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Everything posted by VNtomboy
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I know some people who are teaching business English, although here people only teach that subject at university...Do you have an undergrad degree?
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Success finding target language speaking friends?
VNtomboy replied to WiningerWorld's topic in Language Learning
I have once managed to find a French speaking friend, although I first met her on tumblr due to our common interests rather than me needing someone to practice with. We speak in English sometimes and in French in other times. I think it's helped me gain a little more confidence, but nothing too noteworthy -
Is It Possible to Forget Your Native Language?
VNtomboy replied to lushlala's topic in Language Learning
No, I know that they only pretend, but WHY would they have to pretend to forget their own language? There are millions of bilingual people in the world, if not billions. Also I LIVE in a 3rd world country and that mentality is not prevalent here at all, even though the younger generation love Western culture -
Why do most people find it easier to write than speak a language?
VNtomboy replied to lushlala's topic in Language Learning
I read that saying filler words like "um" makes us seem a little flustered than anything. It's better to pause and collect your thoughts -
I think originally, there's this unspoken assumption that native speakers are the VERY BEST at all things English. However, that is definitely not always the case. I've seen a LOT of native speakers whose grammar and/or spelling was horrible to say the least, and not just the uneducated people either. I see doctors, lawyers, engineers making mistakes all the time. Whereas if someone became fluent through learning, I KNOW that person has near flawless grammar and could communicate just as well as a native speaker
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Oh, I see. My bad. Do you think it really worked though? In my english classes we'd do crosswords sometimes too, but it never really helped me learn or retain vocabulary
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It's the technological age, you can definitely find some native speakers willing to help you out, even on this forum. If you're SUPER shy, like me, then you can just download movies and try to emulate what the characters are saying.
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Direct Approach to Foreign Language Teaching
VNtomboy replied to AureliaeLacrimae's topic in Language Teaching
Oh man, when I started learning French this was the method my teacher (who's a native speaker) used. At that point, pretty much everyone in the class was either close with a French speaker or about to go to a French speaking country. I was the only one who wanted to learn for fun. I was like a massive fish out of water the first few lessons. Gradually, it got a lot better, and now I'm actually quite grateful that that's how I learnt, because I picked up a LOT during that first course. -
Is It Possible to Forget Your Native Language?
VNtomboy replied to lushlala's topic in Language Learning
That's insane. Why would they need to have forgotten their native tongue to "make it"? -
For me, it's French. I really like the language itself, and the way it comes off the tongue, makes me feel very sophisticated and worldly I actually want to start learning coding, but I'm not sure if that's the type of language we discuss on this forum :grin:
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Our minds remember songs and rhymes easier than just normal spoken words, that's why people can sing songs in foreign languages without knowing a lick of that language. The crossword thing is probably just your teacher being lazy and grabbing some off the internet, haha
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1. This depends on the person, how much effort and time they put into learning the language, if the system they're using works for them, etc. Lots of factors here. I would say maybe a few years with lots of practice, it's definitely possible 2. It's 100% possible to reach that level. Even if the language is something like icelandic, I've seen people learn it in adulthood and mastered it 3. It's still possible, but it might take a bit more effort on your part. You'd have to motivate yourself to find people to practice the language with. Nowadays, there's skype and forums like this so it shouldn't be TOO hard :grin:
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I' not sure if this counts as "absurd" since it works using a basic principle of learning languages: repetition. A friend of my last English teacher's apparently wrote a bunch of vocabulary every day onto those yellow sticky notes and stuck them onto her bathroom wall, so every time she went to the toilet or did something at her sink, she'd see the words and repeat them. Personally, when studying for the SAT, I managed to learn about 350-400 new words in 3 weeks using anki... :grin:
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Survey: Should informal English be taught in class?
VNtomboy replied to GRobertson's topic in English Language | Discussion
I agree it's used frequently in daily language, but for me personally, I think you gotta learn to walk before you can run, ya know? I started learning French a couple years ago, and if I were taught slang words, I think I'd be constantly misusing them. Besides, colloquial English changes super fast. A few years ago, the word "fleek" probably meant something else, but now the phrase "on the fleek" just means it's on point. -
Speech and writing problem help
VNtomboy replied to stygium's topic in English Language | Discussion
Hi, may I ask where you're from? What I usually did when I wanted to practice my English was to go to the touristy areas of my city and just started talking to foreigners who didn't look like they were in any hurry. Or, if you're more shy, you can maybe look around the forum and ask people here directly for help. I've been here for a short while and everyone's really friendly. -
Is there a specific language you can't pronounce?
VNtomboy replied to elenamarie's topic in Language Learning
I was in Sweden for half a year on exchange, and I STILL can't pronounce the word "yes" like this video -
Is It Possible to Forget Your Native Language?
VNtomboy replied to lushlala's topic in Language Learning
It is DEFINITELY possible, if you're socializing ONLY in the foreign language. I know quite a few Vietnamese Americans who fled after the war, have been living in the US and they don't know a lick of Vietnamese. It also happened to me, but that was when I was quite young (like 14), and it was only for a few days, then it all came back to me, so... -
Which book have you read that tugs at your heart?
VNtomboy replied to takibari's topic in English Literature
I LOVE books by David Levithan. His novels are all so emotional and incredibly well-written. His book "Everyday" was so well done, totally tugged at my heartstrings -
Can I ask where you're from? I know the US mostly uses the TOEFL (the company that makes the test is American I think), but a lot of other Western countries uses the IELTS (UK, Aus, NZ). The majority of places uses both now, even if they have a preference for TOEFL
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I think that's so cool that you're picking up sign language. I always wanted to learn, but never had the time Are you doing American sign language?
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Do you think the language levels might pull some people back?
VNtomboy replied to elles-belles's topic in Language Learning
It really depends on the person, some people like myself would prefer to improve on our weakest area first and THEN move forward. I would NOT enjoy struggling with any skill in a class, even if I'm on par with everyone else in all other areas -
My family is actually pretty multi lingual. My parents both know Russian, English and of course our native tongue Vietnamese. My sister and I both know some French, but no Russian. We get by using Vietnamese :grin:
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Ignorance is bliss is practically my life motto. I think it also applies to language learning (at time) too. Like if you don't know your word choice is wrong or your accent is horrible, you speak it more because you're not insecure, and gradually become better :grin: