How long does it take an adult to become literate in a foreign language?

Question

I recently met a friend of a friend, and we wanted to keep in touch. He arrived in the states aobut 9 months ago. Considering that he speaks with a thick accent, I assume english is his second language, though he speaks it fine aside from the accent... But when we started communicating over email, well, I see that his writing is really immature. He's a college student of 21, but he not only writes in full jargon "how r u." but also doesnt seem able to communicate so well in writing... he's not such an inteligent, eloquent conversationist in emails...

After nine months of living in the states, shouldn't he know to write better than that? Is it just because it's online and he uses so much jargon? Or is it that he cant really communicate through writing, thus the lack of conversation skills?

I like this guy, but when it seems that he cant say much more than "i miss u" "how r u." it's a bit off putting. He was pretty inteligible when we met...

I'm not sure how long he's been studying english... He speaks very well, but with a thick accent. I know in some other countries they empasis more on teaching foreign languages. (I tihnk he's Indian. His name is Raj)

Answer 1

Hi, well I am sorry to say this but quite frankly it seems that maybe he is not so keen in connecting with you and only replies for politeness sake.

Since you say he speaks well but with a heavy accent the slang or Ebonics is quite understandable and very natural in today´s electronic world, specially when writing emails and MSMs or IMs and short messages.

Also the media itself is not always considered as place for long letters and hence its epistolary value is not that high. As for making spelling mistake we all do that, see how you wrote emphasis ;o) specially it is not considered so bad and most people have extra tolerance for mistakes in emails and other types of text and message sending which usually is done in a hurry.

Regardless by what you told he might not be very keen on writing you. Stop writing to him and see if he replies or what happens.

Raj can be a Hindu, Pakistani, Bengalese name, even it can have other origins. Also that would explain the dominion but strong accent since English is almost a mother language/ or second official language in these places and bilingualism is very common.

Hope it helps and try not writing him to see what happens.

Best regards
Santiago

Answer 2

Well this of course depends on how much effort he intends to put into becoming english literate.

Keep in mind that people from other countries have trouble as well understanding everything we say because our language has so many twists and meaning, what I'm saying is it's harder for someone who knows another language to adapt.

If you really love him and he is smart though not litterate does it really matter, I mean you wouldn't dislike him just because of this when you say he is smart otherwise, would you?

I hope he comes through for you and talking online will help him.

Also remember how long it took you to become litterate in school, I bet it was more then 9 months.
Though now a days who knows maybe you went to school fully litterate.

Answer 3

I spent four months on a Choctaw Indian Reservation and found out 500 phrases. I found out the stuff that was once mentioned probably the most usually. Choctaw isn't a written language so I can not write it in any respect. It is determined by how a lot time a character spends seeking to upgrade their language capabilities. I was once interested and took phonetic notes...in view that you can not truthfully write in Choctaw...I spelled it so I would sound it out later. There are books written in Choctaw, however it's seeing that settlers did the identical factor I did and sounded the phrases out. True Choctaws did not arise with a written language. Only after America was once settled, did any one attempt to write it. I further that during case any individual desired to disprove me!

Answer 4

Maybe he's just trying to be "really" American using that kind of jargon in emails?