After having watched the two videos related to language learning, choose, at least 2 of the questions below to add your opinion, questions or suggestions. Write them in the comment box:
How did you start learning English?
Did you find it easy or difficult?
Do you agree with Fernando's opinion or not?
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I start to learn english when I was 15 years old, in a special public school of foreign languages and did the complete course for 6 years. It was so easy in that time, but now, many years later, I lost the habilitie to learn fast, to speak and write welll. I lost vocabulary. About Fernando, I agree that it is easier learning a second tongue when you live in the country, but its not impossible to have a perfect english studying here. I have a friend who never lived abroad and speaks a perfect english, with the american accent, and she was an english teacher here and worked for bloomberg TV as correspondent here after be aproved in the tests of New York's team.
ReplyDeleteKeila.
Hello Keila, I don't think you have forgotten your English! But it's true that we must keep in touch with the language in order to improve our vocabulary. I read a lot in English and I learn new words every single day. I'm glad to know you have a friend who speaks English very fluently and has never lived abroad. Many teachers here have never lived abroad either and speak very accurately and fluently.
ReplyDeleteHi all. I speak Inglish for only 3 years and I feel more difficult in vocabulary. I agree that when you more talk and speak you learn easily I don´t have a time for make a traditional course but I believe in our course and I´m very excited in to speak very well and can to watch the films without legend, talk with you with easily.
ReplyDeleteKisses. Arê
Hi, people.
ReplyDeleteI started learning English in school when I was a teenager. I didn’t find it difficult at that time. I think it becomes increasingly difficult as we reach advanced levels.
I agree with Fernando that we can only learn a language if we practice it all the time. It’s much easier learning to speak a foreign language if we live abroad, but it’s also possible to learn it here, in Brazil, provided we have opportunities to talk every day in English _ and that is the major difficulty for the ordinary people. If we consider reading and writing, it doesn’t matter if we are here or abroad, it only depends on ourselves.
Bye
When I was teenager I used to listen Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. They had a very good pronunciation and their musics were romantics.I used to sing them when I was taking a shower. This way, I tryed to understand the lirics and was getting better with vocabulary. At same time I started to study English at IBEU in Fortaleza, CE. But I needed to move for another cities several times and so, I had to stop and go ahead with my learning of English. Finally, I came to Brasilia and could finish the Regular Course at Casa Thomas Jeferson.It wasn't easy to get there. My difficult now is with Listening.That's why I'm here.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Fernando when he says that the best way to improve our listen is living a long period of time abroad. But, according to Erika, there are many good teathers at Thomas that speak fluently not having lived abroad before. So, may be I'm wrong, but I think it depends on the dedication of each one.
I started learning English has 7 years. How Keila, I studied English in a public school of foreign languages for 5 years and 6 months. In that time was easier because I had time for it. I studied English in my graduate too, for 2 years. Today, everything is more difficult because I don`t have time how I had to dedicate myself to it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Fernando. I believe that another person learn another language with more facility and faster when this person live in the origin country, practicing, speaking and writing all the time with others people but, I believe too that isn`t impossible learn a perfect English studying here, in Brazil. Of course that is necessary more time to learn than in origin country.
Hello Keila, Camila, Pedro, Márcia and Aretuza! Thanks for writing your views on the topic in our blog. You have all mentioned different aspects that may contribute to a better and faster learning of a second language: dedication, practice, exposure to language input, time availability for studying and the age you start learning. Let's keep working and I'm looking forward to reading other students' comments!
ReplyDeleteDear Everyone,
ReplyDeleteYour comments about learning English are very interesting. Certainly it's an advantage to live in an English-speaking country. However, I have visited a lot of different places, and I am always impressed with the large number of people who never left their own countries and yet manage to speak English quite fluently! :-)
Airton said...
ReplyDeleteI started learning English at the Casa Thomas Jefferson here in Brasilia as a late teen ager (17) and it was a superb experience. After 3 semesters I felt I could speak out. By that time I didn't think much neither had much to say. It was ok and I had always been quite talkative. Now I am 45 and I think that if you want to fully express your deepest thoughts and give life to your expression, you will have to spend some time among native speakers or have an immersion season, either in here or in English speaking countries.
Hello Airton, I was happy to find out you started studying at CTJ when you were 17, and now you feel the need to expand your knowledge and express your thoughts in English! Are you willing to live abroad for a while and spend some time with native speakers?
ReplyDeleteHello, I started learning English when I was I child and I didn't learn yet. Sometimes I feel very stupid because I dont't understand a music or a movie. I agree with Fernando. I think if I'll live in another maybe I would learn more.
ReplyDeleteKellen Torres
I started to learn english when i was 18 years old, at Instituto da Língua Inglesa (Cuiabá), at that time I didn't find difficult at so now I think it becomes a little difficult, 'cause i have no time to practice and improve my English. I desagree with Fernando, because we can learn another language if we practice a lot even here in Brazil, it only depends on our willingness.
