Monday, April 8, 2013
Journal Question #16
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About Me
- TGriffin
- I have been a language teacher (ESL/ELL, French) for 30 years. I have taught in public and private schools, immersion programs, refugee programs, adult/continuing education, elementary, middle, and high school as well as university. Currently I teach ELL at a high school somewhere in New England.
I do feel like a different person when I speak English that when I speak Chinese. And because I have been learning English for many years I think, I don't really remember how was it when I just started to learn this new language. When I speak Chinese I kind swear a lot because I know almost every bad words in Chinese, but when I speak English I use sarcasm or saying want to kill someone to expression anger instead of swearing in English. The tones between two languages are different in some ways, and sometime I have problem translating one to another. As I said I don't remember how was it when i just started to learn English, everything that I have to change for English I already changed when I was younger, and I truly don't remember what did I change, so I am going to say that I don't have anything to change in order to learn English, at least nothing now.
ReplyDeleteAs we all know, America is the most developed country in the world, the education of America is different from China. the way of speaking language is completely different. when i speak English and Chinese, i feel i am a different person. people from different part have different thinking. so i'd have to change thinking of different problem to be able to learn English.
ReplyDeletei don't really feel different when i speak english, i think i'm the same person as when i speak my native language, learning another language implies learn their culture too, so when i started learning english my teacher taught me also their culture. Even though is really difficult for us to learn another language i think is more difficult to learn the culture because we don't only have to learn it we also have to live in the country and follow the culture, so now that i think about it better i'm a different person when i'm in america no, when i speak english.
ReplyDeleteI can't see the difference when i speak English and Russian. When is peak English i think that i speak like on Russian language. But English is more difficult for me to speak. I had learn English in Russia three years and it didn't help when i came to America. In America i speak English very good because i talk with American people .It is help me because i think that i speak Russian with them. So it is not different for me which language to speak.
ReplyDeleteTo learn English i use to speak a lot and i do writing a lot because it is help me sometimes.
If you want to speak English very good you should speak with people who knows the language.
I do feel a different way when I say another language, not only when I was talking to others, but also when I was practicing. It seem like when I am speaking English, I should consider the thing in another way, it made me feel strange, and slowed my speak speed. So i think if we want to learn English well we should stay with America students, and talk to them then learn their ways of thinking.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is not awful, but it requires you to believe mutually. As many kids tend to choose the way of studying abroad, it's a historical problem for people to solve. We live on the same planet and our ancestors started different languages and distinct culture. Now that students, like us, decided this way, we shall not or even can't think of regretting about that. We have our own personalities; language as just a tool to express what yours is, won't disturb your mind. For instance, our president also employs an interpreter and speaks in his own language. So identity would not be affected by those factors. Just keep going, keep learning!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in China, I studied in a boarding school too. I speak Mandarin at school but speak dialect at home. At school, I always talk casually and make some jokes with my friends. My classmates always say that I am over-energetic. At home, I talk fuzzily and lazily. However, I think that's not because the language changes me, it is the environment and people surrounding me does so. Some thing in America, I do not talk as much as I do in China but it is because I am not familiar with their interest and daily topic. In China, my classmates and I take the same course everyday, so we are just like a big family that can talk about whatever we want. However, in here we change classroom every block and not too much time is available to chat, instead we have to hurry to our next classroom. Thus, I hold the view that it is not the language that changes a person but the environment that language is spoken in.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I like to say I love speaking english.Therefore I don't really feel hard to study english as my second language.But I have to change in order to learn english in some particular ways.The first way that I changed is speaking.As a chinese,I think english is more easy to pronounce.But there is a challenge that I feel so embarrassed when I speak english, I don't know why but I feel afraid of making a grammer mistake or pronouncing wrong.Maybe I am too shy.The second challenge is I don't know the most of english words. That is why I couldn't use some major words to make some good sentences.I think I am getting better right now, I changed from that I was afraid to make some American friends at first but now I have a lot of American friends.I think everything is possible when you put your heart into it.Well begun is half done.I believe I will become a good english in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhen I speak English, I feel that I'm different from others. Whether it is from the usage of the word or the arrangement of the whole sentence, it is completely different from Chinese. When my friends and I speak Chinese, we are very arbitrary; we have never been concerned about the problem of grammar. But when I speak English, I must think about whether there are syntax errors in my sentence. Although I have been learning English for a few years, I'm still not used to the way of speaking. In China, most of students just learn words and grammar, and rarely talk in English. People know that communicating with others is a good way to improve their English, which is the way I'm trying to do.
