How to Learn English —My English learning experience
Obviously, learning English is more and more popular around the world. In this way, learning English has, consequntely, become a hot topic. However, so many people are learning it with great pains, but not enjoyment. Most of them regard it just a tool of communication, so, in their mind, learning English is something like “have to”. In fact, it will be much easier if they change their attitude to “wish to”. Because, actually, there are also a lot of interesting things,like the westen culture, tradition, and daliy life, etc. As long as you form up this concept, you would have a strong motivity to learn. So, in my opinion, INTEREST is very very important for an English learner. This is a little tip according to my own experience of learning English, and I am very glad to share with everybody.
Carrie / Team EnglishPod
Well done Carrie,
Now, I have a few suggestions.
1) Personal posts can be effective, but they must be very interesting. Your post is OK, but I didn’t really learn a great deal from it. If you want to post about your personal experience, you should “zoom in” on one special experience you have had that people can learn from, or one technique that you have really benefited from. This will interest people.
2) Careful with the spelling (consequntely). It will be embarrassing to make mistakes on an Advanced English website.
Comment by Steve — February 12, 2006 @ 3:57 am
Many of my Chinese friends want to learn English so that they can understand American movies. Why do Chinese like to watch American movies?
我的中国朋友门想学英语就是想明白美国的电影。为什么中国人喜欢看美国的电影？
Comment by David — February 15, 2006 @ 7:07 am
Responsesed to David’s comment, I think that is an interesting & taste to explicated why do Chinese like to watch American movies,we all know,most people like to appreciate the wonderful movie product, so long as good movies, who will care where it is from? American,china,french or the other countrys no way,but in fact, American movies industry is the most advanced,so they have more good movie products sale in the world,about in china,That is the reason why we all like to choice American movies.
Comment by wing — February 17, 2006 @ 12:11 am
Hi Wing!
“Responding to David’s comment. I think that it’s interest and style which explains why Chinese like to watch American movies. We all know that most people appreciate a quality movie, so long as it’s a good movie, it doesn’t matter where it is from. American, Chinese, French or another country. But the fact is that the American movie industry is the most advanced, so they produce more quality movies to sell worldwide, and in China. That’s the reason why we all like watching American movies.”
What makes a ‘good movie’? American movies almost always end in a happy ending but in a Chinese movie everyone dies or is bitter at the end! Does this reflect culture or our viewpoint on life?
我看美国的电影， 肯定结束的时候是快乐，不过中国的电影，他们都死掉了， 对不对。 这是。。
Comment by David — February 17, 2006 @ 8:51 pm
hi,
there is a spelling mistake. ect should be etc.
Comment by memoryzh — February 18, 2006 @ 10:39 pm
Hi Memoryzh!
You have a few mistakes too!
“hi,
there is a spelling mistake. ect should be etc.”
Should be:
“(H)i,
(T)here is a spelling mistake. (E)ct should be etc.”
What did you think of the podcast? To be friendly and with good email “etiquette” you could also add some friendly words like,
“Hi Admin,
I really liked your podcast. I noticed, however, that there is a typo. “Ect” should be “ect.” I hope this helps.
Thanks again for the cast, great work!
Sincerly,
Memoryz
I hope you found my ‘reply’ fun and helpful!
Comment by David — February 20, 2006 @ 5:42 am
Dear David,
Thank you for your Responding , I am sorry my poor english, and I know I have more mistake in spelling and grammar, I like english,but I don’t find the fitest way for me to development, maybe you can give me some good advice?
About the topic with USA movie,I think that it is a complexity thesis, It is relate to any more industry, politics,economy, culture etc.
anyway,that it is a good topic,maybe we can discuss in some time.
