can-do attitude

To Brit: mỗi người có một kinh nghiệm khi phát âm, nhất là với những người học tiếng Anh khi đã trưởng thành, rất vui được em đưa ra những kinh nghiệm của mình.
To già làng CXR: dạ thưa bác, học đọc và học viết đã có khá nhiều topic roài, với topic học phát âm thế này, bà con vào cũng lên để cho bà con thoả mai một chút, em cũng cố gắng tìm ra cách tốt nhất để đưa cách phát âm của mình lên mạng, bằng tiếng Việt hay tiếng Anh cũng chẳng quan trọng, em chỉ mong mọi người đọc cách diễn đạt bớt căng thẳng một chút. Sợ đến lúc làm một lô một lốc tiếng Anh, chẳng ai thèm đọc bài của em nữa thì chít hi` hi` hi`...
All right! coming up next I will show you guys how to pronounce the consonant "S". Let me take time to prepare for that. See you guys then.
luongvec
Được luongvec sửa chữa / chuyển vào 16:38 ngày 16/06/2003

To MR luongvec:What is the topic here ? Can do attitude or pronounciation?
To Mr CXR: i agree with ya , studying English in Vietnamese is not good!
I like this topic and wait for what Mr longarm will say , so plz ppl, dont try to destroy it ! If you guys want, u 'd better make another topic in pronounciation.
Sorry you can't define me
Sorry I break the mold
Sorry that I speak my mind
Sorry don't do what I'm told
Sorry if I don't fake it
Sorry I come too real......
I will never hide what I really feel! Oh eh oh!

I think that the original point of the topic is to inspire people, to encourage people in learning the spoken English language, so for those who don't see this point of the topic, please click the "Back" button and refrain from attacking the poster.
Thank you. ^_^
To go back to the original post..
I am told that I indeed, can speak the language as well as a native speaker, I don't have an accent, and even though there are still many errors in my sentence structuring, and occasional grammar errors, my pronounciation is flawless. (I can feel my ego boosting for the day..XD).
The key?
Watch ALOT of English/American movies, listen to ALOT of radio and music, talk and pratice it in ANY possible opportunity.
It does pay off.
English seriuosly isn't as hard as Chinese, Japanese, or even our own language, Vietnamese. If we can pull any of those languages off..then English? A piece of cake.
Good luck! And never stop trying!

Doi la bien kho..

Just out of curiosty, where are you living right now ? Are you in vietnam or living in another country where English is native language ? According to wat ya said, I guess you must have been living in a spoken English country either since you're young such as teenage or for a long time already ?
I agree with you in someway that frequent watching movie and listening to music can help you improve your English such as your pronunciation.Yet first you need to be able to catch the word the native speakers say clearly and perfectly then you can just repeat it. This process takes a lot of time though.But in fact, hanging around with native speakers does help you more effectively improve your pronunciation a lot.
I think if you can repeat ,just do that, it does work . You ask me why ? A little child learns how to speak by repeating what people around him say.( This one may not work precisely in Viet Nam due to the fact that most of English learners in vietnam pronounce incorrectly, even our English teachers. Dont be surprised, it's true, I've realized it since I came here to the States. Anyway, I dont wanna go any further beyond it, kind of sensitive topic) . Otherwise, you have to study and practice everyday,study the phonetics so when you look at the dictionary ,you know how to pronounce it. Listening ,watching, and reading English sources also are important parts of learning speaking English. Do it everyday.
Just a piece of comment. Thank you.

It's unbelievable we can be together !

Step 1: Learning by heart.
This is the first step of language learning. It?Ts rather simple and all you need to do is memorizing new words, phrases and their meanings.
Many people think that learning a language is simply learning all words spoken or written by that language and then you know a language. Therefore, they ended up buying lots of dictionaries and gave up in misery since it?Ts almost impossible to remember every word printed in even the simplest dictionary. On the other hand, if you know that learning by heart is just the first step in the language learning process, you would, of course, learn by heart what you need and spent time for step 2 and step 3 as well.
Step 2: Acquiring new rules:
Since every language has its own rules of combining sounds into words and combining words into meaningful sentences, it?Ts important that you need to acquire those rules. Those rules are often known as grammar structures, word orders and exceptions to name a few. If you violate those rules, speakers of that language won?Tt be able to understand you. You need to recognize those rules and follow them.
In Vietnam and many other Asian countries, people consider learning English is studying grammar structures, vocabulary and its usage. If you can find the right answer to grammar questions or know right words to fill in some blanks in other types of English exercises, you are probably good at English. They even appreciate people who can read English well and know how to translate English into their native language(s). Therefore, lots of people are trying to learn English by joining some TOEFL or IELTS courses in hopes that their English might be better as they conclude that higher scores on those tests are synonymous with better English. In fact, if they don?Tt spend time on step 3 which is the most critical one, they will soon give up in despair or become a jack of all trade and a master of none. If you haven?Tt moved to step 3, don?Tt hesitate to start practicing what you have learnt right today.
Step 3: Forming language habits

