Tuesday, December 4, 2018

English Language Challenges

A different language is a different vision of life
Federico Fellini

Learning a new language may be quite an adventure...!

Some people see language just as a means of communication. Sherlock would say "That's obvious, Watson, but..."

Learning another language means far more than acquiring and using varied lexis, mastering grammatical rules, understanding common idiomatic expressions, and using appropriate pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. These and other issues are the building blocks of everyday communication. However, language is produced by people differing in origin, race, cultural background, climate, educational system, interest, well-being, ...

Thus, the language of a particular group of people varies widely compared to that of another group of people living in a distant geographical site and using the same language; people living in warm, tropical regions are more talkative, express their feelings with strong voice and bodily movements, while people in cold regions speak with a lower voice, almost whispering their ideas, taking good care of cold drafts from affecting their throats and moving slowly to keep their bodies warm.

Similar and different
The pronunciation and the writing may also vary widely even in people speaking the same language. For various reasons, Irish, Scotish, English, Australian and American people of the USA, among others, speak English with their personal touch, either you like it or not. Immigration has also played a part in the complexity and uniqueness of the language.

Thus, you might read "Monday thru Friday" instead of "Monday through Friday" or "tonite" instead of "tonight" and may hear "overr-itiin" instead of "over eighteen"...

Films, comics, facebook, videos, blogs, internet, RPGs, emoticons, chatting via WhatsApp, twitters, ... are contributing to enrich,  for the better or the worse,  our language.

In this modern, computerized world, people are closer than ever in the history of mankind through the use of internet and learning a language can be facilitated through the use of plenty of resources, such as videos, online activities, games, blogs, songs, pen pals, youtube ...

Even visiting other countries is becoming easier.

Friendly communication about almost anything...
I hope that learning to express your ideas in English via blogs have been enjoyable, fruitful and educative activities; writing posts of such a wide number of subject matters that ranged from general to scientific issues is an opportunity to both share your viewpoints with your classmates  on subjects of general interest and also learn, explore and write posts about scientific themes.

During the terms you have been bombarded with exercises of various kinds: exercises from the web, WebQuests, role-playing games and situations, instructions and dialogues in English, pronunciation exercises, blogs, units with special contents, oral interactions, videos, ... and still there is a lot to be learned.

So, I wonder .... what are your English language challenges?


Now it's your turn.

> What comments can you make about your experience learning English at university?
> What about the use of blogs?
> What aspects of your English need to be improved and how do you plan to do this?
> Outside the English class, how much are you using English these days? What for?

- Wordcount: 260
- Make comments on your teacher's and 3 of your partners'  posts.

20 comments:

  1. the language of north and south of chile are so different

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  2. The English launguage is a non-finish learning, everyday you learns something new in Internet, Movies, Games,etc.

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  3. I had not noticed that people from cold climates speak more low hahahaha

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  4. I think that the challenges about English language that we will have are read papers and do presentations.

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  5. The language in general is always changing, so there will always be something new to learn!

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  6. Blogs were one of the few things that I liked about this subject.

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  7. The difference variations of a language are what makes them beautiful.

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  8. I can't believe that this is my last English blog.

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  9. some accents are very difficult to understand

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  10. I feel sad that this is a last blog

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  11. i have never thinking about the different pronunciation of people who live in warm or cold places.

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  12. Is very true that the origin of the people influences very the accents.

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  13. It is true that the language varies a lot in the same country

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  14. this is the last english blog? i will miss it :(

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  15. My goal is to one day be able to speak fluent English with someone. English has many variations.

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  16. learn other language is not easy, but blogs help you so much

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  17. My challenge is have a fluent conversation with other people of the same way as in Spanish

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  18. I found it very interesting how climate influences the way we communicate with others.

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  19. I hope someday I can speak English well :C

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