Comment by wing — February 27, 2006 @ 8:16 pm
Hi Wing,
I think one very good way is the way I learned in college. As students, for example, eight of us, we each wrote a paper. Then each week we exchanged our papers and corrected mistakes and made comments. We usually did this at least three times for the same paper. So I got advice from at least three different people. At first this is very difficult, but one get’s used to it and appreciates the ‘correction’. Also, one professor was very strict and made us right only one paragraph to describe a book. It was very hard to get a good mark. We learned how to right clearly and without wasting words. I have found that Chinese students and professors don’t do this too much, especially in their English writing, so one never learns too well.
So one good way is to write and write a lot. Please feel free to write here and I will try to help you ‘correct’ things. This way you can see the changes and other students also can learn. This way we all learn together!
=====
Dear David,
>Hi David,
Thank you for your Responding ,
>Thank you for your response,
>Thanks for responding,
I am sorry my poor english,
>Sorry about my poor English,
and I know I have more mistake in spelling and grammar,
>and I know I have many mistakes in spelling and grammar,
>and I realize I make many mistakes in spelling and grammar,
I like english,but
>I like English, but
I don’t find the fitest way for me to development,
>I haven’t found the best way for me to improve
>I haven’t found the best way for me to develop
>I haven’t found a suitable way for me to improve
maybe you can give me some good advice?
>maybe you can give me some advice
>maybe you can offer some suggestions
About the topic with USA movie,
>About the USA movie topic
>Regarding USA movies
I think that it is a complexity thesis,
>I think it’s a complex issue
It is relate to any more industry, politics,economy, culture etc.
>It is related to industry, politics, the economy, culture and many things.
>”note. When you use ‘etc.’ you should only list two items, for example: industry, politics, etc.
anyway,that it is a good topic,maybe we can discuss in some time.
>Anyway, that is a good topic, maybe we can discuss it more some time.
———-
Why do Chinese movies always end in a sad way and American movies always end happy?
Comment by David — March 3, 2006 @ 7:29 am
whoops! btw, right….should be write. oh my!
Comment by David — March 3, 2006 @ 7:31 am
Hey everyone,
Don’t get too down on mistakes! One must be positive in this kind of learning experience. I like the idea from David about writing papers and exchanging them with other students to get feedback and correction. It is very difficult to edit our own work.
In addition, it is important to be humble and accept criticism, yet at the same time be confident enough to try to write and speak. The two ideas seem to contrast, being humble and confident, but they are essential to language learning. Accept it and improve!, that’s part of the spirit of blogging.
Comment by Kris (Project Manager) — April 21, 2006 @ 3:03 am
Dear wing
Thank you for your Responding ,Oh!My god!I have many mistakes in spelling and grammar,that is let me so despond!
I like english,but I don’t find the fitest way for me to development, maybe you can give me some good advice?
Comment by Roy — June 25, 2006 @ 3:45 pm
Hi, i really interesting in this site. I also want to join discussing about how we can write, read and understand English. I think this will be helpful site for someone who use English as a communication tool for finding a good job because you know, in my country there many companies come to invest.
So, I wish i can learn more from this site with helping form all of you. Thank you.
Comment by Kim — July 6, 2006 @ 3:11 am
Hi Kim, welcome to the site.
What country are you from?
Comment by Administrator — July 6, 2006 @ 7:36 pm
Hi Admin.,
Oh, it’s so great to be welcome. I’m so proud to introduce my country to all of you. I’m from Vietnam where have been seen as one of Asian dragons in future. It has many beautiful landscape such as Ha Long Bay, Nha Trang beach, Phu Quoc island as known with fish sauce and one special thing which every tourist like to buy as a gift is Ao dai. Recently, there’re many tour from USA to Vietnam and i wish to improve my English so that i can give more information about my country for foreigners
I know i have many mistakes in grammar and don’t know many words to express my thought. Could you give me more advise to improve my English from this site please?
Comment by Kim — July 7, 2006 @ 4:27 am
Hi Kim,
It’s Kris, host of the show. We have a lot of members from Vietnam. I don’t know why we’re so popular there, but it’s great. There are also lots of users from China, Iran, Turkey, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and many other places.
