2006-09-06 15:57:29 · 6 answers · asked by Christian 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Studying Abroad
Believe it or not, for most people learning a language, oral production goes ahead of aural comprehension... meaning that you can typically say things and be perfectly well understood, but it's sometimes extremely difficult to understand the response of the native speaker. What helps with that problem is doing things like listening to English language radio or watching English language TV.
If you are lucky enough to find that you have little or no problem with aural comprehension, then the best thing to do is TALK to people fluent in English. Native speakers make the best 'practice-mates,' since they have a tendency to us phrases and idiomatic expressions that some non-native speakers (even if the non-native speaker is very, very good) wouldn't use or understand.
I've been trying to learn French for a long time. Once I was talking to a native speaker and I said that something was "un morceau de gateau," meaning that something was "a piece of cake" (meaning easy). But that's NOT the idiom used. The native speaker corrected me and told me that they say "les doigts dans nez" for that concept, which translates as "fingers up the nose." I know it sounds bizarre, but it's no more bizarre than saying "a piece of cake" to mean "easy." That's the kind of thing native speakers will know.
So practice practice practice, and have fun!
2006-09-07 00:05:43 · answer #1 · answered by mz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Join an esl class and practice alot with other people . Do not be discouraged if people laugh at your accent or the way you speak english.
In the long run you would benefit from it, so don't let those jealous people get you down.... :)
2006-09-06 23:00:56 · answer #2 · answered by de_dark_angel71 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read English language newspapers. If you are keeping up with the news in your native tongue, you will be able to make enough sense of the stories to improve your English.
2006-09-06 23:05:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to berlitz.com and find an english class near your zip code.
good luck!
2006-09-06 23:06:12 · answer #4 · answered by languagewonk 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're already speaking and writing better English than 95% of the fools here! Congrats and thanks.
2006-09-06 23:01:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know it can be hard and daunting sometimes. But pls dont give up. Just keep practicing. Practice....practice and practice
2006-09-06 23:01:21 · answer #6 · answered by Smart_Dumb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