I disagree with Perknose. Had I left, I would never have learned this wonderful new word, which I can now apply daily. So Perknose has even exemplified "rediculousosityness" for us.
But the goal of many here is some sort of "sloppy with style", which makes some of the rediculousosityness of that post sadly leave again.
I think good writing begins with good thinking, and that many of the complaints about writing are essentially complaints about the thinking or the clarity of that thinking as seen by the reader. More rediculousosityness? Well, you can find tons of bad thinking here, but you can also learn good thinking from seeing some bad thinking expressed and ripped apart. (Especially your own. /em ducks)
Based on my own experience, I recommend Philosophy. For two reasons -- for seeing and perhaps learning some good thinking, and for the exercise of language skills that accompanies this. Trying to express subtle concepts clearly is a good exercise for language skills. In this, writing is better than reading, because when you see really good, clear writing, you don't see the potential mess of concepts and languages that might have been there instead. When you go through an exercise of trying to improve that mess and express a subtle language-challenging thoughts, you can find that you've gained something.
But the goal of many here is some sort of "sloppy with style", which makes some of the rediculousosityness of that post sadly leave again.
I think good writing begins with good thinking, and that many of the complaints about writing are essentially complaints about the thinking or the clarity of that thinking as seen by the reader. More rediculousosityness? Well, you can find tons of bad thinking here, but you can also learn good thinking from seeing some bad thinking expressed and ripped apart. (Especially your own. /em ducks)
Based on my own experience, I recommend Philosophy. For two reasons -- for seeing and perhaps learning some good thinking, and for the exercise of language skills that accompanies this. Trying to express subtle concepts clearly is a good exercise for language skills. In this, writing is better than reading, because when you see really good, clear writing, you don't see the potential mess of concepts and languages that might have been there instead. When you go through an exercise of trying to improve that mess and express a subtle language-challenging thoughts, you can find that you've gained something.
Actually I was going to recommend something like this. It doesn't have to be German but I took a bunch of Spanish classes and learned a lot more about the English language than I would if I just took an English class of some sort. The added bonus is that you'll be able to speak/write another language
English is my second language, but I spell/write mostly without errors. Like others in this thread suggested, reading books will help you with spelling, though it will not happen overnight.
My own problem is the spoken English, probably because I don't get much exposure to R/L
. When I speak I have to warm up for like 10 minutes before I fine-tune my spoken words so that I have less pronounced accent
My own problem is the spoken English, probably because I don't get much exposure to R/L
. When I speak I have to warm up for like 10 minutes before I fine-tune my spoken words so that I have less pronounced accent
lol, you do realize that the whole Borat thing is a joke, right? Borat is a character, not a real person. The actor Sasha Cohen was born in UK and graduated from a university.
Find someone who'll learn you good.
Seriously, read some classic novels. Heart of Darkness and Beloved come to mind.
Seriously, read some classic novels. Heart of Darkness and Beloved come to mind.
uberman
Golden Member
- Sep 15, 2006
- 1,942
- 1
- 81
Go to college and take English courses in composition and literature. Take college seriously because you'll only get out of it what you put in to it. Some of the papers returned to you appear to have red marks on them. Some may just appear as though they are red paper. This means you need to follow writing conventions, grammar, or spelling. These marks could also indicate incomplete sentences or ones that that don't make sense. Write more clearly on your next paper, don't just look at the grade and throw it away. Study it. A kind instructor might accept your corrected paper and give you credit. I don't know if you'd get away with this very much, because at that point you'd be using the teacher as a proofreader. With practice your writing skills will improve. Remember that writing is a process, reread and rewrite. Ask someone else to read your writing to see if it is clear to him or her.
Good readers make good writers is very true. Read, read, read! While reading you'll be exposed to what good writing looks like. Sadly the Internet will not be your best source for reading. The Internet has changed the way people assimilate information. People tend to skim read, to fly through the text as quickly as possible to glean some information. Notice these posts in this forum. People are writing to convey information and they do so with minimal text. Reading this kind of writing is not going to improve your skills very much. You need to work with books that have complete paragraphs, chapters and complete thoughts. Reading books will help you develop some grammar skills. There is not a strong emphasis on teaching grammar in schools today. I've heard some chatter about its resurgence, but I've not witnessed it.