ReplyDeleteWhen i started to learn to speak English,I felt i was really different from the others.First of all,my pronunciation really made me uncomfortable.Second,Vocabulary was a really big trouble,that i had to overcome.To get into a new language,really need to be patient,because culture different is a really challenge to the English learners.Especially,i had been speaking Chinese day and night.However,converting to a new language,is hard to adapt.By the way,when i speak to the English speakers.The most important thing,that i will worry about is grammar.I will think about the construction of the grammar.For this reason,it will take a minute to come up with a complete sentence.Otherwise, i am USA right now, it offers a great chance for me to improve my English, and i will cherish this opportunity,and do my part, study as hard as i can!.
ReplyDeleteWhen I speak my native language, I can show anything without thinking. Just like the thing that I wanna say is in my mouth, if I want, it will come out without hesitation. But when I speak english, I have to translate the word from chinese first. Then I need to group all the words together, to make them become a sentence. It will waste me lots of time to do the combination in my mind, that's the biggest difference between my native language and english. So, I think the reason cause the problem that is what language is the first one we learned. Like if you put a Chinese to another country when he is only a little kid. Then, the language in this country will be this Chinese's native language. Because he use this language to contact with people, use it to learn all the knowledge, to use it everywhere. And the time we use the second language is much less than the native language. So I think if people want to improve their second language, they have to read it more, write it more, and speak it more. Then they will have big improve on their second language.
ReplyDeleteFrom Stepheny:
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's so different to speak English because I love Chinese so I can't give up talking Chinese. Chinese is so beautiful as it has thousands of years. It has changed for thousand times and every time, it made me feel fresh. Also, English has its history but as a foreigner, I can't feel it deeply and I am lazy to remember the new words. That's the biggest problem, I think. The method of speaking and writing these two languages are very different as well. As English has only 26 characters, Chinese has millions of characters. That's why Chinese is so charming for me.
I think language must be closely connected, so that people from different countries and culture can communicate and understand each other. We may have some problems to speak English, like we can't speak as fluently as native speaker, and we have trouble in pronunciation. But I believe practicing makes perfect. When I compare the Chinese idioms and American idioms, there are a lot of similarities. The most difficult and different is culture, so that's the reason why we take history and geography. It can help us learn second language effectively. Besides, I think make more native speaker friends is the best way to learn the authentic English.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I am a different person when I speak English. For example, when I speak Chinese with my friends, I always joking with my friends by using Chinese, but when I speak English with my American friends, I feel hard to joking because I can not understand the culture. But actually, I felt I improve a lot for speaking English when I study in American. Although languages are the most important culture in the world, but we still have many other ways to connect, for example, the body language.
ReplyDeleteI don’t feel different when I speak English. But be honest, it’s so hard to learn another language. I still remember, when I started to learn English, the hardest part for me is vocabulary. Every day I need learn more than 20 words. Right now, I still keep learn new words. I think the big difference between English and Chinese is grammar. For example, if I want to translate “ where are you?” in Chinese, I need rearrange the word like “ are you where”. Another point, if you want to learn anther language quickly, the best way is go that country. Right now, I feel easy to learn English because every one speak English, it’s really helpful for my English.
ReplyDeleteLearning English has changed me a lot. It give me a new view of observing the world. To understand the American culture better, learning English is considered as a wonderful approach to integrating into the American community. When I'm speaking English, I feel I become a totally another person who is belong to an English community, also more international. Learning English also provides me many opportunities to receive more information swiftly.
ReplyDeleteI am a different person when I speak English, it is a whole new world for me, English changed the way I think, there are a lot of differences between the English grammer and the Chinese grammer, the Chinese doesn't have so many roles，but English is a very canny language, so we can't translate Chinese to English directly, when I start leaning English, I always use Chinese to think about English, and I made a lot of mistakes, now I started using my " English brain" to think some things, and trying to speak English better.
