LindaKay

It is interesting to see all of these responses. This was something that I never thought about before, but a friend brought it up and asking another friend, who speaks English and Spanish both pretty much equally (English at work and with friends, and Spanish at home or when talking to other Spanish-speaking people at work), and he said he still thinks mostly in Spanish. I guess that is because it is his native language. I'm a native English speaker. Although I'm learning Spanish, I can't say that I think in it. Only when I'm speaking it or listening to it.

I always get drawn into things that are very descriptive and that have a lot of adjectives. I also look for words related to my hobbies and interests, of course.

I read really fast. In fact, I read so fast that I get really irritated when people are reading out loud. I'm always a whole paragraph ahead of everyone else!!

I definitely think Amazon is a good one. They have a nice platform that makes publishing easy, and you can even get involved in a program in which they will promote your e-book for you. I know a few people who make a nice sum each month from writing e-books, so it's definitely worth a try! Good luck!

So, this might be a weird question, but: To those who aren't native English speakers but who speak English regularly, do you THINK in English or in your native language?

It's so funny that you mention this. I definitely say "LOL" too much sometimes, both in texting and online. I just type it out of habit, even if nothing is funny. At least I don't say it out loud like some people do!

Oh, I always catch them in books. I catch them in magazines, too, and especially in my local newspaper. I'm guessing they don't have very good editors over there because the grammar is surprisingly poor.

I wouldn't say that I'm passionate about them. I just find them very intriguing. I like all sorts of accents; it's what makes the world go 'round. I have a Southern accent, and a lot of people love it.

I didn't know it was that old, either. I have heard it in hip-hop songs long before Miley Cyrus came along, but I didn't know it was almost as old as I am. Hmm.

I agree. You can also pay someone to translate for you. Otherwise, it's going to be all broken. You might be able to understand what is being said, but it won't be correct if you use a free service.

I think it's handy. It certainly isn't perfect, but it's better than going into something blind. The translation is generally close enough that you/the other person can figure out what is being said.

Wow, how interesting. I guess that means that you shouldn't assume that you understand something. You might find that you don't understand what is being said at all!!

I catch those kinds of mistakes all the time. I mean, I never hold it against the person or anything, but I definitely notice it.

This is a great question. I would love to be able to learn Chinese but would have absolutely no idea of how to get started.

Nope, there are many different types, just like there are spoken languages!

That is crazy! I think they just don't think or do sufficient research, but they definitely should when hitting the international market! How hard is it to Google something or to ask someone who speaks the language?

A friend of mine has tried to teach me some Czech words, and it is very very hard! I also think learning Asian languages would be very challenging. I am having a hard enough time learning Spanish!

I think it's important if you want to get a job in which it could help you, or if you want to date and have a relationship with someone from another country. It's also good for self-fulfillment or if you would like to travel to or move to another country. I don't think I would personally feel comfortable speaking another language in public for the sheer purpose of saying things that I didn't want other people to hear. It gets on my nerves when I hear people do it, and it's usually pretty clear when it's being done.

Just as with anything else, some people are good at some things and not-so-good at others. I think it is very difficult for some people to grasp the idea of speaking a different language. I also think doubt in one's self makes a difference, as does caring or not caring about actually learning the material.

Textbroker is a great site, but I don't really recommend it for non-native speakers. I think iWriter.com is a better choice for those who are still learning, but that's just me.

I have always hated diagramming sentences. I had a middle school teacher who required us to do it ALL the time. Even though I think my grammar skills are pretty good, I somehow struggle when it comes to mapping it all out on paper. I wish you the best of luck at sharpening your skills because I'm not the best person to give you advice on this subject!!

Grammarly.com is another option. It's a little costly, but they'll send you coupon offers and deals if you don't get a paid membership after your free trial. It is important not to get too dependent on these programs, though; they don't catch everything. They can be rather helpful, though.

Thank you so much for this link. In my freelance writing ventures, I am often asked to write content for UK-based websites. It can be a bit tricky; I mean, adding the "u's" and swapping out "z's" for "s's" is pretty easy, but I know there is more to it than that. I am sure this link will be very helpful for me, so thanks again!!

Hello everyone! I'm Linda, and I'm new here. I live in North Carolina in the United States and am 25 years old. I am a full-time college student and a full-time freelance writer who works from home. The only language that I speak fluently is English, but I do speak some Spanish and am trying to learn the language. I'm not very good at it yet, but I'm very interested in it. I'm hoping I can make some new friends here.