Hi, I'm from Hong Kong studying in Perth Australia
By dlee8514
@dlee8514 (27)
Australia
December 28, 2006 4:12am CST
Hi everyone, I'm a new member in here and I'm come from Hong Kong. I'm now studying Diploma at Perth Australia. I've been here half a year ago, I don't have a good English(I didn't study hard when I was in Hong Kong), and I'm trying to make my English better, hope in here I can improve my English faster, if you don't mind I'm happy that you can tell me where is my mistake or what can I write better. Especially is my grammar, I feel confuse of using it. English is a really hard language to learn, for me, I feel my problem is vocabulary, spelling and grammar(it's like the whole English problem, isn't it)
I feel quite hard to remember new English words and understand how to use it, in Cantonese we don't have letters so we don't need to spell words, therefore spelling is also a problem for me, like when I'm writing now, I still have to keep checking my dictionary am I spelling right or not.
In here, Australia, because I'm not yet studying in a university, so I don't have chance to talk with Aussies, my schoolmates surround me are come from different countries but no Aussies, I'm now fine to speak English with them but I still afraid to speak with Aussies because I know they are a native English speaker, I feel nervous to talk to them and I feel like I can't control my tongue, at that time some of the pronunciation I won't able to speak it out, even normally I can.
Any suggestion that can help me to improve my English??
I want to study in university, I want to stay in Australia!
Thank you and sorry for my bad English writing
2 people like this
34 responses
@tricia_toh (112)
• Malaysia
29 Dec 06
hey ur english isn't bad, why do you think so? Perhaps mine isn't really good either ahahah. I'm a Malaysian chinese. Funny, I felt really really difficult writing chinese characters and you felt difficult in spelling english words. I know why, you were brought up reading, writing and speaking chinese isn't it? For me, my parents spoke to me in english eversince little (but my english is still bad hahaha) and I went to english school. That's why, I never learnt how to read and write in chinese and I only speak very few of it. It's embarrassing especially when the elderly chinese here found out I sucked in chinese, it's a disappointment to them.
@tricia_toh (112)
• Malaysia
29 Dec 06
hey as long as you know what you had to improve and as long as you worked on it, do not worry coz when you try, you will succeed! Speak to Aussies like their English is no more better than yours, and I think they like the Asian slang hahaha! Goodluck.
1 person likes this
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
29 Dec 06
First off, welcome to Mylot! Second of all, don't be so hard on yourself--your English is pretty good. The only way to get better at something is through practice and refinement of technique. You'll do well.
1 person likes this
@espulido76 (155)
• Philippines
29 Dec 06
Just be confident. I also studied in Melbourne University, and i understand your concern since English is also my second language. I came from the Philippines, and though they say Filipino use of English is good, i still get a little nervous when talking to Aussies. I also had lots of classmates from other countries particularly China, and i noticed that they are quite shy specially during their first semesters, but as the school progresses they have confidence.
Regarding Aussies, don't be afraid when your talking to them they are really nice people. So, just be confident and just continue what you're doing to improve your English. And hey, you're actually good!
@shooie (4984)
• United States
29 Dec 06
You will get the hang of it. You did fine in tis post and the ones below. Typing it and having to look at your dictionary will help you to and hun some of us that have spoke english all our lives seem to mess it up from time to time. smiles keep up the good work
1 person likes this
@jal1948 (1359)
• India
29 Dec 06
you must practice your english at every given oppurtunity and that is not possible by avoiding the aussies, you must mingle with them dont be self concious they are not so bad it is you who need to go forward and make friends and converse in english all the time
1 person likes this
@suahsan (785)
• United States
29 Dec 06
Hmm this is good nice to meet you and I hope you are enjoying there and I have also wish to complete my study there too and I love australia too and I like it very much and I hope you will get success in your life..best wishes and regarsds, ever…
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
28 Dec 06
Doesnot matter. Who is having good english here anyway. How do you do? How is Australia? How are your studies? Welcome to mylot. Do not hesitate. You have write about Hong Kong and also about Australia. You have double advantage.
Do you want to hear a joke?