ReplyDeleteyes, i am a different person when i speak English, speak English make me feel shy something. sometimes i was afraid of that i speak something wrong. when i speak Chinese, i was like so excited, because i was speak chinese for more than 15 years. for a foreigner, they think speak second language that is a cool thing i think. but its also too difficult to learn second language correctly. learning English changed me a lot, even my life style. i think it because of i was living in America now, i speak English everyday and make new American friends. i think the best way to learning second language is speak more and more.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with the idea that different language is not only grammar, pronunciation, letters etc. Each language brings it's own culture. I'm learning english for 8 years already and i still don't know it perfectly and I wil never will because it's my second language, a second absolutely different world for me. A person will never be able to understand a different language fully. In each language there are things that only native speakers can share with each other, for example, slang, culture jokes etc. So lets be happy that our world has such an extraordinary variety of other small worlds in it. :)
ReplyDeleteI am enthusiastic to learn English. In Chinese, words are composed by the combination and permutation of Chinese characters. If we know the definition of single characters, we can basically understand the meaning of phrases or sentences. However, in English, different ideas are often expressed by totally different words. It is hard for me to figure out that what I am listening or reading since there are such a great number of vocabulary. I have to force myself to read more, listen more, even type more English to solve this problem. In Addition, English has plenty of slang, which only can be grasped with enough daily accumulation, makes me painful.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I am different when I am speaking English. I believe most of Chinese are like me. As a Chinese boy, I think English is not easy for me. Because there is a huge difference between Chinese and English. Every time I speak English, especially when I speak to Americans. I feel nervous and shy. Actually, I am outgoing person. Speaking English make me shy. And the grammar of English is different from my native language. When I speak English, it takes me a lot of time to organize a correct sentence in my brain.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am not a different person when I speak English. I feel the same way when I speak my native language. In the beginning it was hard for me to speak with american people. I felt shy because english is not my first language. Sometimes people act differently when they speak other language. I am trying to stay the same. I feel comfortable if I talk on my language but as a person I stay the same.
ReplyDeleteIt's nothing to do with how I change in order to learn English. We don't have to change anything to learn a language, all we need is study hard and speak a lot to control this language. I had a hard time on learning English, but after I communicate with native Americans, I just feel so amazing. Different way to talk, different way to think, it's totally changed. Sometimes I even feel someway to speak English is more awesome than speak Chinese. Right now, I have to speak English every single day, it is become apart of my life.
ReplyDeleteI think different languages can be connected though there are so many different cultures influencing the languages. For example, there are many same meanings of proverbs in both English and Chinese, like “no pain, no gain” and “he who has health has hope.” So, different cultures also have different similarities, and different languages have common aspects too. Certainly, learning English has changed my habits and the way to see the world and experience the world. For instance, I really didn’t like reading before, and I did not read Chinese novels even. However, when I found how amazing the language, English, were and what I could learn from books, I gradually began to read some books. As a result, English has changed my habits in learning and my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI do fell that I'm a different person when I speak English. I'm agree with that It's hard to learn a second language not only because of the different sounds, grammar, and vocabulary, but also because of the different culture. When I speaking english I have to consider the thing in another way,that the most difficult part for me.It feel strange when I first time talk to Americans, because we have different thinking,bu now everything is getting better
ReplyDeleteI think different learn languages is good for myself.In China we say learn more Knowledge will help your all life.So I think learn morn languages maybe can help you.I know learn English is Difficult but we must learn it because we saty in US. So we need think learn it is a good thing it is a happy thing.You can find fine in talk with Americans so just learn it.
ReplyDeleteMy first English teacher has told me all the time that, if you want to be good at one language, It's not enough you only remamber the vocabulary. The more important thing is to think by using that language. Trying to be the native speaker that is the best way to improve your language skill. I believe speaking different languages would change people's thought, personality or your personal custom. An example of my real life, last year, I went back to China and hung out with my friends. When we passed by a restaurant, my friend Alex asked me a question in Chinese:" You didn't have lunch today,right? "No." I answered directly,and shacked my head. Then my friend got confused:" you had lunch?" I realized that I should say yes to answer in Chinese conversation. I got used to say " No" to agree the question Positively. And when you get more confident to speak English or other languages, it's building your own knowledge and opinion. You might have different view than others when you face the problem. Learning language also helps you contact with every individual culture.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the English it is very hard for me, because our native language is our life. But English is the world's second language, with English we can become part of a wider conversation: a global conversation about global problems, like climate change or poverty, or hunger or disease. The world has other universal languages. Mathematics is the language of science. Music is the language of emotions. And now English is becoming the language of problem-solving. Not because America is pushing it, but because the world is pulling it. Like the harnessing of electricity in our cities or the fall of the Berlin Wall, English represents hope for a better future -- a future where the world has a common language to solve its common problems.
ReplyDeleteI think learn English is good for me. Because we are living and studying in this country , we need to know the language about this country. And learning English has a lots of advantage. First, English is a world language. It is said that you can communicate everywhere if you know English. Second, China is opposed to the opportunity to develop is economy worldwide.It is essential to know other countries' economic and cultural background. English is the key to the success. Third, more and more foreigners are interested in Chinese literature and culture. Mastering the English, we can better promote our heritage and let more people understand and like China.
