[General] It's blistering outside

[Silverobama]

It is important for advanced students of any language to learn the most commonly used phrases. But a few hundred probably suffice.

Yes, you're right, probus. Actually the reason I want to learn from native speakers is because I got the wrong methods of learning English when I was younger.

I memorized so many words and phrases because I wanted to work as an consecutive interpreter when I was younger. At that time, almost 12 years ago, I remembered English words and occasionally, I learned from native speakers. It was very expensive to learn from them privately, 500 yuan perhaps.

Later, I realized that it's almost impossible for me to become an interpreter; I gave up. But I still have a huge size of vocabulary because I need to teach my students, letting them know that they need only to know around 8000 words for daily conversations. But students here have a problem: they need to take IELTS or TOEFL tests. Also, some students need to take GRE, SATs. These tests are for studying overseas. If you want to become an immigrant of the US or the UK, 30,000 words are not enough.

Anyway, I'm just trying to say that I am not taking the easy way out and I want to learn a language well. I love English.

 

[tedmc]

Actually the reason I want to learn from native speakers is because I got the wrong methods of learning English when I was younger.

The native teachers would cringe at "the reason...is because".
You were taught the wrong methods of learning English?

I memorized so many words and phrases because I wanted to work as an consecutive interpreter when I was younger. At that time, almost 12 years ago, I remembered English words and occasionally, I learned from native speakers.

What is a consecutive interpreter?
Do you mean memorized?

 

[Silverobama]

I don't know why there would cringe at "the reason....is because", you might elaborate on it if you like.

I were taught the wrong methods of learning English and I believe my peers also had encountered such problems.

For example, we were taught to memorize English sentences, or memorize the articles in a book because we need to write essay or compositions in an exam.

Your native language is Chinese and I feel so surprised that you don't know things like this.

 

[Glizdka]

Not a teacher
Not a native speaker
-------
I have heard "blistering cold".
Could the fact that it can be used with cold and hot be a reason why blistering isn't very common on its own?

If you didn't wanna talk to me outside your concert
You didn't have to, but you coulda signed an autograph for Matthew
That's my little brother man, he's only six years old
We waited in the blistering cold for you
For four hours and you just said, "No"

 

[emsr2d2]

What is a consecutive interpreter?

See description 2 here.

 

[GoesStation]

I have heard "blistering cold".
Could the fact that it can be used with cold and hot be a reason why blistering isn't very common on its own?

"Blistering cold" looks very unnatural to me. You get blisters from burns, not from frostbite.

 

[probus]

I don't know why they would cringe at "the reason....is because"

For a long time I hated "reason is because" feeling that "because" is redundant. But after I began to teach online and became aware of prescriptionism versus descriptionism I came to accept it as correct English. It is correct simply because many people use it and will continue to do so even if some teachers insist it's wrong.

But I will never use it myself.

 

[teechar]

I agree with probus that "the reason ... is because" is not all that highly cringe-worthy! Probus has already outlined why. However, I would encourage learners to use "the reason ... is that" instead.

 

[tedmc]

I don't know why they would cringe at "the reason....is because"

As the teachers have said, because is redundant though it is common you would hear it said. You either say:

The reason for X is Y
or
X comes about because of Y.

For example, we were taught to memorize English sentences, or memorize the articles in a book because we need to write essay or compositions in an exam.

That was not how I was taught the language. I don't think memorizing sentences and trying to apply them in your writing works. It is likely to end up with "unnatural writing". I believe there is no better way to improving one's language other than through lots of reading and practice.

 

[Tarheel]

I don't know why they would cringe at "the reason....is because", you might elaborate on it if you like.

I was taught the wrong methods of learning English and I believe my peers also had encountered such problems.

For example, we were taught to memorize English sentences, or memorize the articles in a book because we need to write essay or compositions in an exam.

Your native language is Chinese and I feel so surprised that you don't know things like this.

I think I would say:

I was taught the wrong way.

 

[Tarheel]

I didn't notice "the reason...is because" at first. Maybe that's because I've seen it so many times. And that says something right there