English as a second language

[Steven D]

Originally Posted by tdol

You do come across people, possibly like your South American woman, who have learned the language too well- their perfection sounds a little unnatural. I know a Finnish teacher of English whose speech tends to have so many idioms it sounds unnatural and cumbersome.

I can understand that. I would, however, like to say that's not the case with the Iranian guy I know. His speech is natural. He also understands what it is to teach "register" in English language speaking and writing.

[alexandre42]

Unfortunately, in France, we have the same problem with learning foreign languages. Courses are focused on grammar, writing, reading not speaking. After 10 years of learning, young people don't ever speak any more than yesterday.

Alexandre

[sardine]

Hi Alexandre42,

I didn't know that your coutry has same probrem!
In France, how do you learn conversation (speaking) of English?
We usually do to language school.
They are very expensive.
It's ridiculous!

Thanks,
Sardine

[Tdol]

Many students simply go to the country- we have exchanges, etc, and it's easy for people to go and stay in other countries because of the EU. London is full of young people from all over the EU.

[sardine]

Well, in that case, I wonder how people who can't go abroad to study easily study conversation ( speaking ) of English, such as businessman or houswife and so on...

Thanks,
Sardine

[Tdol]

That's not so easy, but it is a lot easier for most Europeans to speak English than it is for people like you from a very different language family, which is what I'm now facing in Tokyo.

[Silent carillon]

I agree with Sardine. Not many ones can afford to travel abroad, especially the students. I can't either. My teacher advised us to try listening to BBC or watching CNN and i regretted ignoring her advice. These days i'm buried with tons of exercises for the coming examination. Phew, maybe when i pass that exam, I'll spend more time on this.

[sardine]

Dear tdol,
I think you are an English teacher in Tokyo aren't you?
In Japan TOEIC or Japanese special exam "eiken" are very common.
However, I think that there should be more exams which have important conversation tests, such as Cambridge Exam ( I took FCE ) and IELTS.
These qualification don't work for resume in Japan because they don't know them.
If they work very much, we have to speak English more.
It's good for Japanese.

In Europe Cambridge qualification have good for job hunting. Right?
I don't agree with the system of Japanese education (about English) at all !!
What do you think?

What do you think?

[alexandre42]

Originally Posted by sardine

Hi Alexandre42,

I didn't know that your coutry has same probrem!
In France, how do you learn conversation (speaking) of English?
We usually do to language school.
They are very expensive.
It's ridiculous!

Thanks,
Sardine

Sardine,
Special courses taught by Language schools are so very expensive in this country.

[sardine]

Originally Posted by alexandre42

Sardine,
Special courses taught by Language schools are so very expensive in this country.

Are they? Same as my country.
In France what kinds of English exams are common?
Do you have conversation exams?
And more perents make their children (before going to school) learn English conversation with high cost these days.
How about yours?

Thanks
Sardine