Indonesian. Enjoy your time here and be active . By joining several discussions, you'll be able to express much thing in English, which is a good practice in learning foreign language. Being active on myLot for about a year has improved my English somehow.. ^^
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
yap you right.. since here on mylot we can only discuss in english.. lol thanks for the respond varier :) greetings back from me *hug*
@olliekobra1 (1825)
1 Oct 12
by signing up to mylot you have done a great thing because this will help your english a lot because you are interacting with people every day. I think that there are lots of people on here that are trying to learn english. If you watch a lot of english TV that may help you to pick up the language aswell.
1 Oct 12
no problem , as i said if you watch a lot of english apeaking TV programs and maybe listen to some english music i feel that this may also help you out alot.
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
yes i already felt some of the great things by signing up here and i know there will be many of it that i haven't experienced so i will just keep active and keep improve my english here .. thanks for the respond olliekobra1 :)
• India
23 Sep 12
Hi friend, I am from India, my English is also not good, i am improving my English using this site, mylot is a great place to improve our language too. Be active here and post things, surely you will improve your language. All the best
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
yes thanks for the respond vidhyaprakash_2 :) i wish the best for you too ..
• India
31 Aug 12
I would really appreciate your spirit to learn. I am from India, my English is fine . When I did not start my job , my english was not good. Then I also started learning it and now I can speak good english . You are one the right track if you want to improve it and you should feel good that you are learning something by yourself. Carry on and keep it up. One day you will be able to speak fluent english.
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
7 Sep 12
practice is the key word for learning english... especially for the people which english is not their main language
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
thank you so much for the words soravgulati :) its so sweet, you know, i'm smiling now because of your word :) thank you for encouraging me .. and thanks for you too adhyz ..
@tocquevil (157)
• China
8 Sep 12
My mother tougue is chinese,i learn english as a foreign language
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
21 Sep 12
so it is same with me my mother tongue is indonesian english is foreign language for mostly of Indonesian
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
yes adhyz82 is very right.. anyway, nice to know you tocquevil.. thanks for the respond :)
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
30 Aug 12
iam indonesian too.. my english is not good too but it is not obstacle if we have a willing for learning.. we learn again and again.. mylot helps many people like me, you and any people for learnin english.. mylot is not like another website is dedicated for learning english, but when mylot only allow us for discussing with english, slow but sure, your english is better ..trust me
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
yeah.. i understand that.. my english is also not good enough.. but as long as we keep learning, there will an improvement right ? :) thanks for the respond adhyz..
@jricky1 (6800)
• China
30 Aug 12
Me,too and i'm actually also from asia. I'm trying my best to learn english though it is not my first language. While i think the most important is that we have confidence so we can do something good. Mylot therefore is really a wonderful place to share and learn.
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
asia ? from where in asia ? i'm indonesian :) do you study english too at school ? i agree with you.. everyone that i know they really can speak english said that the key to be good in english is to try to do conversation.. and i know mylot has play a role on this.. thanks for the respond jricky1 :)
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
30 Aug 12
English is not my primary language, only if you practise you will learn. I wonder if you can describe by translating word by word what you mean. Speaking or writing a foreign language is not the same as your own. There are plenty of cases where we, foreigners, don't have the same feelings about a word as a native speaker would be. Already in our own languages there are plenty of times we are not able to express what we really mean.
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
yeah.. i can understand that.. but sometime its like, that word you speak in your language, don't have an exact the same meaning on english.. thats what make me sometime confused.. thanks for the respond WakeUpKitty :)
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
30 Aug 12
Hi, Welcome to mylot. I am Indian. I am also not expert in English. My mother tongue is Marathi. Mylot is a good site and it is helpful in improving English.
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
Marathi ? is that a name of native language in India ? thanks for the respond anyway, roshigo58 :)
31 Aug 12
English is not also my primary English. So every time there's an oral discussion at school using the English language, i definitely get freaking scared & sometimes i get mental block. I think its a big challenge for me, that I need to practice my English language skill for my better future & find a great job. so Im really thankful for mylot for the opportunity that I can have the time to practice my English.
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
very same to me chuchaibugoy .. my speaking is suck and now i just want to train my writing so that if later i already good at writing i think there will be no problem to speak.. lol yes english is our international language and if we can speak english fluently we can get a better job.. good luck for both of us :)
@fatlex06 (895)
• Philippines
31 Aug 12
It's always great to hear that someone is always willing to learn even if it's hard. Yes, I encourage you to do this often because it could help your English improved. Like you, I had a hard time understanding English when I was in highschool. But when I reached college, I challenged myself to speak in English and participate in the class with this language. It was improved. But still I wasn't satisfies, so after graduating in college I trained by myself. I searched on a lot of English sites over the net, which is good because it's totally free. You just have to focus and you must have your determination. And now. I am an online teacher for Koreans and Japanese. How good was that. But still, I don't close my doors when it comes to improvements. I am having some compliments that my English is very good as before. ;)Good luck to you. :)
• Indonesia
1 Oct 12
but now i see that your english is really good and WHAT ?!! you are an online teacher for Koreans and japanese ? thats mean you can speak that two language too ? wow i want to study korean but can't find a good teacher.. and when i want to study by myself, i can't easily understand it even though i already search the material many times in internet.. do you have a website for you teaching korea ? can you email me at choiika12 @ gmail ? please ...