jodiann12

Based on what I have read in the article, it appears as if the decline is mainly as a result of the very difficult marking scheme being used by examining body in the UK at the GCSE level. Interestingly, we don't have a problem with students becoming disinterested in foreign languages at the primary or secondary levels. In fact, at least one foreign language, which would most likely by Spanish, is introduced to students at the kindergarten levels. We are having a problem with Mathematics and Science subjects here. But I have to say, I find it very disheartening to know that the examiners' marking schemes are making it difficult for students to continue to study foreign languages at the tertiary level. However, I read at the end of the article that the UK government is doing all it can make the necessary changes so that more students would do a foreign language at A-levels.

Thank you so much Fabrice for this quote. I love it! I have so many favorite quotes. But that I really love is this one by Albert Einstein: No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.

I am a fast reader. I think it's natural to increase your reading speed if you read regularly and widely. I try hard not to read out loud too.

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is great for native speakers and non-native speakers of English. They have very useful resources on this site. I have been looking at the English as a Second Language for Students, and noticed that they teach not only about grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics but how to write for global business audiences. It's very interesting. I have you used this site to help you in writing documents in English?

Personally, I don't really like tongue twisters. I did some of these in my high school drama class. I also did some when I was in elementary school. The one that was very popular with the teachers was the ones with the "seashells." I hated that tongue twister and got sick of hearing it quite easily.

I feel the same way Polybus. I enjoy learning different languages, but I never wish that English was not my native language. It is the best language for business and travel, and most of the world's media company's (whether it's print, television, and Internet) communicate using English, and hence, it's the international language. But I love to experience other cultures which do not speak English as their primary language.

This happens to me, too. I often have trouble remembering which letters I need to double up. The words I usually have a problem with are tomorrow, occurrence, occasion, embarrass and accommodate.

Two words which I tend to confuse the meanings of are comprise and include. The meanings are slightly different. Comprise means "consist of or be composed of." While include means "contain or regard as part of a whole." I also often confuse the words continual and continuous. Continual means "occurring repeatedly." While continuous means "going on without interruption." It's very easy to confuse the meanings of these words since they sound alike and are almost similar in meaning. So, what words do you confuse while doing your writings in English?

Animal Farm is my favorite work written by George Orwell. I like the use of an allegory to reveal all the flaws within communist Russia. I like how he choose roles to suit each animals. I like how how he portrayed the sheep and the ducks as being stupid, and as a result, were easily brainwashed the likes of Boxer and Napoleon. This was a very important lesson for me to learn even in seventh grade in high school. I learned the importance of thinking for myself, and not allowing others to place ideas within my head without me analyzing and critically thinking through them first to decide whether I should accept them or not.

I am from the Caribbean,and I studied English Literature as an undergraduate in my country, Jamaica, so there are several West Indian authors who I love. These include: Derek Walcott, VS Naipaul, Lorna Goodison and Merle Collins. If you have read any works by an West Indian literature, could you tell me which are your favorite works and/or authors, and why this is the case?

I have read the story "The Last Question" by Isaac Asimov, and I have to say that this is one of my favorites. I am not a big fan of short stories, but the story line of this one is very interesting, and love the ending!

My favorite American authors are ee cummings, Sylvia Plath, Edgar Allen Poe, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou and Mark Twain.

I love this quote Spiral Architect. I don't know why so many people like Twilight,but I just hate the series so much. I agree that Lord of the Rings is much better to watch than to read. I don't usually have a hard time finishing a book, but I wasn't even finished and I wanted to give the book back that my cousin lent me. He didn't even want it back.

Some consider Shakespeare to be the father of English Literature. I have read almost all the Shakespearean plays. The only two I have not read are Corialanus and (shamefully) Romeo and Juliet. I also read couple of his sonnets. Which Shakespearean work have you read and liked?

I clicked on both of the clicks, and bookmarked them. I also played the vocabulary games and I was able to donate 300 grains of rice in a short space of time! This site is great! I wish I had found out about it sooner. I am a native English speaker but I love the idea of doing simple things like these to make a difference in the world. Foreign speakers can practice their English while helping other persons. I believe this is just a brilliant idea! :grin: I will sign up for an account next time I get the chance to.

Personally, I believe that the main benefit for being bilingual is that I am given the opportunity to learn, explore, and understand cultures, traditions, and norms outside of my own. I can also use the opportunity to travel to the native country of the language that I'm studying. I can also choose to not only immerse myself in the culture, but to work and live there as well.

Thank you very much for that link Trellum. I do believe that I learn the same way that you do. I love to learn through reading and writing, and I'm also a visual learner. I love diagrams, charts, making lists and notes. I also like to make outlines before writing an essay and I also like to map out my thoughts using diagrams when preparing a research project or essay.

Thank you very much for the link. I got a chance to look at one video to help me to reinforce certain vocabulary and concepts in Spanish. Personally, I had no problems with the audio, and the instructor made his presentation easy to understand, and it was concise and to the point. If all the videos are like the one I watched, I will definitely find the time to watch them. This site is really excellent.

No, I have not had the opportunity to visit the native country of the languages that I have studied, but the good thing about my situation is that I have had the opportunity to communicate with native speakers, and also to listen, view, and read media which use the language which I'm studying so that I can grasp certain concepts and vocabulary in that language and retain it easily.

I agree with what Trellum is saying here. The hardest part about learning a new language for me is being able to learn and memorize new words, especially if you have not been given the opportunity to practice them on a regular basis. I also have to work on pronouncing the new foreign words correctly too. But if I'm placed in a position to practice speaking a foreign language on a regular basis, I find I have no problems doing this.

I speak about two languages. I am fluent in English, and I'm at the intermediate level when it comes to communicating in Spanish. I am better at reading and writing the language than at speaking and listening to it. I speak a little bit of French, and I can read and understand some aspects of it. I can also listen and understand some French words. I have yet to write in it. I also can speak a little Italian and I can read and understand some Italian words too.

There are so many books which I enjoy reading, but one which really stands out for me is Animal Farm. George Orwell uses an allegory to criticize the Soviet Union and Communism. I think it's just brilliant!

my least favorite English accent has to be the American accent being spoken by persons who live in the Northern States. I find this accent to be annoying and irritating. I probably think it's because I've heard this accent so many times, and I've gotten sick of it.

There are so many English quotes which I love very much, and which I find motivational and inspirational. A favorite quote of mine is from Albert Einstein: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I also love another quote he has which says: " Imagination is more important than knowledge." Another favorite quote of mine is from Thomas Edison: " Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time." He also had this quote which came up with after he made many attempts to create the light bulb: "I've not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

I try hard not too. I only use "LOL" when it's absolutely necessary or if I'm sharing a joke or receiving one from a friend. I generally don't like to use too many abbreviations when I'm using instant messaging, texting, or on a social media site. I think this is the case because I'm a writer and I love to write and type.