sailang wrote:hi everybody, i'm new here and i'm from Malaysia. I'm a chinese too!! I'm here to learn english of course. I'm a student actually and i'm going to further my studies in the US
I'm worrying actually. My english is poor.... and i need some time to think when i speak even when i write. I heard people saying that once you in US, you will learn to speak and you will be able to speak fluently. Is that right?
Welcome to A2K, Sailang. To me, speaking a foreign language fluently is achieved when you no longer speak by translating from your native language; in essence, when you begin to
think in that foreign language. When you immerse yourself in another language and remove yourself from your own, you would be surprised by how quickly it happens. I recall a particular moment in my study of Spanish; I had been in the Dominican Republic for a month--immersed in Spanish--when, one day, I was running and tripped on a wire sticking out of the ground. As I felt myself falling, I realized I was going to take a tumble onto a pile of rocks. Without thinking, I shouted out a very obscene curse word in Spanish. As I picked myself up from the ground, I was very aware of what had just happened. I was thinking in Spanish! While I was ashamed that others around me had heard the curse word, I was delighted to realize that I had become a Spanish speaker.
I have always recommended to students of foreign language that, once they have acquired a basic vocabulary, it is helpful to begin looking up the meaning of new words in the language they are studying rather than their own. In the beginning, it seems absolutely necessary to translate and it is a good way to build your vocabulary quickly. Later, though, it will become a hindrance. While you will continue to build vocabulary, it will come at the expense of learning native usage patterns. You will be able to communicate better, but no matter how large your vocabulary, you will still sound Chinese.
sailang wrote:How about the native college students? Are they friendly? will they willing to talk to me and be my friend? I'm kinda of affraid to be there. Hope to get some advise from you all. Nice to meet you all here.. have a nice day.
Depending on where you go, you will find the United States to be quite culturally and ethnically diverse. This has a number of consequences. While my attempt to learn Chinese was met with amusement and astonishment in China (and, therefore, with an endless willingness to help) you will find no such reaction here. There are so many people who are non-native speakers that few people will volunteer to help you. In addition, with diversity comes the potential for disagreement. Here, you will find many people who identify themselves as part of a group based on any of the qualities that distinguish one culture from another, such as wealth, language, physical appearance, religious beliefs, and intellect. In college, especially, students are beginning to define their place in society through these qualities, sometimes without regard to their actual value. In many of these groups, you will find a reluctance to accept those who don't possess the same qualities.
That said, though, it will not be difficult for you to meet friendly people. Because of the diversity, many people will share your qualities and many of those who don't will be willing to expose themselves to something different. Be confident in the idea that you have something to offer and know what it is. If you come here only with the idea of receiving something, it will be difficult to form relationships. If you seek exchange, you will have no problems. I am confident that you will learn English, make friends, and learn to fear nothing. Good luck.
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