chigreyofthenorns

I love poetry! There is something about the way authors bare their souls and hearts to the readers that make poems more special sometimes than novels or short stories. Thank you for sharing that poem, TS! I really loved it. If I were to choose my favorite poem, it would be How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

I admit that I only started reading ASOIAF because I got hooked on the TV series GOT. Nonetheless, this book series is one of the best in my opinion possibly next to Harry Potter and LOTR. What makes ASOIAF a very good read is the fact the universe where it is set in is purely out of imagination. I always admire people who can create a whole universe that is very detailed up to the last leaf. I hope the G.R.R. Martin will finish that book soon. I don't want the HBO people to ruin the ending of the story in case Martin is unable to finish it.

I have a degree in Journalism. It is a pretty good degree to have, but I want to learn more. In fact, when I relocate next year, I am planning to study English Literature. I never thought this course is useless because literature is very important for me. It shapes and preserves culture, and it teaches other people many things. Literature has a very big part in my heart.

I'm from the Philippines, and our national language is Filipino. The first sentences taught to children in primary schools are the following: 1. Ako ay si (name). [in English: My name is _____.] 2. Ako ay nakatira sa _____ [in English: I live at _______.] 3. Ako ay ___ taong gulang. [in English: I am ___ years old.] These three sentences are the first to be taught because they are introductory sentences. I also think that these sentences are important because it teaches students to introduce themselves first in certain situations.

For me, the best motivator would be the desire to travel some day to the country whose dialect is the one you are learning. For instance, I am currently studying Korean because I want to visit Korea someday. I am very much motivated to learn how to speak the language fluently because I want to be able to experience the culture there fully. I want to be able to converse with the people in their own language.

Yes. I am studying Korean, and my friend started studying for a long time before I did. She speaks the language fluently (both formal and informal). I'm amazed because I'm having a hard time learning, while she didn't. I guess it's because some people learn new languages easier than other people. I ask my friend all the time for help when I encounter problems.

I agree! I am studying Korean, and I realized that watching Korean movies and shows is a great way to learn the language. Although the language being used there is mostly informal, I still learned a lot of words by watching.

I was motivated to learn Korean because I used to work for a Korean company. I was an online editor there and part of my job includes editing essays submitted by Korean students who are learning English. One time, I wondered why some of the students were having a hard time constructing sentences in English. I figured out that the construct of the Korean language is very different from that of English. To understand their difficulties, I decided to study Korean.

I admit that I consider myself a Grammar Nazi, but I am still guilty of spelling of these. I misspell some of these words especially when I am in a hurry. What's horrifying sometimes is that I write speeches for public officials. One mistake that I committed was misspelling public as pubic. Suffice it to say that I am fortunate that my boss has a sense of humor.

I have. However, I confess that I only read this when I watched the movie. I liked the movie in a way even if it was like The Hunger Games. I can't say the same after reading the book though. The book was much better. It let me understand Tris more and the various social issues that affect them. Overall, Divergent is a really good book. I recommend this to those who haven't read it yet.

Hmmm... Through the years, a lot of books have inspired and changed me in positive ways. The one that really made a big change is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I learned to appreciate the little things in life and to listen more to others. What's more, I learned that judging people based on their appearance alone is never good for you or the other person. "What is essential is invisible to the eye." This is the greatest lessons I learned there.

Of course they are! I love graphic novels. Actually, I am a huge fan. For me, graphic novels are the same as other novels. The only difference is that you can really see what is happening. It's a real treat when the illustrations are very well done. I suggest the following: Scott Pilgrim, Batman: The Long Halloween, and Kingdom Come. They are totally worth reading.

I have noticed discrepancies in translations a lot. This always happens when you buy or download bootleg copies of movies. For instance, whenever a good Filipino film is uploaded prematurely online, the English subtitles are annoying and funny at the same time. Sometimes, translations are very literal. That's the problem.

Annyeong! I am from the Philippines, and I am so glad I found this site! I am currently studying Korean, Japanese, and Mandarin among others because I am very intrigued about the similarities of these languages. When I was a kid, I couldn't even tell one from another! Anyway, I expect that I will have a truly awesome time here. I hope that I meet a lot of like-minded people who I can share stories and learn from. Cheers, everyone!!!! :grin: P.S.: The smileys are really cute.