I'm often impressed by the English-speaking ability of our foreign members (those whose native languages aren't English). How long have you been studying English for?
I'm wondering how long it'll take to become fluent in another language, you see.
Bilinguists
Created 18 years ago2005-10-22 16:02:00 UTC by
Seventh-Monkey
Created 18 years ago2005-10-22 16:02:00 UTC by
Seventh-Monkey
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 16:02:00 UTC
Post #142960
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 16:34:53 UTC
Post #142967
I had some lessons English at basic school ('basisschool') in the last year I believe, though I can't remember having learned a lot there.
During middle class school (?) ('middelbare school') I had English all 6 years. By that time I started visiting forums (VERC :)) and I think my English was good enough by then not to get noticed as a foreigner.
Well, a foreigner as seen by an American or Englishman...
I think I'll got and visit the thewall.de forums some more, maybe my German will improve somewhat then...
During middle class school (?) ('middelbare school') I had English all 6 years. By that time I started visiting forums (VERC :)) and I think my English was good enough by then not to get noticed as a foreigner.
Well, a foreigner as seen by an American or Englishman...
I think I'll got and visit the thewall.de forums some more, maybe my German will improve somewhat then...
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 16:38:06 UTC
Post #142969
Started studying English when I was 9, so 9 years 
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:01:46 UTC
Post #142975
Did TWHL improve your English skills?
I started learning English when I was 12 years old. Now, I consider myself fluent in English, after attending high school, college, medical school in the United States.
I can still speak and read Chinese, but unfortunately I cannot write any Chinese characters anymore. However, with the help of a computer, I can still type Chinese.
I started learning English when I was 12 years old. Now, I consider myself fluent in English, after attending high school, college, medical school in the United States.
I can still speak and read Chinese, but unfortunately I cannot write any Chinese characters anymore. However, with the help of a computer, I can still type Chinese.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:06:06 UTC
Post #142978
Off topic, satch, how the hell do you asian people remember those characters?! They are so complex, and similar.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:11:19 UTC
Post #142980
I'm the best kid in my class and when I wrote my tutorial I doble checked my spelling! 
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:16:56 UTC
Post #142983
You claim to be skilled in English, yet you misspell double in the post claiming it. How ironic.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:21:59 UTC
Post #142985
How ironicI suspect that was an intentional mistake.
how the hell do you asian people remember those characters?!I used to remember them because I had to write them and practice everyday. I haven't for the last twenty years, that's why I can't write any of them anymore (well, except for some really simple ones).
And that's why reading and writing are two completely different skills when it comes to Chinese. Japanese and Korean are character-based, so they are a lot easier to learn (at least the writing aspect).
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:31:00 UTC
Post #142989
Did TWHL improve your English skills?Nope
You claim to be skilled in English, yet you misspell double in the post claiming it. How ironic.m0p 1 - Elon 0
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:32:02 UTC
Post #142990
English isn't only spelling! 
If I wouldn't know english then I wouldn't be here. Also,I write less misspelled words then correctly spelled words.
I believe that TWHL improved both my spelling and typing skills for I type alot in here!
If I wouldn't know english then I wouldn't be here. Also,I write less misspelled words then correctly spelled words.I believe that TWHL improved both my spelling and typing skills for I type alot in here!
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:34:33 UTC
Post #142992
Also,I write less misspelled words then correctly spelled words.It's kinda like saying "I am not a criminal. I left more kids unmolested than the ones that I actually molest."
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:36:55 UTC
Post #142994
That was the idea! : To make you believe that I'm good at spelling... 
I will get better soon though! 
I will get better soon though!
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:54:38 UTC
Post #143009
How long have you been learning English for, Elon?
Were you born in China, satch.?
Were you born in China, satch.?
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 17:59:39 UTC
Post #143011
Since I was 8! But the levels in the school is horrible, 
so I mostly learnd english from my computer. The first game that I learned english from is The lords of magic!, so the first words I knew were, "You're soul is mine".
so I mostly learnd english from my computer. The first game that I learned english from is The lords of magic!, so the first words I knew were, "You're soul is mine". 
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 18:00:04 UTC
Post #143013
I had English lessons since Group 4/5 (Groep 4/5) at Basic School. However, sometimes i just lack words. :S
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 18:00:53 UTC
Post #143014
Me too...It's so annoying when that heppens!
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 18:02:50 UTC
Post #143015
At least my English has developed long enough to know how to spell "heppens" (Happends).
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 18:09:45 UTC
Post #143017
Thanks! I have an idea, instead of just saying I don't know how to spell why wont you try to help,like what muzzle did do!? 
Also my english has to be good for I read 5 plays by marlo,all the serlock holmes novels and micha clark!
Also my english has to be good for I read 5 plays by marlo,all the serlock holmes novels and micha clark!
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 19:25:18 UTC
Post #143029
Were you born in China, satch?I was born in Taiwan, the renegade democratic province of China with a complicated and controversial political history.
Ironically, even though I am Chinese, I have never been to China. Both of my parents were born in China though.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 19:41:42 UTC
Post #143031
been studying english since I was 7 (school started). I had VG (Similiar to B) in english last year and Im working to get MVG (similiar to A) this year
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 20:02:15 UTC
Post #143034
"heppens" (Happends).Ahem... Happens.
Seventh... we brits are too arrogant to learn new languages, I mean we only spend 2 school years learning another language at GCSE. We're not exactly forced to either, but if you stick at it you can learn anything within a a few months to a year.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 20:22:40 UTC
Post #143039
To really learn a second language and become fluent, one must live in that country for a period of time. The only exception I can think of is United States, where more than half of the people I work with only speaks Spanish.