ReplyDeleteBye
I studied English in two schools when I was teenager, but, just at Casa Tomas Jefferson I`m learning an English with quality. I agree that practicing the language in other country, your converstation improves, but, sometimes is impossible to live abroad. I think the writing is very important and more difficulty. You can learn a good English in any place.
ReplyDeleteHi Erika, hi folks, I've always intended to live abroad for 2 years, make studies, exercise some sports, practice singing... anything! All I did was 2 months vacation in NYC 20 years ago. Everyone could understand me, but I had the hardest time to know what people said. Of course I heard accents from all over the world and that scared me...
ReplyDeleteNow I feel sad that I am not able to follow a movie, or thoroughly understand a song in English. Intervews are much easier...
I’ve been studying English since I was 14 years old, and I really like it. So in this sense, I didn’t find it difficult. Sometimes, we have to deal with complicated structures and grammar, but it’s normal. Nowadays, learning another language is essential. Personally, I think we can learn it anywhere, it depends on our pledge. But I do agree that it’s easier when you travel and practice it every day.
ReplyDeleteRonan.
Hi everyone, it's great to know more about your language learning background. All of you have learned a lot of English so far, more than you realize. The best thing is that you are on the right track - you want to go on and on. Nowadays, studying online is just one more alternative you have to keep in touch with the language and with other English speakers. You must dig for opportunities to have conversations, read, listen and find immediate use for your English. Being part of communities of learners like this one is an excellent way to do it!
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatelly I can't study English when I was teen, due severals causes...
So, my first contact with English happend when I was at College, almost 20 years ago. It was a course provided by the College and I could learn a lot in those time...
Like most of you, I felt that my English wasnt get any progress, I mean, I wasnt be able to advance and get fluent in English.
So I have to agree that Fernando when he said that is easier learning another language being in the country where this language is spoken...
When you can not live in a foreing country, the only way to get progress is to dedicate a lot and try alternative way to help you, such as this course whe are trying right now.
I believe that we will get fluent in this short time but is an oportunity to keep in contact to English in order to advance in our knowledge.
Bye!!
Jorge
Hi everybody! I agree with Fernando. I think that we only can speak a language very well if we live in a country for a time. I know that there are exceptions. But I think that in general studying here is much more difficult to learn. I have been studying English for a long time (sometimes I stopped and than started again) but I feel like I couldn’t have a conversation with an American people. I think that if a really want speak in English, I need to live abroad for one months.
ReplyDeleteJoão Ricardo
Hello Jorge and João Ricardo! You both mentioned living abroad! Well, I lived in California when I was 14 years old and it really helped me develop fluence, but I only learned to speak accurately when I came back to Brazil and attended regular English classes.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone.
ReplyDeleteI studied English many years ago, and I became illiterate in English. I coldn't speak and understand anymore, so I decided study again.
I agree with Fernando too. Generally, for to speak fluent and unterstand it's necessary to live in country that speak English, specially because we need to educate listen and understand. In my opinion to understand is more difficult that speak, and living abroad we speak English, think and hear Enghish everytime. However some people can learn an speak fleunt another language and they have never been in the contry. I have one aunt, that speak fluent and teach French in a University, but she's never been in France, She told me that she likes speak Franch but she doesn't want to go in France. I think this a exception.
Cira
I studied English in two schools when I was teenager, but, just at Casa Tomas Jefferson I`m learning an English with quality. I agree that practicing the language in other country, your converstation improves, but, sometimes is impossible to live abroad. I think the writing is very important and more difficulty. You can learn a good English in any place.
ReplyDeleteHello guys, sorry because I'm late, but I'll try to follow the groupp after now.
ReplyDeleteI've been studying english since 1999, but I started it at Wisdom course, I stoped and restart it for many times. It was very negative for me because I never consolidated my english skils, I got speak an listenning fear and I never got fluency. I was just giving up when I started learning english at Thomas Jeferson two years ago, the first Listenning course with Carla Arenas changed my mind about learning english and became my fears so I consider I start english learning after this only.
I agree with Fernando. It's easier to learn english living abroad because you use the language all the time in a real situation.
Last year I spent six months in Canada studying english and french. Unfortunately I chosen the french area to live so I improve my french better than my english, but, I can realize that way was more productive to learn a second language.
See you guys,
Celso Arrais - Brasilia
Hello Cira, Celso and Rachel! It's always great to read your comments! Many of you started studying years ago and then you quit for different reasons. It's important that you all realize that the best strategy to learn another language is the LLL - Lifelong Learning. It is learning in which a person engages throughout his or her life.
ReplyDeleteRead more about LLL at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_learning
Hello, everybody, I have been studying English since I was a teenager, but just two years ago I decided to improve my English.I disagree with Fernando when he says that we only learn English when we live abroad, because if we read,write and listen a lot we can learn here, but if we just study two hours a week as he said, it's impossible to learn another language.
ReplyDelete