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why would I learn English
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I became much confused these days. I loved English before, and I want be able to talk with foreigners in fluent English. So I almost took any chances I met to practice English since I was not as busy with my major studies these days. I joined some QQ groups focus on english, which only allow english talks there. And one of them prefers to voice chat. It has a testing program too, everyone joined this group should be tested by the administrater to mark their english level. I was tested of course. After testing, the administrater had a small talk with me. He suggested me to act as a hostess in an english corner, for he thought my oral english is good.
How to express my feelings that time. To tell the truth, I was happy to hear that, but at the same time, I'm afraid, for I haven't been a hostess before, not to mention speak in english. I'm afraid that I may disappointed the listener while I was hosting, but on the other hand, I really want to practice my english through this experience. So finally , I agreed. So he gave a link to me to have a look at the website.
It looks good, actually, there's english corner online everyday, mostly hoseted by chinese whose oral english is good. He invited me to join one of the corner that night, I did. But to be frank, I was disappointed.
When I first logged in, they had a test to check whether you mic is in good condition, which to my surprise, the tester speaks chinese.... Isn't this an english corner? Then try to comfort , I said to myself maybe it's just a test. What was worse, there are still chinese words appear in the conversation wnenever they did not know how to say in english, they just took chinese as a substitution. I feel sorrow for myself, why should I come here? To speak english together with chinese in a so-called english corner? I can't imagine that. I leave the group immediately without any hesitation.
Then I reflected myself, one question came up to me which I never thought about before. Why I should I learn english? what am I learning it for? To communicate with chinese in english? Is that all I wanted? All of people in that group had an accent, of course I have too, but I don't want to practice in this way, If so, I maybe more and more like a chinese speaker when speaking english. I hope to be a chinese when I'm saying chinese, and sounds like a foreigner when speaking englishI was trying to speak like native as possible as I can. People say that if you want to speak one language, you have to put yourself in that situation, but what can I obtain when speaking english with chinese? Only more accent, I think. If I just want to speak it, why would I spend so much time on it? If I cannot speak like native, is it can be called a foreign language? It is only a language, I think.
I don't know what to do now? Should I continue learning? How should I practice? Does it help to practice with chinese? I don't know now. Really do not know any more. Feel the most confuse of all the time.
Hearing them in that group just make me realise one thing: maybe my oral english is not as good as they say, or not as good as I thought. maybe their standard is a little lower. Anyway, I know I still have a long way to go.
Post comment Comment (47 replies)
- Reply 58864736
- Hi, I also found many English corner in China not realy in English. I cann`t find english foreign blog in internet. I just found Dioenglish is good.
- Reply fairy0612
- 58864736: Hi, I also found many English corner in China not realy in English. I cann`t find english foreign blog in internet. I just found Dioenglish is good.I don't like that kind anyway, but I do like Dio here.
- Reply rainecho415
- Actually, most of those kind of groups are just some chatting groups. If you really want to learn English well, don't narrow down your way of learning English. You should listen more native TV series, movies, programmes, and read more native books. And , you should go to those international chat rooms to find some foreign friends. If you want to find some Chinese to practice, make sure they are all like English very much as you do. I'm sure you will find a lot of friends here on Dioenglish!
- Reply fairy0612
- rainecho415: Actually, most of those kind of groups are just some chatting groups. If you really want to learn English well, don't narrow down your way of learningI do have friends here in Dio, but no foreign friends to chat with...Can you give me some website which you mentioned?
- Reply rainecho415
- fairy0612: I do have friends here in Dio, but no foreign friends to chat with...Can you give me some website which you mentioned?You can download a software named " Skype", which can help you find some foreign friends there. And then you can also use MSN. But to be honest, what those foreigners online want to talk are some boring things which may makes you feel like they are very rude, such sex or something else. You really should find your own way to learn English, but not thinking talking to a foreigner at random or in English corner is exactly the shortcut. It takes time. Take it easy!
- Reply lizzy_angel
- As to me,it's really hard to find a place where can provide a pure native English environment.So, create such conditions, make yourself good enough,and make good enough friends,balance input and output,learn and practice,visit English websites,watch foreign movies...
- Reply rainecho415
- Besides, I suggest you make the best use of dioenglish, such the english radio online which you can carry on listen to every day, also the Diowiki, which contains a lot of useful English knowledge you can learn!
- Reply fairy0612
- rainecho415: You can download a software named " Skype", which can help you find some foreign friends there. And then you can also use MSN. But to be honThanks a million for telling me this. I really appreciate
- Reply fairy0612
- lizzy_angel: As to me,it's really hard to find a place where can provide a pure native English environment.So, create such conditions, make yourself good enough,anthanks for your advice. maybe I just expect too much
- Reply fairy0612
- rainecho415: Besides, I suggest you make the best use of dioenglish, such the english radio online which you can carry on listen to every day, also the Diowiki, whI never used that before, I think it's time to do. Thanks again
- Reply Tange
- According to that , you are good at english . please help me to promote my english skill
- Reply fairy0612
- Tange: According to that , you are good at english . please help me to promote my english skillI wonder whether I had the ability now...
- Reply ly.identity
- English with heavy accent is not called English? I don't think so.
English is more than a language. It serves us only a tool to communication, but a key with which we can unlock another different world. Different cultures, different opinions and different angles. And I strongly suggest you to read an article. It's written by the ding of English major in Peking Foreign Language Uni, and titled "君子不器". To some extent, it's my Bible.
- Reply jeffery
- reading all the mentioned and discussed above, i find the persistence and hard-woring are the most factor to the success,
perhaps someone will say it is totally crap, it makes sense nothing , ,we all know these common knowledge,
well, i wana to say ,who can tell urself " i once really do it with my heart " ,
u will see a totally different u if u do as discussed above ,yeah comon.
- Reply huckabee
- It is a pleasure to find so many friends opining here in response to your question. So cheer up and you will find better ways to overcome the block.
- Reply fairy0612
- ly.identity: English with heavy accent is not called English? I don't think so.thank you very much for sharing, I will read it. But I can not find it on the Internet, maybe you can give me a link.
English is more than a language. It serves us only a tool to communication, but a
- Reply fairy0612
- jeffery: reading all the mentioned and discussed above, i find the persistence and hard-woring are the most factor to the success,yeah, regardless of the result, just do it follow my heart, and with my all efforts
perhaps someone will say
- Reply fairy0612
- huckabee: It is a pleasure to find so many friends opining here in response to your question. So cheer up and you will find better ways to overcome the block.I will cheer up, and find my own way....
- Reply sunnyv
- The core is whether you can communicate in English. That means, if somebody say something in English, can you understand it and do you have the ability to respond in English. Do not worry about your vocabulary, accent or choice of words because that does not matter and you will improve as you go along. Should you come across a foreigner which has a strong accent which is too difficult for you, do not despair because that is not normal English. Even I have difficulties understand some Scottish guys from England. You have a good written foundation so there should be not much difficulty for you to speak in English.
- Reply Jimbo
- Here's the thing. Chinese are just starting to learn English. So, they emulate either American English, British English, or Australian English. But look to countries like Japan, Germany, India, France, etc. When they speak English, they do it in their own way. True, they have been learning it longer than Chinese have but they have their own accent. They don't sound like American English accent because they have their own accent. They may have been influenced by British English but it's been so long that they have created something that belongs to them alone.
Stop worrying about how to sound like a foreigner and focus on how to use English in the most effective way. Speak as much English as you can with Chinese people, that way you can develop your own Chinese English accent.