ReplyDeletewhen i speak English i feel very shy and hard it is different between when i say Chinese.But we studying in USA we must speak English everyday.I'm agree with that It's hard to learn a second language not only because of the different sounds, grammar, and vocabulary, but also because of the different culture.so i think learn English its hard.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is much different than Chinese, no matter the characters, the pronunciation or the grammer. Also we don't know words in English as much as Americans. So, most of time we can't express as clear as Chinese or we may use the easier less felling words. All of them make us to be a different person. I think everyone have this problem when they learn another language. And the best way to help us talk more and pay close attention to surrounding, although if you can't understand because of different culture, you can ask. If you decided to live in this country, you need to comprehend and learn them. Do as the Romans do.
ReplyDeleteActually, myself changes when I'm speaking English. Usually, I'm very shy at home, but when I use English, I feel more confident. Besides, I'm not very active. Especially when I'm with my friends who come from my country. Learning foreign language is really difficult. Everybody must have difficulty in learning it. Because there are many Vietnamese words that i don't understand. And English or any languages have bunch of words. When I'm learning English, taking not is very necessary, and I hardly take note when I'm speak Vietnamese. So, learning English has changed a part of myself.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that speaking the different language will change someone. I think if you have so much confidence about what you are saying. You can express yourself very well and can completely explain your own opinion about something. If you can use English very well, you will feel like you are still speaking your native language. Actually I'm trying, but I'm not so much good at English. So I think, there's not any difference between speaking my Chinese and English.
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone, for your comments. It's obvious that speaking a foreign or second language entails more hesitation and thinking about how you will say something as much as what you will say. I'm more interested in how a different language can change a person's personality, even her identity - perhaps that can't happen until the language learner is truly fluent in the second language.
ReplyDeleteI dont think I need to change myself for speaking English. English is a world langulage. It means I can say english with white people, black people and yellow people in lots of countries. If we can say some english sentences when we chat with other people in Chinese will make my sentences colourful. Right now, I have to speak English every single day, it is become apart of my life.
ReplyDeleteI think that I am different when I speak English. My chinese friends are different with my American friends. So, it is different when I use different language to talk to each other. I think this is related to the national culture. It is a very pleasant thing to talk with my chinese friends. But, the way of chatting with my american friends are not the same, I need to pay attention to the details of the conversation. So, I think it is different when I speak english.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can’t be the same person speaking English on the same that I’m speaking Portuguese. It happens because sometimes you can’t translate exactly from one language to another, or even there is no translation for some words and expressions. Also, culture has a big influence in a language; for example, here in USA I can’t use the same irony and jokes that I would use in Brazil, because translating these expressions, they lose their real meaning. So, people would not understand what I was really trying to say.
ReplyDeleteAbout my self, when I’m speaking English I use a different tone, and I don’t use jokes and irony so often, what make me feel having a more serious personality that I would have speaking Portuguese.
From Toghrul:
ReplyDeleteFor my opinion, it is not easy to learn new language. It doesn't matter it is similar with your language(like Azeri-Turk). Most difficult thing is that to learn new culture. For example, my country's and Turkish's languages and cultures are similar. So it is not too hard to learn Turkish for us, as much as to learn English. It was hard when I came here. Because United States's and Azerbaijan's culture and people are so diffirent from each other. But I have chance that I stay in Azerbaijan family. So I can eat my country's foods, I can speak Azeri language at home.
First of all, language for me just a tool to contact with others. But it feel differently between native language and second language. I can speak native language without thinking, but not for second language. It does a matter when I translate different language, I have to care about if the grammers are right or my pronunciation is awful. In my opinion, learning language as well as possible. Because as a second language speaker I will never get everything from it. Such as culture, saying and slang. Even I can't understand all of chinese words. So, take it easy, try to use second language to think, to speak. The more I try , the more I got.
ReplyDeleteWhen I speak English, I will be a little bit of shy and nervous because I don't speak English very well. I'm afraid I made wrong sentences. And I don't want people misunderstand. But if I can speak English really well probably I will be like who I am when I speak my native language. For example, I always talk to Adilet in English. We are friends and we just talk about some simple stuff, I'm pretty sure I can make the conversation with my English skill. So I won't be nervous and I can talk to him really well.
ReplyDeleteHi Mr. Griffin. I just checked, I did posted the journal 16, but it was late.
ReplyDelete