?oThe biggest difference between a winner and a loser lies in one word - action. That?Ts a winner?Ts habit and a loser?Ts procrastination?. Unknown
Everybody knows that they should practice what they have learnt but they simply don?Tt. We all know that getting up early in the morning and exercise is good for our health, but how many of us really do it everyday? I myself rarely wake up early in the morning and haven?Tt done morning exercises for months. I?Tm ashamed to admit it but I did. When it comes to forming language habits, many students fail to take adequate and regular practices in order to form language habits of native speakers. That?Ts why those students can never stop learning English. They do that not because they are diligent or hard-working but just because they keep forgetting it. English is forever a foreign language which means language of somebody else not theirs. If you haven?Tt formed enough language habits, it?Ts a good idea to start doing that today.
Next time, I?Tll show you the right ways to form the right language habits of native speakers. Since this is a serious topic, it might be a bit long and take you time to digest it.
Longarm
Have a nice day!
Được longarm sửa chữa / chuyển vào 16:06 ngày 17/06/2003

I just want to add a few points to the first step: learning by heart.
Since there are thousands of new words you might encounter as you use the English language, you are not supposed to know all of them. The reason is very simple, it's Mission imposible.
I think it might be helpful if we categorize words first before deciding how to learn them. There might be several different groups of words, depending on their frequency. Followed is how I group new words and the methods used to deal with them:
Group 1: high frequency (including everyday conversational language and academic writing)
For this kind of words, I look up for their meanings as well as other phrases and structures containing the words. I also check to see in which contexts the words are used, whether formal or informal.
Group 2: average frequency (including words in other fields you might be interested in)
Check up their meanings. If you have time, and if you're interested, look for some ways to use them as well, but it's only recommended.
Group 3: very low frequency (including words that sometimes appear in the Times, and maybe some SAT words )
They are eccentric and never-to-be-used ones. If you REALLY care about them, just knowing their meanings is enough, I guess. It's alright as you are not going to use them anyway.
I hope my experience might be helpful to you in some way. The underlying point here is that treat different words differently.
By the way, don't force yourself too much, lest you might run the risk of exploding your head with the word-bomb.
Best,

Even though it might be a bit off track, I want to share with you something interesting about "can-do" attitude. Enjoy!
1) The Can Do Attitude does not think if, it thinks how?
2) The Can Do Attitude does not think maybe, it thinks when?
3) The Can Do Attitude thinks of possibilities, then decides to make them realities.
4) The Can Do Attitude does not think it can, it knows it can with the correct
support and effort.
5) The Can Do Attitude is practical and knows it takes work to see dreams come
true - and it works smarter not harder to achieve them.
6) The Can Do Attitude believes in itself, it believes in other people it believes in the Organization, it believes in the future and wants to be a major part of it.
7) The Can Do Attitude knows when to work and when to rest. When to ask for help,
and when to go it alone.
8) The Can Do Attitude sees constant change as constant opportunity.
9) The Can Do Attitude cares about itself and looks out for the welfare of others.
10) The Can Do Attitude is a winner that knows a champion attains greatness by overcoming its own weakness and by helping others to grow to their full potential.
11) The Can Do Attitude stands tall on its own accomplishments, not by stepping on others.
12) The Can Do Attitude only knows one way to act and live: with courage, confidence, conviction and integrity.
õ?oI have a Can Do Attitude! I live a Can Do Life!õ?
Copyright â 1993, Timothy J. O'Brien
downloaded from
http://www.hyperstress.com/

I thank you friends for your contributions to the topic. I?Tm glad that wê?Tre now back on track and believe you all will keep sharing your knowledge and experience with other members by posting more articles on this field.
To: britneybritney
Thank you indeed for your hospitality. I?Tm just a new member here and hope you enjoy reading some articles that I?Tve just posted. I?Tve read most articles that you posted and found a lot of them interesting. I think I?Tll join you some time especially with the most recent articles you posted on American Accent.
To: username, CXR, Scorps, and other members
I?Tve read your posts and will reply one by one later when I have more time. Please do let me know if the most recent articles that I posted addressed your concerns.
To: Wolfy
Thank you for your contributions on this topic. I?Tm glad to read your ad***ional article on can-do attitude. Your writing is quite impressive. Look forward to reading your next posts
Longarm
Have a nice day!
ĐỈợc longarm sửa chữa / chuyfn vào 13:25 ngày 18/06/2003
ĐỈợc longarm sửa chữa / chuyfn vào 13:30 ngày 18/06/2003