About improving your grammar - the simplest way is to copy what native speakers say, and how they say it. Really, that’s the way I learned - I copied what my parents said. We begin by listening, then start copying. Soon you’ll be able to construct your own sentences with few errors.
Don’t try to memorize sentences. A more effective way is to learn sentence patterns and collocations. Collocations are like word partners. So when you learn a word like “profit”, learn how to use it.
For example: make profits, have profits, large profits, small profits, profits are down, profits are up, profits are flat. Here, we’re using profit as a noun, so we must find out what verbs and adjectives can be used with it to make small phrases. Learning these types of collocations and phrases gives you the building blocks you need to later make whole sentences.
I come from an English training system where we don’t teach grammar like the old textbooks do. That’s too structured and only useful for writing, not speaking. What we try to do in EnglishPod is teach you - in a more natural way - the expressions you need to know to survive and excell in the business world.
Keep trying Kim, we’ll help you the best we can.
Comment by Kris Fedorak/Team EnglishPod — July 9, 2006 @ 10:42 pm
Haha,
Yes Tom, you got me. I’m terrible with spelling - and there’s no excuses when using a computer.
Comment by Kris Fedorak/Team EnglishPod — July 12, 2006 @ 10:40 pm
i want to larn englis with mp3 files
Comment by prashanth — September 4, 2006 @ 10:56 pm
Calm down!!!!!!!!!
Everybody is likely to make a lot of mistakes, even native speakers. I myself make lots of mistakes in my own mother tongue. It doens’t mean that I am not fluent though. Don’t be carried away! Be cool!
ronyvictorious at yahoo.com.br
Comment by Fábio — September 6, 2006 @ 10:56 am
hello to everyone
Well in my opinion for correction of mistakes like spelling and sentence formation. There is one solution to use Microsoft office word 2003 application. It’s help in various ways. For example there is Dictonary, threasures and Spelling ckeckers tools. This can help in for making document in correct way.I am strongly recommended this application tool for learn english.
Comment by Nishant — October 13, 2006 @ 10:30 pm
Hello to everyone…
My son is now studying in senior high school, and I am trying to find a vocabulary mp3 for him to listen and study.
Is there anyone can recommend a suitable stuff for him?
Very appreciated to your kind answer.
Best regards,
Jerry
Comment by Jerry — October 16, 2006 @ 12:55 am
I think your suggestions on learning English are very good ,so i will enter to you .
Comment by lyli — October 17, 2006 @ 10:28 pm
realy i would like most to have may say on this wonderful and exciting topics thank you very one who want to share an idea with me i will welcome you with an open hand so it is gives me considereble greate pleasure so please i have to apologes youmay mistake in this process so pls try to correct my mistake becouse of what i am new to the game i mean i am not very good in english so pls keep in touch with me i hope you the best every one thanks byyyyyyyyyyy
Comment by wahiib — January 13, 2007 @ 8:45 am
Hi David,
I really enoj your lessons. I have learned a lot of vocabularies. It has been very useful for me. But I need to learn about every day topic. My husband is American, and I am Mongolian. But he doesnt speak Mongolian, so we speak in English. Just like normal conversations in advanced level.
Need to my husband shut up. Sorry…
You guys doing great job. I listened your lessons again and again.
Best
Bolor.
Comment by bolor — May 4, 2007 @ 2:41 am
Hello,everyone:
I love this website,there is so many people to discuss how to learn english efficiently.As you says,we should write and speak it so we can get a big improvment.But as to me,i haven’t write it ever since.I like to watch American movies,i thinkin that way i can improve listening and speaking skills.Don’t you think so?
Comment by Lucy — May 10, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
Hi David,
God, you are a super mistake corrector,aren’t you? I’m a sophomore majoring in English.I write in English often,but there isn’t anyone to correct my mistakes.Can I publish some of my articles here to you,and would you please point out the mistakes while enjoy my writing?(Of course,I don’t know whether you’ll enjoy or not).I’d be very appreciated if you forward my mail.:)
Comment by Sense — June 2, 2007 @ 1:25 am