Who is King Kong?
He is brother of Hong Kong
All the best.
1 person likes this
@euniceeleanor (5967)
• Singapore
28 Dec 06
have more confidence in yourself, try to read more books and practice reading them aloud so that you could, at the same time, to be at ease with pronouncing the words. i think with your discussion, your english is not that bad...hehe..i've seen worse. i'm sure your others will understand your situation, seeing that you are an asian...they will know that english is not your first language. Good Luck! Welcome to myLot!
1 person likes this
@dlee8514 (27)
• Australia
28 Dec 06
I tried to read books, but usually there have quite a lot of word I don't know I have to keep checking my dictionary, say, I may have over 5-10 words I don't know in each page. I'll become very sleepy and I'll give up read any more, you know keep checking your dictionary word by word any finally even you understand all the single words in a sentence, but maybe you can't get the whole meaning of the sentence, that is what the problem I always have.
Maybe my English is not that bad, but I'm going to uni soon, if my English still can't be improved, I won't be able to survive.
Anyway, thank you for your suggestion, I'll try to read it out when I'm reading some articles.
All the best! Wilson
@re08dz (1941)
• Australia
29 Dec 06
Firstly good on you for even attempting to learn a new language and study in a new country.
I think you're on the right track and really I would imagine the best way to learn it would be to immerse yourself in it, listen to how those around you speak (bearing in mind that aussies often have a bad habit of using slang which may make no sense at all :-) ) maybe watching tv and don't be afraid to ask if something doesn't make sense, 9 times out of 10 people will be happy to take the time to explain things to you - and that 1 in 10, well they wouldn't be worth listening to anyway.
Good luck with it and I hope you enjoy your studies.
@ldynimaway (704)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I think you wrote very well. I would suggest just getting out and talking to more people it will help you learn and improve as well. Also Australian english is also different from american english. I am planning to go to Australia in about 7 months and I purchased a book that is just filled with Australian slang phrases as I don't want to look totally lost myself when I go there. Good luck in your studies.
1 person likes this
@klystron635 (1519)
• Philippines
29 Dec 06
hello there new user, don't worry much about your english. as long as it is understood, i think it's fine. you can practice your english by watching different movies. australian have different accent so i suggest you watch australian movies. try to talk to some native there so you can practice more. or if you want you can take formal english classes. hope you enjoy your stay in mylot.
@jen20619 (1300)
• Ireland
29 Dec 06
Yes I think making as many friends as you can with as many people that speak English will help you improve your English a lot.I think you have done a lot in your life so far.Im sure your spelling will get better in no time.
@ethaniverson (72)
• Philippines
29 Dec 06
Nobody actually cares if your grammar is right or not. For as long as they can understand your message thats good enough. Anyway In regards for you to become good in speaking and writing english, well the best way is practice. Try watching english films and tv shows so your ears would get familiarized with the language. Read lots of english newspapers and books as well so your eyes would also be familiar with it. lastly dont be afraid of talking to anybody in english that way your confidence will build up and ss you keep on doing so you would notice that your grammar and your english will improve. play it by ear. dont be ashamed to speak in english, since its obvious that youre Chinese, people would never expect you to speak in english fluently. If your an American and you dont know english then tats a problem. but youre not.
1 person likes this
@kishoremk7 (15)
• India
29 Dec 06
every body will learn from mistakes only, you start publishing your own interests, one thing is after writing the content you just copy and paste in microsoft word and then it will highlight all the gramatical and spelling mistakes and learn from the mistakes, after 3 months you will become a good publisher. all the best
1 person likes this
@hari_guys87 (58)
• India
29 Dec 06
dont worry about that...
keep speaking in english with a person who is good in english. u can pickup easily..
@vaibhavcoder (28)
• India
29 Dec 06
well dear you dont have to think much for this .just take a novel and start reading it.also try to think in english rather in your own language.It will help you a lot and try to persue accent of other people.
Best of luck.
Noddy
1 person likes this
@webster7881 (121)
• South Africa
29 Dec 06
Australia, what a great place! Have U met any South Africans there? - www.work2dream.com
