Speakers of english as 1st language help out a brazilian in despair...share your opinions!?

Question

My question is very simple: I would like to know my level of knowledge about the language..I mean... I do read almost everything in english (specially academic texts), I do understand spoken language in TV series like Friends, but I do not speak it or write it very well...I would say that after 4 years taking classes and 10 more studding alone...I really dont know english... I do accept suggestion on how to improve my skills on the language... thanks a lot to every one who really minds and give me a intelligent answer. Badanswerss will be reported....

Answer 1

Oi, voce e brasileira? :))

Your English is very, very good! E claro que voce sabe o Ingles, e muito bem! E so continuar o que esta fazendo- vendo TV em Ingles, incluindo a lingua no seu dia-a-dia. Continue, voce ja parece "fluent"...agora sua vez, o que achou do meu Portugues? rsrsrs, Boa Sorte! :)

Edit: Seria muito bom se voce poderia viajar para um pais que fala Ingles, como os EUA, Canada, etc., tambem! Pq voce interaje com a lingua as 24 horas :)

Answer 2

Hello,

Don't despair. You are doing well. Most people have a funny idea what the definition of fluency means. According to the teachers of English As A Second Language here in Canada, it takes a good 7 years of intensive English, living here in this culture before you are good enough to write high school or university exams, understand jokes, witticisms, figures of speech, plays on words or defend yourself in a court of law. Your progress, not living in an English speaking country is good and looks normal.

Similarly I took 3 years of Spanish and can do much with it in conversation but I am not at university level and cannot understand poetry to jokes as such.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

Answer 3

I think your writing in your question is very clear. It's better than many native speakers I read on the Internet and in these Yahoo forums!

Sounding like a native speaker takes practice, practice, and more practice! You don't mention if you live in Brazil or an English speaking country.

Do you have other English speakers, especially native ones, with whom you can speak on a regular basis? If not, have you thought of talking via the Internet with native English speakers in virtual environments like Second Life?

I think you'll also find, especially among educated English American English speakers, that even if you have a heavy accent, people will be patient with you and work to understand you or help you learn more.

Good luck!!!!

Answer 4

Reading good books will help a lot - especially if you want to write well. The standards on the Internet are pretty low.

You are fortunate your first three answers are very good. You have to remember that people often speak their native language very sloppily. That which is often accepted in everyday speech is usually not tolerated in formal non-fiction writing.

So--- read, read, read.

Talk, talk, talk with those who speak well. Try to avoid those who use a lot of slang at first. It will only confuse you.

You are fortunate that your first answer was so good. I think I'm in love with that teacher after seeing so much sloppy writing on the Net.

Oh! Oh! Try some language courses on the Internet! (Sheesh! Why do I so often miss the obvious?)

Good luck! I really admire people who try to master a new language after childhood. It is much harder to do as we age.

Language on TV is often terrible. TV appeals to the lowest common denominator in order to draw audiences to buy products. Don't believe the lie that TV reflects life. TV reflects the views of the writers and writers are often deeply unhappy, cynical people.  

Answer 5

Have you thought about making an online friend?  A Pen pal, or volunteering to go to an English speaking country to do either missionary work, or something like the Peace Corps?

Other than finding an English speaker who wants to learn Portugese and making friends?