So I learned Spanish on the fly. It's limited to medical topics, but I get by.
So I learned Spanish on the fly. It's limited to medical topics, but I get by.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 20:48:46 UTC
Post #143046
I've had English in school since 1st grade (6 years old) but the final learning experience took place when I lived in California (1994-1996). Since I was 12, I also had to learn French at school, and the final learning experience took place while living in Paris (2000-2002).
I was also able to speak Galician which resembles Spanish as much as Portuguese. The TV channels in which I saw cartoons as a kid were actually in Galician.
And of course, I speak Spanish !!
I was also able to speak Galician which resembles Spanish as much as Portuguese. The TV channels in which I saw cartoons as a kid were actually in Galician.
And of course, I speak Spanish !!
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 20:52:09 UTC
Post #143047
If I wouldn't know english then I wouldn't be here.... bugger. For the good of all of us, forget English.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 20:54:24 UTC
Post #143048
I know a lot of people that can reada and understand english, but cant talk english. Its weird.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-22 22:04:43 UTC
Post #143061
It's not that strange. Reading is a passive act. Speaking and writing are active. It takes full comprehension of grammar and vocabulary to do that.
Reading is still feasible even if the reader has not mastered grammar.
Reading is still feasible even if the reader has not mastered grammar.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 00:06:07 UTC
Post #143067
Yes, I'm like that with french. I can read it, and understand it quite well. But tell me to listen to someone speak french, or tell me to speak french, it's an entirely different matter.
And I think that TWHL [cough]elon[/cough] is actually making my english worse! Really sad, considering that it's my first language.
And I think that TWHL [cough]elon[/cough] is actually making my english worse! Really sad, considering that it's my first language.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 04:15:51 UTC
Post #143083
I don't know how to spell why wont you try to help,like what muzzle did do!?I always do that for people.
evilsod: I learnt Spanish and French all through secondary school (up to GCSE, then I had to drop 'em).
the first words I knew were, "You're soul is mine"That's something to scare people with in casual conversation :P.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 04:44:50 UTC
Post #143087
Well i think i started learning English when i was 8 or 9 so i have been studying it for 7-8 years. But i have been speaking it preatty good for 2 or 3 years...
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 04:58:09 UTC
Post #143088
I've started learning English in the first class at Primary school. Started learning German a few years ago...
These languages are quite far from the Hungarian... try it everyone! Learn Hungarian!
These languages are quite far from the Hungarian... try it everyone! Learn Hungarian!
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 05:27:25 UTC
Post #143091
I'm learning Russian.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 05:27:44 UTC
Post #143092
For me its the same story as for Captain P. Also started with it in the basis school.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 05:28:32 UTC
Post #143093
God, lots of text. I'll just add my story.
As everyone else in Sweden, I started studying English at the age of 9 (IIRC? Swedes feel free to correct), being in grade 3.
Allthough I have never believed school to be the primary source of English learning for me - I'd give more credit to Red Alert 1, Worms 1 and lots of movies.
As everyone else in Sweden, I started studying English at the age of 9 (IIRC? Swedes feel free to correct), being in grade 3.
Allthough I have never believed school to be the primary source of English learning for me - I'd give more credit to Red Alert 1, Worms 1 and lots of movies.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 05:40:26 UTC
Post #143096
I started studying English when I was 9 years old (Grade 3 if I remember right..).
Of course it's all thanks to movies and games that have primarly taught me english.
I've been studying swedish for three years now. Curse those 5,5% of Finns who speak Swedish as their mother tongue.
Of course it's all thanks to movies and games that have primarly taught me english.
I can read it, and understand it quite well. But tell me to listen to someone speak french, or tell me to speak french, it's an entirely different matter.Heh, I've got same thing with Swedish, except I really can't understand it a 'bit :).
I've been studying swedish for three years now. Curse those 5,5% of Finns who speak Swedish as their mother tongue.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 05:45:21 UTC
Post #143098
Off topic, satch, how the hell do you asian people remember those characters?! They are so complex, and similar.He said CHINESE not ASIAN. There are MANY countries in ASIA. They do not all read write and speak CHINESE.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 05:49:43 UTC
Post #143101
Hes not talking about the chinese,hes talking about the charters. READ next time.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 06:11:11 UTC
Post #143103
i started learning english in 4th grade 9 years old i think. So it's 8 years. I watched cartoon network all the time when i was like ~7-12 years old. I must say it helped a lot :>
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 06:30:12 UTC
Post #143105
Vixus: Most asian languages use a different alphabet than our.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 09:15:43 UTC
Post #143143
Chinese is the only Asian language that doesn't use any alphabets. In fact, it's the only language that's still being used which relies solely on characters. The other ancient language that used characters was Egyptian, but hieroglyphics are not used by modern Egyptians any more.
Chinese characters all evolved from pictures. Here is an example of the evolution of the word "horse". Notice that the original character really looked like some sort of animal.
I learned a lot of English from cartoons--G.I. Joe, The Transformers, Thundercats, He-Man, etc. When I first arrived in the States, I watched lots of cartoons after school.
Chinese characters all evolved from pictures. Here is an example of the evolution of the word "horse". Notice that the original character really looked like some sort of animal.
I learned a lot of English from cartoons--G.I. Joe, The Transformers, Thundercats, He-Man, etc. When I first arrived in the States, I watched lots of cartoons after school.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-23 09:27:35 UTC
Post #143147
... and there I was, pleased that I could handwrite Russian Cyrillic :|.
Posted 18 years ago2005-10-28 16:32:14 UTC
Post #144204
i'm learning german, french and chinese (a bit)...
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