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Have You Ever Realized You Are Less Sensitive to Your Native Language?
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An American friend of mine here who has read a lot of English entries mainly written by Japanese people has realized that she has become less sensitive to some wrong English expressions that Japanese people very often use. She says that when she saw them here for the first time, they totally sounded strange to her, however she is used to them and they lately don't sound unnatural to her even though she knows they are wrong. Another American woman who teaches English in Japan feels the same thing and seems to wonder if she is cut out for English teachers.
On Lang-8, I always expect native English speakers to make my sentences sound more natural even though they are grammatically correct. One day, a native speaker told me that he might not be capable enough to judge it since he works with non-native speakers every day. When I was studying Mandarin at a University in Guangzhou, China, I spent a lot of time with American and Canadian classmates after school. Even though they always said that they should keep speaking Mandarin after school, it usually took them less half an hour to start speaking English. They sometimes said that their English was getting rusty since they usually spoke with non-native speakers.
While I lived overseas, in order to keep my Japanese at a standard level, I tried not to mix up Japanese and foreign language words when speaking Japanese, although this was actually very difficult. From the perspective that languages are a communication tool, it's fine to use sort of new languages and words if they help you communicate with somebody. However, needless to say, it's still important to use languages properly.
It's been about 15 months since I joined Lang-8. I've read a lot of Japanese entires written by foreigners. Lately, I sometimes realize how flexible languages are.
On Lang-8, I always expect native English speakers to make my sentences sound more natural even though they are grammatically correct. One day, a native speaker told me that he might not be capable enough to judge it since he works with non-native speakers every day. When I was studying Mandarin at a University in Guangzhou, China, I spent a lot of time with American and Canadian classmates after school. Even though they always said that they should keep speaking Mandarin after school, it usually took them less half an hour to start speaking English. They sometimes said that their English was getting rusty since they usually spoke with non-native speakers.
While I lived overseas, in order to keep my Japanese at a standard level, I tried not to mix up Japanese and foreign language words when speaking Japanese, although this was actually very difficult. From the perspective that languages are a communication tool, it's fine to use sort of new languages and words if they help you communicate with somebody. However, needless to say, it's still important to use languages properly.
It's been about 15 months since I joined Lang-8. I've read a lot of Japanese entires written by foreigners. Lately, I sometimes realize how flexible languages are.
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While I lived overseas, in order to keep my Japanese at a standard level, I tried not to mix up Japanese and foreign language words when while speaking Japanese, although this was actually very difficult.
From the perspective that languages are a communication tool, it's fine to use sort of new languages and words if they help you communicate with somebody.
Have You Realized You Are Less Sensitive to Your Native Language? Coordinate conjunctions and prepositions should not be capitalized
An American friend of mine here who has read a lot of English entries mainly written written mainly by Japanese people has [recently]* realized that she has become less sensitive to some wrong English expressions that Japanese people very often use incorrectly**. *"Has" is fine, but you can say "recently" instead of "has" to make it sound more natural. "Has" sounds like I am reading a newspaper article about some newsworthy event.**The English expressions themselves are not wrong, they are simply being used incorrectly. So instead of using an adjective to modify the word "expressions" itself, you should use an adverb to modify the verb "usage."
She says that when she saw heard them used that way here for the first time, they totally sounded strange to her, however she is 's gotten/ has gotten used to them lately and now they lately don't sound unnatural to her, even though she knows they are wrong.Again, we are talking about the expressions being used incorrectly, as opposed to their existence being incorrect.
Another American woman I know who teaches English in Japan feels the same thing way and seems to wonder if she is cut out for to be an English teachers.I need to know more about who this American woman is, because if you don't talk about how you know she feels that way, you could be expressing that you read her words in a magazine or something like that. I assume you are saying that she told you directly.
One day, a native speaker told me that he might not be capable enough to judge it since he works with non-native speakers every day.Judge what? Your sentences on Lang-8 or the incorrect usage of English expressions? Also, use "tell" instead of "judge."
When I was studying Mandarin at a Uuniversity in Guangzhou, China, I spent a lot of time with American and Canadian classmates after school.
Sometimes they sometimes said would say that their English was getting rusty since they usually spoke with non-native speakers.
While I lived overseas, in order to keep my Japanese at a standard level, I tried not to mix up Japanese and foreign language words when speaking Japanese, although this even though it was actually very difficult.
From the perspective that languages are a communication tool, it's fine to use sort of new languages and words language and words in non-standard ways if they help you communicate with somebody.
However, nNeedless to say, it's still important to use languages properly.
I've read a lot of Japanese entires entries(typo) written by foreigners.
Lately, I sometimes realize how flexible languages are. I've realized lately just how flexible language is.
