asking for an advice
minimus
You may have some advices as many of you are proficient in using (Academic)
English.
I am a PhD student and writing my first articles.
I would like to imporve my English in this respect.
I would like to ask what I may do to improve my usage of English
1. Learn and repat phrases and practice vocabulary
2. Read journal articles all the time (which I already do). But read their
English not only content.
3. Study the "how to write an academic paper" type of books
4. Listen BCC radio
etc...
This may be a naive question for some of you, and I hesitated to ask: why
should I ask, I know what I need to do. Dont waste people's time. But no.
Why? I am asking it. Maybe you have some advices and tips to give.
tony cooper
wrote:
For some reason, "advice" is always high on the list of misused words
by non-native speakers of English.
Your first sentence should have been: "You may have some advice as
many of you are proficient in using (Academic)English." although I
would prefer "You may have some advice to offer as many of you are
proficient in using (Academic) English." "Advice" is never plural.
"Advices" should be changed to "advice" in your last sentence.
--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
minimus
> "Advices" should be changed to "advice" in your last sentence.
Thanks. And your advice is to read this group? =)
Just a joke. Lookking forward to some advice.
John Doe
> You may have some advices as many of you are proficient in using
> (Academic) English.
> I am a PhD student and writing my first articles.
I don't know how much it might help your writing, but using a
digital recorder like the one in the link below might help improve
your speech. I find it very useful for taking notes (mainly for a
"to buy" list and a "to do" list. After each note/notation, time
permitting, simply press play and listen to your utterance. Even as
a native English speaker, I found it useful while gearing up to use
speech recognition.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9204594
(or similar, and using rechargeable batteries helps)
Good luck and have fun.
--
My big wheel in-line street skates (a.k.a. rollerblades).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27532210@N04/2565924423/
angelgl...@yahoo.com
Above all, READ a lot to learn how to write; LISTEN a lot to learn how
to speak. It sounds paradoxical, but true. All the writing in the world
isn't going to teach you how to write if you don't have models of good
prose in your head. Same with speaking.
As for reading, read of course in your field; since that's the model of
prose you're expected to write.
But for general writing skills, read what you like. No sense being a
masochist (someone who enjoys pain). Read bios of movie stars, if that's
your interest (those ghost writers are usually competent, regardless of
the material).
The main thing is to want to read on. And if you read what you're not
interested in, you'll get bored easily. I bet if your sweetheart wrote a
twenty-page love letter, you'd read right to the end and look up every
big word in it and made sure you understood their meaning. Moreover, you
would reread it constantly. That's what I mean by wanting to read on.
But, alas, today a sweetheard sends text messages like "i luv u. XXX."
I'm addressing the issue of learning a second language, not necessarily
of acquiring culture. The US writer, Ernest Hemingway (a sports
enthusiast) said he learned French by reading the French sports pages.
See, he read what he liked and learned quickly that way.
As for listening, you're in a good situation today, where you have
access to numerous English-language videos (news, etc.). So listen to
those. And instead of listening to many of them, listen to one at a time
repeatedly, until you absorb the vocabulary and intonation.
Also, pop songs help with idioms, vocabulary, and phrasing. Probably the
so-called American songbook (older pop and Broadway songs)is better than
Rock 'n' Roll for this purpose. And you're lucky here too. These lyrics
are easily available on the Internet. If you go to the main sites of
these lyricists or singers you'll find accurate lyrics.
Good luck and here's one final bit of advice that may annoy you. I'd
spend more time reading English-language published texts than posting on
the Internet. Reading and rereading an editorial in an English-language
newspaper or a popular novel is more useful than trying to build up your
literary competence by asking questions one at a time. Turn off your
computer and your cell phone and try to finish a certain amount of
English-language reading material each week.
Finally, living in the culture of your target language will certainly
help immerse you in the language, since you're forced to do all your
reading and listening in that language, unless you associate with your
compatriots, which is sometimes the case. That won't help.
Peacenik
news:ot5h845gq40v9if4e...@4ax.com...
>
> For some reason, "advice" is always high on the list of misused words
> by non-native speakers of English.
The reason is that non-native speakers often treat "advice" as if it's a
countable noun, when it's uncountable.
R H Draney
Technical exception: merchant transmits a message to a credit-card company to
verify the creditworthiness of a customer, company responds with a message
either approving or denying the charge...in some cases, smaller transactions can
be handled at the point of sale, whereupon a different message is sent to the
credit-card company saying in effect "we've already approved this charge; make
sure you note the effect on the customer's available balance"...this follow-up
message is called an "advice" (as well as three or four other names that are
irrelevant here)....r
--
Evelyn Wood just looks at the pictures.
kwan
> Peacenik filted:
>
>
>
> >"tony cooper" <tony_cooper...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
English is my second language. I also have difficulty in written and
spoken English.
You may try to practice your speaking skill by listen to the news, and
whenever you read; you should read it loudly and record your own
voice.
The most basic mistake that I always make is how to form a basic
sentence. I usually forget to put verb or auxiliary word in the
sentence.
So, be careful when you form a sentence. Example: I no idea what
happen. Should be: I am no idea what is happening...etc.
Always be mindful of what you are going to say or to write. It will
help you to pronounce word correctly with the digital dictionary.
I have been living in the US since January 2007. I discovered that it
is always a good idea to find a roommate or housemate who are a native
English speaker.
