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Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

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Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#101

Post by CydeWeys »

FearNotDaniel wrote: post #79
mikejharrison wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm English. A couple of years ago I started learning Italian by listening to podcasts (Coffee Break Italian) and reading children's books. I then travelled to Assisi to try it out for the first time. The locals were fantastic, they slowed down and spoke very clearly. It's a beautiful place. I agree though, travelling and learning about new places in another language is awesome, it unlocks so much, and really encoura…

> they slowed down and spoke very clearly I wish Austrians were the same... unfortunately most folks here tend to switch between fast German with a thick local dialect, or talking back to me in English, neither of which helps me to actually improve my German...

I've given up the idea of ever considering learning German. It's simply not necessary. They all speak English. Unless you're going to live there long term, you don't need it.

Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#102

Post by zawerf »

bayindirh wrote: post #77
FearNotDaniel wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry to say it, but your written English reads very stilted to me, a native (British) English speaker. Assuming your spoken English is a similar level, your European colleagues are right - it is clear in the sense that it is easy to understand what you are trying to say. But your word choice and grammar are a very long way away from a native speaker. If you do have a desire to sound more natural in the way you use E…

Actually my language skills, regardless of language, varies according to my mood and energy, and it's late here. However, this is not to dismiss your comment as moot or anything, I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the heads up.

I am a non-native speaker so I tried combing through a few of your comments to see how a native speaker might be able to pick you out as a non-native.

> listen a little more attentive

attentively

> will sharpen you in daily English

"sharpen" should be applied to the skill, not the person? ("sharpen your daily English")

> Becoming fluent becomes after becoming familiar.

"becomes after" sounds weird. Maybe "follows" or "comes".

> very clearly speaking guy

clear speaking

But I think the most glaring issue is the way you use commas (lots of unnecessary commas, comma splices, and parallel structure violations).

All of this is beyond grammar nazi-ing since some of these are just word choices that I would've made differently rather than grammatical errors. Again, I am also non-native.

Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#103

Post by louwrentius »

Dutch people learn English because it's such an important part of our education. Most people under 50 will speak English at a decent level.

Also, all our foreign movies and TV shows are subtitled, not dubbed, that is also important.

For me, early on I understood that English is the language of the computer world. So that makes learning English a necessity.

Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#105

Post by lozf »

I agree with the advice of listening to Films and TV, but would also suggest British radio. BBC radio streams are available internationally - the stations Radio 4 and 4 Extra are speech heavy and you can probably just put it on in the background whist doing other things around the house.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4extra

Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#106

Post by V-2 »

zawerf wrote: post #102
bayindirh wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually my language skills, regardless of language, varies according to my mood and energy, and it's late here. However, this is not to dismiss your comment as moot or anything, I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the heads up.

I am a non-native speaker so I tried combing through a few of your comments to see how a native speaker might be able to pick you out as a non-native. > listen a little more attentive attentively > will sharpen you in daily English "sharpen" should be applied to the skill, not the person? ("sharpen your daily English") > Becoming fluent becomes after becoming familiar. "becomes after" sounds weird. Maybe "follows" or…

Yeah well, there's a lot to nitpick here... "language skills [...] varies" - a skill varies, but skills vary. Obviously I'm making tons of mistakes too, especially in a conversation (when there's no time to think and you can't go back to correct a phrase). Besides, being technically correct - in terms of grammar, vocabulary and so on - doesn't mean it sounds natural yet.

Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#107

Post by [deleted] »

FearNotDaniel wrote: post #75
bayindirh wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, you're assuming that I'm doing all these to mimic other English speakers, and you're wrong. I'm not a late learner. I'm exposed to English when I'm ~4 yo, and started to learn it at 7. Also, I cannot learn by mimicking. I listen and read to learn, to understand how the culture is choosing words, how it works in real world. It's a kind of practice. Because of my Job, I'm talking with Europeans a lot, and I'm…

Sorry to say it, but your written English reads very stilted to me, a native (British) English speaker. Assuming your spoken English is a similar level, your European colleagues are right - it is clear in the sense that it is easy to understand what you are trying to say. But your word choice and grammar are a very long way away from a native speaker. If you do have a desire to sound more natural in the way you use E…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#108

Post by ojuara »

bayindirh wrote: post #18

First of all read a lot. Read local communities like Reddit, HN (here), slashdot, etc. This will make you familiar with the daily language. Second, listen a lot. Watch movies with original sound and English subtitles. Try to understand, try to make sense of it. If you listen English songs, try to listen a little more attentive. Then write a lot. Try to take your notes in English. Comment your code in English. Try to…

That's totally true.

When I start to read everyday and watch series with english subtitles, I fell that I was moving forward.

I need to focus on writing and conversation.

Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#109

Post by Bromskloss »

raitom wrote: post #28

To improve my english I listened to a lot of Country and Rap music. This way I kinda learn a lot of slang words and expression. First job in the states my coworkers weren’t really talkative. I used to go to a stripclub during the weekends. Trust me your brain will be more than motivated to learn english when you need to talk to half nudes girls haha.

> This way I kinda learn a lot of slang words and expression.

Then I bet you know the difference between a violin and a fiddle.

A violin has strings; a fiddle has strangs.

Re: Ask HN: How did you become fluent in English?

#110

Post by jacquesm »

louwrentius wrote: post #103

Dutch people learn English because it's such an important part of our education. Most people under 50 will speak English at a decent level. Also, all our foreign movies and TV shows are subtitled, not dubbed, that is also important. For me, early on I understood that English is the language of the computer world. So that makes learning English a necessity.

> Most people under 50 will speak English at a decent level.

Most people, period.

In fact the Dutch speak English so well that it is hard for an English speaking foreigner to learn Dutch because everybody will automatically switch to English at the first sign of foreignness.

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