Now it's up to you. See reading and writing as a challenge, rather than a task to be dismissed as quickly as possible. Don't post your German homework on the web in order to have people do your homework for you. You won't learn with others doing your work for you. Reading and writing can be fun. Find out what interests you. Subscribe to some magazines and read them for fun. Develop a print rich environment for yourself. Nobody can help you if you don't help yourself.
I assume you are now in high school. You can apply these principles there.
Here's a link to some cheap magazines in the $5.95 section. Find something that interests you and read.
[http://www.discountmagazines.com]
Good readers make good writers is very true. Read, read, read! While reading you'll be exposed to what good writing looks like. Sadly the Internet will not be your best source for reading. The Internet has changed the way people assimilate information. People tend to skim read, to fly through the text as quickly as possible to glean some information. Notice these posts in this forum. People are writing to convey information and they do so with minimal text. Reading this kind of writing is not going to improve your skills very much. You need to work with books that have complete paragraphs, chapters and complete thoughts. Reading books will help you develop some grammar skills. There is not a strong emphasis on teaching grammar in schools today. I've heard some chatter about its resurgence, but I've not witnessed it.
Now it's up to you. See reading and writing as a challenge, rather than a task to be dismissed as quickly as possible. Don't post your German homework on the web in order to have people do your homework for you. You won't learn with others doing your work for you. Reading and writing can be fun. Find out what interests you. Subscribe to some magazines and read them for fun. Develop a print rich environment for yourself. Nobody can help you if you don't help yourself.
I assume you are now in high school. You can apply these principles there.
Here's a link to some cheap magazines in the $5.95 section. Find something that interests you and read.
[http://www.discountmagazines.com]
DainBramaged
Lifer
- Jun 19, 2003
- 23,454
- 41
- 91
Wow this is a large thread. I see that if you read alot you will become not only a good reader but a good writer as well. Well, off to reading every harry potter book every created lol. What are some intresting books I should look for?
if you're like me, reading alone doesn't help with mastery of language. The best bet is taking a few things into consideration.
Reading
Reading out loud.
Writing Papers
Having a friend edit AND tell you why the changes are needed.
Reading edited paper out loud to friend.
Critque
Drink Beer and relax for the weekend.
imo, sticking to this with a dedicated set of friends or a friend works wonders. When i was in CC, i met a japanese girl who i also met through mutual friends and her english skills, pronunciation, grammar, et all, all dramtically sky rocketed.
Reading
Reading out loud.
Writing Papers
Having a friend edit AND tell you why the changes are needed.
Reading edited paper out loud to friend.
Critque
Drink Beer and relax for the weekend.
imo, sticking to this with a dedicated set of friends or a friend works wonders. When i was in CC, i met a japanese girl who i also met through mutual friends and her english skills, pronunciation, grammar, et all, all dramtically sky rocketed.
uberman
Golden Member
- Sep 15, 2006
- 1,942
- 1
- 81
What books to read? Best to go to the library and ask a librarian or ask an English teacher at school. Here's a random list of some I've read.
1984, George Orwell *
The Pearl, John Steinbeck *
Tortilla Flat, John Steinbeck *
The Andromeda Strain, Creighton *
Flowers For Algernon *
On the Road, Jack Kerouac
The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, Tom Wolfe
Hell's Angels, Hunter S. Thompson
* indicates a short read as opposed to 300 or more pages
Try The American Library Association's site. Look at lists of recommended books. There's other websites with lists of books for teachers and librarians. Check those out. Ask friends etc.
1984, George Orwell *
The Pearl, John Steinbeck *
Tortilla Flat, John Steinbeck *
The Andromeda Strain, Creighton *
Flowers For Algernon *
On the Road, Jack Kerouac
The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, Tom Wolfe
Hell's Angels, Hunter S. Thompson
* indicates a short read as opposed to 300 or more pages
Try The American Library Association's site. Look at lists of recommended books. There's other websites with lists of books for teachers and librarians. Check those out. Ask friends etc.
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