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"The Round Table" Discussion Forum

"The Round Table" Discussion Forum

Date: Jul 13 2013

Topic: Conversational English

Author: englishteacher24/7

Lesson

This is a lesson series where you can ask your questions on English, culture, technology, and things that are related.  Please feel free to submit your questions and/or comments here.

Comments

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samand55

samand55

Azerbaijan

thanks dear teacher, it could be really helpful.

12:14 PM Jul 25 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Hello Roze, thanks for your feedback. To improve your speaking skills, I would recommend that you spend some time on the “Using Songs and Music to learn English” lessons. It will give you an opportunity to recognize words and imitate saying them.  Here is the link and scroll back to the beginning:


http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/5880/member_submitted/using_songs_and_music_to_learn_english


04:11 AM Jul 25 2013 |

roze252

roze252

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

Dear teacher ,,  I’d like to thank you for the helpful forum,, actually my problem is with the speaking part ,, I’d like to know from you how to imporve my speaking skills ..


Thanking you


have a nice day all :D 

08:32 PM Jul 24 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Topic No. 4 Part 2: Apology Details:


Samand, here are the differences between “wrong” “error” and “mistake.”



  • Wrong= This is the opposite of “right.” For example, if a child puts his/her shoes on incorrectly, they would have put their shoes on wrong.

  • Error= An error is a deviation from being accurate, in other words, a mistake.

  • Mistake= Is an error caused by carelessness, misjudgement, misinformation, etc.  It does not mean the motivation was intentional or deliberate. If it was, it would be called sabotage, this is where a person deliberately causes a mistake to destroy or ruin something.


You are correct to say, “pardon me” if you want someone to repeat something and it isn’t proper to say “I owe you one.” This is a slang way to apologize for a light transgression among friends. Hope this helps.

samand55

samand55

Azerbaijan

yes dear Alston i agree with you completely about thinking in English. most of time, my problem is not knowing how to use verbs and where i should use the suitable verb among all with the similar meaning, then i try to find at least one example in dictionaries to clear it up.


thanks for your discribtion. i’m waiting for another lesson.


in continue, would you please explain about the diffrences of “wrong”,”error” and “mistake”? i think when we say “you made a mistake”, we mean you did something wrong deliberately,am i right? i want to know it, to know how to apologize when i’m fault, for sure, apology in deliberate situations must be so different from other cases, for example when i can’t hear something i use “pardon me” and want someone to repeat it again, and it isn’t proper to say “i owe you one” in this case, so please give me a short explanation,thanks in advance.

11:42 AM Jul 23 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Drallon and Samand, you are correct in saying the baker’s cake will probably taste better even though they both followed the same recipe.  The baker’s experience will prevail.


The same is true with learning English, a student may have the recipe (grammar rules) but a lack of experience may cause confusion with its implementation.


Furthermore, learning grammar will impart knowledge but will not give an understanding. To acquire an understanding requires reading, writing, speaking and thinking in English with a teacher or tutor to guide the learner. This may be a root cause of why a person can study English for years and still not be able to communicate in English.


An example of this is a student who studies English for the sole purpose of passing an English test, in this case, they may memorize the anticipated answers, but knowing the rules is not enough.


By contrast, a two-year old child does not know any rules but figures out how to communicate and become fluent in two-three years. An adult has an advantage over a child because they have more knowledge.


I have interviewed people from Mexico concerning how long it took them to reach their level of English fluency, the answer was 6 months, from knowing little to no English to fluency.


How did they do it? Because they were in an “English only” working environment.  Therefore, if they wanted anything, they had to learn the English word for it and speak it. They did not take any English classes either!


They learned what we call, “on the fly” such as Japanese companies use “just in time” inventory control. In other words, learning as you go along.


Many people that aspire to learn English do not have the opportunity to be in an English only environment. However, they may forfeit other opportunities.


For example, take the Englishbaby website. There are literally thousands of people who visit this website and only a very few take the opportunity to write a response to the lessons. You do not want to miss writing opportunities and keep the knowledge in your mind.


A person can have a four-word English vocabulary and can say in response to a lesson, “I like it” or “I do not like it” and then expand from that foundation.


Take myself for an example. Spanish and Japanese I am learning and aspire to learn Chinese. I can speak more Japanese than Spanish because I worked in a Japanese environment for 26 years and a Spanish-speaking environment for 3 years.


Therefore, when I encounter a Spanish or Japanese speaking person, I use my limited vocabulary to try to communicate in those languages. When I go to a Chinese restaurant, I tell them “thank you” in Chinese and ask the server how to say other words in Chinese and I write them down.


My point is this, take every opportunity to use whatever you have and start communicating in English. Do not be afraid of making mistakes; even fluent people make mistakes!


Concerning the word “the,” fortunately, it is the easiest of all grammar rules and used before a noun to introduce it. In the case of “future,” this word can be a noun or used as an adjective. Here are some examples:


“Laws can shape the future”  


“Future” in this sentence is a noun indicating an idea about specific things relating to laws that are to come. Therefore, use “the” before future.


“Let’s discuss future goals” 


Future in this example is an adjective indicating discussing various goals in a general sense, however, if it referred to specific goals of a noun, then you would use “the.” For example, Let us discuss the future goals of the company.


Irene, I plan to go into more detail concerning future tenses next time.

