Yesterday I joined some of the Westca gang in New Westminster for a get together. I had to leave early because it was my granddaughter's 7th birthday, but it was nice to see my old friends again. Edwin and I discussed the relative lack of activity at this corner. i explained that my interest is more in the area of "how to learn languages" rather than in acting as an online dictionary. Edwin said that this was fine, and that I could post here some of the comments that I also put on my blog. So I have decided to do as he suggested.
I will write about how to improve in a language, especially English. I welcome comments and questions on language learning. I will not necessarily answer questions about what English words mean, nor correct people's English.
I hope this is of interest.
_________________ Steve
Language learning success depends on the attitude of the learner and the time spent with the language. All the rest is unimportant.
It is great to let everyone learn your way to improve language. Since you are so talented in language learnig and you are a master of more than 11 languages. Your methods and your experience is a treasure to all our members.
Thank you, Steve.
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iBXH ()
Posted: 2008-4-07 11:18
Welcome!
What frustrate me most is some phases are using English literature, or I call it Western custom. If there is no one gives me an explicit explanation, I think I won't get the meaning for ever. For example, a Canadian may say "u r not my cup of tea", but I would say "u r not my taste". Cup of Tea is totally nonsense for me....
There is a trend that different languages are merging in these days, and I would be happy to see this. People Mountain People Sea is good, do you?
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Steve ()
Posted: 2008-4-07 11:40
iBXH
2 bits of advice.
1) To learn a new language you have to leave the comfort of your own language and culture. Forget your Chinese expressions when you speak English. I do not try to use English expressions when I speak Chinese.
2) Do not worry too much about expressions like "not my cup of tea". If they come up often enough you will learn what they mean, but you are unlikely to be able to use them comfortably.
Focus on the common phrases and structures of the language.
No, I do not think that languages are merging. I think that many aspects of culture are mixing, like food or other aspects of modern life.
On the other hand, I think that languages will stay separate, and that minor languages that were suppressed by centralizing governments in the previous century will make a come back. We may yet see some native languages make a come back in Canada. Regional languages everywhere are coming back. Catalan, Basque, Welsh, regional dialects in Japan, and I expect that in the future there will be a greater effort to maintain regional Chinese languages like Cantonese, Hokkian etc. Just my view though.
_________________ Steve
Language learning success depends on the attitude of the learner and the time spent with the language. All the rest is unimportant.
Thank you for your nice words, Steve! I meant 'mixing' instead of 'merging'....made same kind of mistakes again and again...easy to choose a wrong one and make misunderstanding....
_________________
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Sunmax ()
Posted: 2008-4-07 15:53
Steve, it was nice to meet you too.
_________________ - Life is 10% what happens to us, 90% how we respond to it.
- The way you see your life shapes your life.
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