Within six months in the US; my English has improved.
angelgl...@yahoo.com
Actually, Kwan, it should be "I have no idea what is happening." It
doesn't matter. You'll get better. But keep away from your compatriots
or improvement will simply mean that you're larning their mistakes
rather than the language.
musika
> kwan wrote:
>
>> English is my second language. I also have difficulty in written and
>> spoken English.
>> You may try to practice your speaking skill by listen to the news,
>> and whenever you read; you should read it loudly and record your own
>> voice.
>> The most basic mistake that I always make is how to form a basic
>> sentence. I usually forget to put verb or auxiliary word in the
>> sentence.
>> So, be careful when you form a sentence. Example: I no idea what
>> happen. Should be: I am no idea what is happening...etc.
>
> Actually, Kwan, it should be "I have no idea what is happening." It
> doesn't matter. You'll get better. But keep away from your compatriots
> or improvement will simply mean that you're larning their mistakes
> rather than the language.
You'd rather he learned your mistakes?
--
Ray
UK
Athel Cornish-Bowden
All of the replies I've seen seem to be obsessed with the absence of a
plural for "advice". (While we're at it, in my experience "information"
is a word that I more often hear in the plural from the mouths of
French or Spanish speakers.)
Has anyone addressed your main question?
I would suggest you try to do ALL of the things you suggest, and also,
if at all possible, try to have regular conversations in English,
preferably with native speakers but failing that with people who are
not native but speak English fluently.
If, as it appears, you are in a research group, try to convince your
supervisor that you need to practise presenting your results (orally)
in English.
I suspect that that's what they do in Germany, and as a result just
about all German scientists can talk intelligibly about their work in
English. (In countries like the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and to a
lesser extent Belgium, they don't seem to need this as everyone speaks
English before they go to university.) In France (where I work) it is
done far too little, with the result that most students, and a
significant proportion of senior scientists, are very weak in English.
Several times in the past 20 years I've been asked if I'd be willing to
help with sessions in English to give students practice: I've always
said yes, but on the condition that the students show their enthusiasm
by organizing it; afterwards that's been the last I've heard of the
idea.
--
athel
The UnInmate
"Athel Cornish-Bowden" <athe...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:6etlbiF...@mid.individual.net...
I had an opportunity to chat with a woman who lives in Holland near the
German border. Her English was excellent. We parted on good terms even
though I made the blunder of complimenting her accent by saying "I like the
shape of your 'r's." (She had a half-Scottish half-Irish thing going with
that letter.)
jinhyun
Dear whoever-you-are I have three things to say to you:
1) Your English is already good enough to communicate effectively in
that language.
Don't make improving your English some kind of overarching priority.
Just do it on the fly doing all the things you yourself suggest, but
to a greater extent doing things for fun --reading pornographic
literature in English(some good writers out there! But mind, anything
longer than 400 words is tedious) reading general short stories(work
your way from lower levels of the biological hierarchy, like Rushdie
or J.K. Rowling all the way up to Somerset Maugham, Omar Henry and the
inimitable Mark Twain).(Read his 'Adam and Eve' I tell you that man
was part divine) Read poetry as well, read Milton-- very agreeable
verse and lots of roguish fun(Paradise Lost), read Shakespeare, the
Bard's humanity has never been equalled. Make English fun because
you'll learn quicker that way(Ask around how you make indecent sexual
proposals to elderly matrons in seedy hotel foyers). But meanwhile...
2)Bad English isn't an excuse for stupidity and lazy expression. Don't
be lazy in your production and presentation of ideas. Think and write
clearly and intelligently and people will barely notice that your
English is unconventional, particularly in native-speaking countries.
Break down your thoughts into clear units and present them in an
honest and unpretentious way, and you'll be popular with your
professors and everyone else. Clear presentation of ideas is not a
virtue that depends on your command over the language.
3) Remember, and this is most important, your English isn't obliged
to ever become perfect, that will be something you aim for for your
own sake, not from any obligation.
Arcadian Rises
> > "Advices" should be changed to "advice" in your last sentence.
>
> Thanks. And your advice is to read this group? �=)
Absolutely.
> Just a joke.
I wans't joking.
>Lookking forward to some advice.
1. As you can learn from your very first response to your request,
feedback is crucial.
2. A bit of practical advice: make it a habit to listen to the
pronunciation of each word you look up in online dictionaries.
R H Draney
>
>I had an opportunity to chat with a woman who lives in Holland near the
>German border. Her English was excellent. We parted on good terms even
>though I made the blunder of complimenting her accent by saying "I like the
>shape of your 'r's." (She had a half-Scottish half-Irish thing going with
>that letter.)
It's hard to believe so many people have independently come up with that one:
http://simplyunique.info/?p=121
Jeffrey Turner
He should git some good book-larnin'. ;)
--Jeff
--
The struggle with evil by means of violence
is the same as an attempt to stop a cloud,
in order that there may be no rain. -Leo Tolstoy
minimus
English
"jinhyun" <jinhyu...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:189314cf-2d6c-4f95...@v26g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
minimus
"minimus" <min...@live.co.uk> wrote in message
news:g6a4ak$2dp$1...@registered.motzarella.org...
John Holmes
>
> I have been living in the US since January 2007. I discovered that it
> is always a good idea to find a roommate or housemate who are a native
> English speaker.
> Within six months in the US; my English has improved.
It is also worth socialising as much as possible with people outside
your academic discipline. Join general interest clubs, either on- or
off-campus, go to public lectures, etc. The more contact you have with
native speakers in varied surroundings, the more your confidence with
the language will improve.
--
Regards
John
for mail: my initials plus a u e
at tpg dot com dot au