Well, learning a language is just like learning any other subject. It includes theory and practice. You wouldnt be able to master mathematics simply by memorizing all the formulas and theorems, would you? You'll need to do a lot of exercises to make those theorems and formulas become your own knowledge. Let me contribute to this topic by addressing the problem of how one can improve one's speaking ability.
It has been a joke that I often tell my friends - At the beginning of the process of learning English, when I speak a native speaker would understand quite well, meanwhile when they speak, I struggle in facing so many new words. Then there comes a period of time when a native speaker speaks I could understand, but they would have to ask me to repeat myself when I speak. Finally, it is when a native speaker and I could communicate at ease would I say my speaking ability is good. In learning English, the first problem we face is vocabulary. At the beginning, we try to pick out every single word they say. Of course, there are many words we dont know, and everytime we stumble on a new word, we spend to much of time thinking about it while they have already finished the sentence. As time goes, we learn not to translate every single word into Vietnamese, rather we try to understand what it means in English. We also learn to catch the main idea of the whole sentence rather than the meaning of each word. When we suceed in do so, we pass the comprehension barrier. The second problem we encounter is the speed of a conversation. At first, we had a hard time understanding them, so we think that they speak really fast. We then tend to speed up our speach. Surprisingly, we often end up speaking too fast even for a native speaker. This is why during the second period of time, when they speak we can understand, but they usually have to ask us to repeat what we say. The third problem we have is again vocabulary. This time, it is not that our vocabulary is poor. On the contrary, after spending days and nights looking at the dictionary and memorizing words, our vocabulary become quite rich. The thing is, because by now we know so many different words having similar meaning, and because of the nature of learning a second language, we tend to use the wrong word for each circumstance, and we tend to make our sentences much more complicated than they should be. The last problem, and perhaps the most important problem we have to overcome, is in our reaction. When facing a situation, there are normally many different ways to react, and the problem is which way to pick to be most natural and efficient.
OK, so much for problems. Let's talk about solutions. To deal with vocabulary problem, one just cannot avoid learning new words. We first need to build up our vocabulary by reading textbooks, newspapers and novels. When our vocabulary is enough, we can start learning the structure of the language, i.e. when to use what. We should watch tivi often, learning the way sentences are used in daily conversation, news, reports and all. To overcome the speed problem, we just have to listen to radio, tivi, music, talk shows, etc. to see what would be the right speed to talk. Doing this, we also pass the third problem by knowing what are commonly used words and when/how the words are used. For the last problem, there is only one solution - practice and practice. We have to practise our speaking ability everyday, and talk to native speakers often, to build up our reaction. When one's English is good enough, one should try to tell jokes, to debate on different issues, and to give a speach in front of many people.
Alright, that's it for today. I'll be back with this topic some other time.
No Mercy!

Very good post ,no_mercy ! I think you were right when pointed out those three processes of learning spoken English because I did go through all of them before. Well, I dont mean that I have an almost perfect speaking but good enough to communicate with people around me without fear . Let me support you by giving the following ad***ional facts.
For the first period , we seem to have a very poor pronunciation. We can speak, people can understand us but not quite well. Then we begin learning how to pronounce correctly every single word again. At that time, for sure we're deaf...hehehe .
At the second period, we get a better pronunciation and understand native speakers better. But we still seem to have variety of mistakes in structure, pronunciation as well as grammar. Some people think they speak fast that means they speak well and fluently. What a wrong idea ! They speak fast but make too many mistakes then take time to stop and correct their sentences. It makes listeners confused what you're talking about. Slow down, watch out your structure and grammar, and be carefull about your pronunciation. Well, it looks like I've talked too much about pronunciation here...that you have to be really careful about it...blah blah...It's true that you need to pronounce correctly and clearly but don't be too, I mean, over careful for it because some people just care too much about it, they try to say it too clearly then make themselves speak too slowly and heavily.
The last period about which no_mercy mentioned is really exciting just because at that time you can speak more fluently with smooth pronunciation,reasonable grammar and structures. You also almost understand whatever people around you speak in common. When you speak fluently, you just automatically speed up your speaking and even inspire a joke , a speech in just a moment of thinking.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm too sleepy. I've recently watched two movies then couldnt sleep right after that. I just logged into ttvnol and saw that stuff which made me excited posting those opinions. I gotta go to bed right now because I have one English class tomorrow afternoon. I'd better get up and prepare for it. Jesus Christ ! English , English and English, that's why I hate it a lot. For the God's sake , I'm out of here. Later guys.

It's unbelievable we can be together !