I have been staying in an English speaking country for 3 months and counting.
Have I improved my English?
What I have noticed -
(a) I am hearing the words I have read in books written by British authors.
(b) I am finding it difficult to string together an academic sentence. I am usually at loss for words.
(c) I find I need to readjust my word order in sentences to fit with society.
e.g. I usually say – “A value meal no. 4, please.” to “Could I get a regular value meal no. 4?”
(d) I find that speaking ‘rojak’ English or Manglish at home does not help me during conversation with native speakers. With Manglish – you can substitute an unfamiliar English word with other language but not here. I have to rack my brain really long to come up with a really simple word.
(e) I find that people on the streets speak in a quick manner and they say I speak too fast.
(f) I find out that I am in my comfort English speaking zone with good friends but need to monitor my language output when speaking with tutors or acquaintances.
(g) I find out I can express better in academic writing rather than speaking.
(h) I find out that I need to listen, quickly jot down my thoughts, rearrange my schemata, to learn new information.
(i) I find out that to speak English accurately is impossible because the spoken English is riddled with different sentence structure and jargons yet it sounds so correct.
What can I conclude from all that – learning English for a non-native speaker is a continuing process depending on need, society and area (where he/she stays) unless he/she feels comfortable with the level of English – for me, I can’t – I want to feel a part of society at the same time retaining my individuality and nationality.
Who says a Malaysian can’t have a Canadian English Language system?
I agree with what you have stated above..I was asked by a Korean who noticed many Singaporean / Malaysian have tendency to explain something in a more draggy means. What he meant was, instead of describing something in a word or two, they do so in a string of sentences…And that’s not because these people lack good vocabulary, but they are so used to speaking in a simpler manner so everyone in the country can understand each other – not everyone is native speaker…
p/s: I’m stuck at research questions…i’m doomed!!
By: sinnothoo on March 4, 2009
at 12:04 pm