I recently moved here to the states from the Philippines, I think my english is not that good.?

Question

Actually, My grammar is correct, I tend to choke sometimes when I get nervous. I want my English to be nice so that people will think that I have been here for a long time already. Please help

Answer 1

try taking a speech class at a community college in your area. that will probably help you with your speech problems and help you feel more confident because you will practice speaking in front of people. good luck !

Answer 2

We Filipinos are quite fluent in English even if it is not our native language. Do you choke when speaking in English even if you know your grammar is correct? Or do you choke when you're speaking with Americans and you know you don't sound like them?
Over time you can assimilate their accent, but you should not worry about sounding nice. Filipinos have a distinct way of speaking in English fluently, w/o the accents you wish you had. Besides, even if you do get the accent, having little or no knowledge of their country, history, culture, social norms, etc. is a sure give away that you have just been there recently.
Rather than sounding nice, maybe you ought to show other people there the real kind of person that you are: that you are worthy of respect like anybody else, that you can be a good friend to them, that you can be trusted.
Good luck in your new life there bro!!!

Answer 3

It will take awhile to get used to speaking in english all the time, especially if you speak your language at home and especially if you're always with relatives who also speak Tagalog or whatever dialect you use. The problem is you are thinking Filipino, so when you speak, your head is translating the Tagalog words into English words, that's why you tend to get nervous when speaking with Americans.
There's a lot of adult schools around that offer ESL (English as a second language) classes and they're very inexpensive; enroll in one. There's also community colleges that offer speech classes at very reasonable price - get into one of those classes. Find a job, and socialize with people that speak english. Eventually, you'll be able to speak in english with confidence. Sometimes, it doesn't matter if you use wrong grammar, nobody would care as long as you're able to communicate what you were trying to say. Be free to use body language, if you're at a loss for the english term. Work hard, listen and observe, and be patient - it takes time and practice.

Answer 4

Okay, well, I can offer a tip on your entry and we'll go from there...
1. People usually don't use the word "nice" when describing their speaking capabilities, although technically it does work. Maybe a different word, or rephrase it to say "I want to be able to speak English well. "

Try to spend more time outside where people are talking such as your city's downtown area instead of the internet, as the internet will at best reduce your knowledge of proper English. Conversation is just about the best way to increase your English-speaking skills. Also, look for adult education classes in your area.

Answer 5

there are many individuals who have been here all their life, and still struggle to speak proper English. Don't be hard on yourself. Your unique and special abilities will come out . I think the Philippine language is beautiful.. i love the food too!.. i was a Navy wife for 26 yrs. and I have been around all kinds of people and cultures. It is like having a garden with different varieties of flowers , each gives a different fragrance, color and texture to the design we create in life, that is the beauty.. being yourself, and holding true with pride to the roots you were nourished in.. welcome and good life to you....

Answer 6

You can't pretend to be something you're not. If you feel awkward, the only thing that's going to help is TIME and PRACTICE. In social situations, a warm smile and apology goes a long way... and it will make the listener feel at ease, too.

Don't worry - those of us who speak English as a "native" tongue are often MOST guilty of butchering it (myself included)!

Good luck to you. :)

Answer 7

Look for your local states Literacy program and find a volunteer to help you with your English.

Don't worry about not sounding perfectly fluent, it will come to you with time and practice.

Answer 8

Try reading out loud, it helps you to get comfortable with pronouncing words and speaking in a flowing way. You can also try reading out loud to some people.
Hope it helps!