An American friend of mine here who has read a lot of English entries -- mainly written by Japanese people -- has realized that she has become less sensitive to some incorrect English expressions that Japanese people very often use.
She says that when she saw them here for the first time, they totally sounded strange to her. Now, however, she is used to them. They lately don't sound unnatural to her even though she knows they're wrong.
-run-on sentences
-too many modifiers.
Both of these are things that native-speaking college students encounter!
As for the topic, I've noticed what you're talking about too. I have a problem where I absorb accents. If I'm around a British person for about an hour, I develop a British accent. And sometimes if I'm around a non-native speaker (from China or Japan) for too long, I start dropping parts of English that they don't use.
From the perspective that languageslanguageare is a communication tool, it's fine to use sort of new languages and words if they help you communicate with somebody.Because I am not a native speaker, I am not sure if my correction is OK.
So for me it's actually a good opportunity to review my English (which is my dominant language) while I try to help out others.
When I was living overseas, in order to maintain my Japanese at a standard level, I tried not to mix Japanese and foreign language words while speaking Japanese, although this was actually very difficult.
Thank all of you for your help and interesting comments.
English is a global common language. In many countries, English is a compulsory subject at school. The world is filled with incorrect English expressions. So, it might be a little hard for native speakers to keep their English at a higher level in the global society. When I was in China, I also would use Chinese-English to communicate with local people. I think that Japanese people can relatively easily understand it. However, it made me have harder time speaking English with native speakers in China.
I used to write more reports and deliver more presentations in Japanese than now. At the time, my Japanese was a little better. Also, I was more sensitive to the Japanese language. I've realized how difficult keeping my Japanese at a higher level is.
Nice to meet you. はじめまして。
Thank your for reading my entry and making correction. Also, thanks for your kindly comment. I would be happy if you could come to my page again when you have time.
Hi jerachin
Nice to meet you. はじめまして。
Thank you for reading my entry and making correction. Your detailed explanations and corrections are really helpful. Thank you very much!! I would be happy if you could come to my page again when you have time.
>I assume you are saying that she told you directly
Sorry, I didn't seem to explain it properly. I got this information through her blog written in English.
>Judge what? Your sentences on Lang-8 or the incorrect usage of English expressions?
I meant my sentences on Lag-8.
>A lot of people go over there to teach English without actuallyknowing how to correctly use the language when it comes down to areally detailed point. Most people will just say "Oh, that makes senseto me, that's fine" and as a result, the people they are teaching maylearn something incorrect.
While the Japanese Economy was good, there were a lot of unqualified English teachers at private schools. To be a native speaker seemed to be only condition for being an English teacher. Actually, I've heard of various stories about awful teachers. With the Economic downturn, a few of major English schools went into bankrupt. The others have been struggling to survive. I hope that the situation has improved.
Thanks for your help. I really appreciate you keeping reading my entries.
>often native speakers don't use English completely properly,
I think all native speakers don't use their native languages completely properly. I have better knowledge about English grammar than Japanese one.
Thank you very much for telling me my problems. I suppose that thinking in Japanese when writing English also causes both problems. I'll pay attention to these points.
>I have aproblem where I absorb accents. If I'm around a British person forabout an hour, I develop a British accent.
I'm wondering if British people absorb an American accent. Does a British accent have a stronger influence?
Hi Yong
Thank you for reading my entry
Hi w224
Thanks for your comment.
> sometimes when I'm correcting I realize I'm not sure aboutsome things in English.
So for me it's actually a good opportunity to review my English (whichis my dominant language) while I try to help out others.
Me too !! Now, it might be hard for you to keep your English at a higher level. I hope you won't be used to our strange English. Anyway, do you usually communicate with your co-workers in Japanese or English?
Hi Ges
Thanks for your help.
Even though he is native Japanese, even he has trouble sometimes lol (especially with keigo).
Thanks for your reply.
>Even though he is native Japanese, even he has trouble sometimes lol (especially with keigo).
Japanese people are required to master special? Keigo that are used only? mainly? at work for the first few years after starting working. Actually, this is not easy.
Hi watchreader
Thanks for your reply.
People who speak a standard Japanese in the Tokyo area say that a Osaka accent has a stronger influence. It doesn't seem easy for them to keep speaking a standard Japanese among Osaka people. In contrast, Osaka people always keep having a Osaka accent in any situations. So, I was wondering if a British accent had a stronger accent. Needless to say, it depends on people though.
>The standard English accent has less mouth movement, which makes it easier I think.
I do agree with you. It's said that it's easier for the Japanese to pronounce British English than American one, although I don't know exactly what is the standard English. However, I have a lot more opportunities to hear American English, so it's hard for me even to catch up with British English.
I do understand how after awhile you can ease up on mistakes, but if you're told 'make it as natural as possible,' you definitely should be able to recognize all of the unnatural parts of the sentence.