Irene Forever

Ukraine

Dear Teacher, I think that many students have problems while expressing their thoughts showing actions that must or may happen in future. There are several ways to make a sentence with  actions in future. As far as I know we can use The Future Tenses, The Present Simple Tense,  The Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense, the construction ’ to be going to’ and others.


It’s a very confusing subject. Will you please, to clear it up?


Thank you in advance.

09:59 AM Jul 22 2013 |

samand55

samand55

Azerbaijan

Normaly i should say, “i prefer THE cake which made by proffesional baker and i think it would taste better”, am i right?


dear Alston, i think a misunderstanding happend here, my problem is still “the” not future tences, however, your lessons will be so useful.in last comment i asked why we should use “the” for the word “future”, by which rules??for example, i can say to you,”let me tell you THE future”


09:44 AM Jul 22 2013 |

Irene Forever

Ukraine

Thanks a lot, dear Alston. I’ve got a great answer to my request. For sure, I’ll come back to the Round table to learn something new.


09:30 AM Jul 22 2013 |

drallon

drallon

China

I think the cake baked by baker will be tasted better.Although the person bake the cake following the recipe exactly,then he have no baking experience and also have no emotion on it,he just bake the cake following the recipe.But the baker can bake the cake according to his experience and his understanding to the cake while refering to the recipe.So the cake baked by baker tasted better.


As the same as  that how we use articles and future. The definite articles are just used to reference. We also can use english according to ourselves habit and feeling.Then as time goes by and more times we use, we will use english more practised and will have no difficultys.


So we should practise english as more as possible, then  we will be skilled in it.


haha,so many words I said, if there are something wrong,pleasse forgive me!!!

07:02 AM Jul 22 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Samand, thanks for your questions about how to use articles and future tenses. Before I answer it directly, I want to use a scenario to make a point.


Two people baked a cake.  They both had the same recipe. One person had never baked a cake but followed the recipe exactly.


The other person was a baker and baked the same type of cake.


Question:


Which cake do you think tasted better?

01:49 AM Jul 22 2013 |

samand55

samand55

Azerbaijan

Thanks dear Alston for your lessons but i think i should try to learn more, for definite article, we have many exceptions, for example i dont know anything about my future but when i want to use “future” in my sentences, i shoud say “the future” or another my problem is about the furniture of my house, i know all of them if i want to talk about them to one of my guest, what should i say?! watch TV or watch the TV, or sit on the chair or sit on a chair?! sorry for my basic question, im wating for your answer,tnx.

03:43 PM Jul 21 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Topic No. 4 – Various words for apologies: 


Drallon, you’re welcome, I hope this forum will be a resource for learning English in addition to the Englishbaby lessons.


Irene has requested various expressions on the topic of “apologies” so here are some:


Formal: I am sorry, please forgive me, please pardon me, excuse me, I want to apologize, I have a concession to make, or I have an admission to make.


Informal: I beg your pardon, pardon me, I want to clear myself, I owe you one, it was my fault.


Slang: I blew it, I want to ‘fess up, sorry ‘bout that, my actions were uncalled for, or I’ll make it up to you.


There are many ways of expressing an apology, here are a few of them: truthfulness, honesty, sincerity, remorse, attitude, facial expression, tone, etc.


One characteristic of Americans is that of forgiveness.  Unless the “wrong” is of a very horrendous nature, if the person admits to it, they are likely to be forgiven.  For example, if a person in a very high position lies, but afterwards admits to everyone that he/she lied, people are likely to have mercy and forgive them.


However, if the person lied and tries to cover it up, and the evidence proves they lied, then people will label him/her a “liar” and the respect for them is diminished or forfeited. 


I hope this topic will give you some insight into the culture and assist you as you learn English.


Good request Irene!


I welcome your topic suggestions on English, culture, or things relating to them.  Bring them to The Round Table for discussion.

07:44 AM Jul 21 2013 |

drallon

drallon

China

Dear alston,


thank you for inviting me to this forum to learn english.I have seen it roughly as times problem,and I find there are many things to learn and it is a good place.

12:58 PM Jul 20 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Irene, you got it! I’ll put “something on the cooker” (prepare a lesson) concerning various ways of expressing apologies.


Drmahsa and Others, if you want additional lessons on American English phrases, I’ve written more in the Teacher’s Forum.  Here’s the link:


http://www.englishbaby.com/forum/TeacherTalk/thread/390410


Finally, I will send anyone 10 additional mini lessons on American English Phrases by Word attachment, just send a request by email.


11:55 PM Jul 19 2013 |

Drmahsa1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

oh thx alston cuz of the link

10:33 AM Jul 19 2013 |

Irene Forever

Ukraine

Hello Alston, thank you so much. I’ve learned a few expressions that were new for me. It was interesting to learn slang. It sounds nice and simple. I gonna to use it more.


If you please to give us some expressions on the subject of apologies. Very often we feel confused while thinking what to say in different situations.


Thank you in advance.

06:59 AM Jul 19 2013 |

englishteacher24/7

United States

Drmahsa, there is a whole lesson series on American English phrases; Here is the link:


http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/5744/member_submitted/understanding_american_english_phrases

12:48 AM Jul 19 2013 |

Drmahsa1995

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

ur welocme aria

10:37 PM Jul 18 2013 |

aria1989e

aria1989e

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

thanks dr mahsa.
I had a long discussion about it with one of my teachers.
he told me that there is no word in english that can be the exact translation of the word “khalvat” in persian.
but i think uncrowded can be that word.
thanks for your help. 

09:24 PM Jul 18 2013 |

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