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czarina84

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Posts posted by czarina84

  1. We had a pretty similar discussion in another thread here on linguaholic.com. Please have a look here:

    So if you would like to talk about ASL being Universal/international or not, please do that there. 

    Thank you for your understanding.

    regards

    L

     

    Thank you very much.  I didn't see this thread before.  It will be very helpful.  I appreciate it.  I will read the other thread but not post anything there.  My apologies. 

  2. I have this problem, too.  The way that I'm working through it is listening to songs while reading the lyrics and watching shows and movies in Spanish while having subtitles on.  The lyrics and subtitles are in Spanish.  It's to help familiarize myself with the words that way when I hear them, I can separate them out. 

  3. Professionalism doesn't have any synonyms. The "synonyms" that you see listed are all words that together make up the description of professionalism.  I have also searched for synonyms for this words.  Professionalism is integrity, courtesy, skill, competence, dedication, good judgment, stability, and responsibility.  It is usually associated with a workplace.   I hope this helped. 

  4. I think it's more a matter of how well they have mastered it.  I was lucky enough to have a French teacher who wasn't a native speaker, but did live in France for years.  He was able to explain the little things that Americans do while speaking French that annoy native speakers.  He also helped us with cultural differences. 

  5. I have many favorites, but one that I can think of off the top of my head came from a movie I recently watched. 

    Shelock Holmes, 2009

    Sherlock is pointing at cane directly at Watson's face while talking to him.

    Watson (angrily): Get that out of my face!

    Sherlock (calmly): It's not in your face; it's in my hand.

    Watson: Get what's in your hand out of my face.

     

    Also, I like

    Sherlock:Never theorize before you have data. Invariably, you end up twisting facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.

  6. I say a teacher is extremely important.  Whether you are in a classroom or one-on-one, you need someone who can tell you the mistakes you are making.  I know some people who were self-taught who had to be corrected by those with whom they spoke.  Even if you learn the language by yourself, you should at least get someone to look over your work. 

  7. I'm not very familiar with sign language, even though I do find it very fascinating. Please pardon my ignorance, but could it be called American Sign Language because it's unique to America? I was recently a little surprised to find that sign language isn't universal, after all. I always thought that it was LOL 

    I was actually thinking along those lines, as well.  That's the problem with wording--it can mean so many different things.  I also thought it was universal.  After all, I don't think deafness is unique to America.  How do hard-of-hearing people get along in your country?  Lip reading?  Writing?

  8. In most cases the ''Yo'' isn't that necessary at all, but sometimes is added to reinforce what you are saying, like in this case: Yo soy espiritual.  The ''yo'' should really be there, at least to put more emphasis on that fact, but ''Soy espiritual'' is also fine, it sounds weaker tho. 

     

    Don't worry about it, the ''yo'' is barely used most of the time, specially when the conversation is barely informal.

    I just want to make sure I understand.  Are you saying to use "yo" in informal circumstances and to emphasize something?

  9. I get what you are saying.  I think it's a pretty good idea.  It would motivate you to learn all that you can about those words, while also keeping you inspired to keep learning the language.  I would have a native or at least very advanced speaker of the language look it over, though, to make sure you didn't miss or misunderstand anything.

  10. I haven't felt pressure, but I have defended those who do.  The area where I live is mostly white and rural.  That means a lot of closed minds.  Most people say, "If you come to this country, you should learn English" or "You need to speak English better."  Whenever I hear this said to someone, I tell the person saying it that it's not as easy as you would think to learn a new language.  Most high school students fail Spanish where I come from.  I also tell them that many people try to learn a new language but can't always succeed.  To some, I tell them that if speaking English properly is a requirement to be an American, then THEY should be deported.  You would not believe how many native English speakers make huge grammar and spelling mistakes.  My favorite is, "You don't speak English so good." 

  11. When I was younger, I learned a few different signs in ASL.  I still remember most of the alphabet (I have to look up B and F again).  I also remember "Thank You."  I'm trying to get back into it.  I was wondering, why is it called American Sign Language? Are the gestures different in other countries?

  12. I've never done this with video games, but it's the same with television shows and movies.  It's very fun to watch something in a foreign language.  I like to hear the change of intensity with Spanish.  I haven't been able to watch in any other language; the only non-English language that comes with Netflix is Spanish. 

  13. Awhile back, I found a book of Spanish idioms.  Unfortunately, I lost it during a move.  One thing I remember is how some idioms didn't translate very well into English.  I think the phrase for "better half" was something with naranja in it and the literal translation was "my half orange" or something like that.  What idioms are in your native language that don't translate well to English?  Also, can someone help me figure out that "better half" phrase?

  14. I like tacos and quesadilla, mostly.  One of my former friends introduced me to seasoned rice and beans.  I know this isn't a recipe, but another friend of mine (that I sadly fell out of touch with after her second child) gave me a Malta Goya.  It's a soda-type thing.  It's really good.  It has this odd taste that takes some getting used to.  You take a sip and something makes you curious for another sip.  Before you know it, you're hooked. 

  15.  

    Why would it certainly take longer than in normal class? I mean, in normal class, what happens is that you can get slices of time with your teacher when you ask questions, but outside of that you don't have many communication: you just hear what the teacher says. And between watching a video, reading his teaching book or having in front of your, the difference for learning isn't sharp.

    The basis of current teaching is to learn a block, then another block, bundle them together to talk about a third block. If you don't understand the first or the second block, it's just a big problem and that's when it's too much linear, after all.

    See, that's kind of the problem.  Some people learn differently.  For instance, I am dyslexic.  I can only study with notes that are different colors.  Granted, I can use the current methods of teaching, but not everyone can.  There are many learning disabilities.  I just don't think that people who can't understand the teaching methods (not won't...can't) should be penalized.  A lot of people end up hating school or never learning something they have been struggling with because their brains can't process the way they are being taught. 

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