how to learn to write in English?

[asica74]

This is what bugs me all the time: my spoken english is preety good, I have
no problems in reading and understanding, but when it comes to writing...
well I can only say: it is a struggle. It seems so childish and bald.
Does anybody know how to overcome this problem? Any suggestions?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
As

[Gość: Pawel]

Hello.
You may try to look at these courses, maybe you will find anything interesting:
tiny.pl/t98
Pawel

[ampolion]

When it comes to more troublsome words, I use tototaly idiotic method: I
memorize the pronouncing as if they were Polish words. S-h-a-k-e-s-p-e-a-r-e
jest typowym przykładem. Nigdy nie zawodzi. Never fails.

[nobullshit]

Check, check and check again. Even if you think you know the spelling.
ESPECIALLY if you think you know it. It's boring and time-consuming,
I know, but really effective. Also, always read what you have wirtten.
I'm not being mean, believe me, but there are two spelling mistakes
in your letter :)) Take such small steps and you'll get there!

[asica74]

I do not mind at all. I know that I make loads ans loads of mistkes in my
spelling. The trouble is, that.. hm.. I just do not see them. The word looks ok
for me (but with this one I can go by with the spelling check in the comp)
But also the main problem is that my sentances are so simple and childish! I
almost traslate the flow of thoughts in my head with not being able to put them
in a nice ENGLISH sentence! Is it some sort of brain damage? :-))))))
Well, but I will try harden. I promice that to myslef.

Thank you for advice!

[nobullshit]

There is nothing wrong or "childish" about your sentences! Believe me!
Of course, the better your grammar becomes, the easier it will be for you
to "translate" your thoughts into English. You will have the words AND the
structures to put them into.

So just be patient. Check everything. You check sth once or twice,
and the third time you will remember. Try to read a lot, books, fiction.
Sth always stays with you, in your mind. And also, try writing small essays,
short stories on any subject that comes to mind, looking up words and
structures in dictionaries as you go. There's no other way of learning how to
write... except for writing. And also, it's a lot of fun. Try it: one essay
for 300 words every second day or so. I'm sure people on this forum would
love to correct it, if we see that you're making a genuine effort.
Good luck!

[Gość: Tamtejszy]

No! Don't even try to "translate" your thoughts into English; your thoughts
should already be in English. No translation! Always try to express your
thoughts in that language from the start.

[nobullshit]

Gość portalu: Tamtejszy napisał(a):

> No! Don't even try to "translate" your thoughts into English;
That's not what I meant, hence the inverted commas. But we start to think in
English at a certain level and maybe she has not reached it yet.

[asica74]

well, I do not translate word into english, that is the thing. Speaking it
every day, there is no need for it.
I agree with you nobullshit (what kind of nick is that? :-))))) that only
writing systematically may be the solution to that problem. I just need to keep
myself motivated to do that. It is worse than going to the gym...
Thanks for the advice.

Do you know a usefull book which could help me? many thanks

[nobullshit]

asica74 napisała:

> I agree with you nobullshit (what kind of nick is that? :-)))))
I tried to log in with very, very nice and cute nicks - and all of them
were being used by somebody else. So I got mad... and that's the result :)

[mikajanka]

In my opinion, good way to learn to write in english would be to take part in
various discussions on this forum. I've noticed that here are lots of requests
for help both in translation and grammar difficulties. I'm wondering, why not
to simly talk and exchange personal believes on diffrent topics. It could be
helpful in improving writting skills and spreading somebodys minds. On the
other hand, better educated participants may correct our mistakes, especially
mine:) [I make a lot of them].

[asica74]

:-)))))))

[Gość: amerido]

Just tell me asica and the rest.
Are you the Polish?
Because I can't imagine how good you are!! (in english of course)

:))

its so simple:

[Gość: marcin]

read english books!

[Gość: Jack King]

Nothing wrong with your English! Perhaps what you need is more self-confidence?
Just write and publish. The more you publish the quicker you'll overcome the
shiness. If you can't get published in traditional print media then try
newsgroups such as misc.writing or rec.art.mystery , etc. Good luck! JK -
www.SPYWRITER.com

[asica74]

testing testing... I wrote 2 letters which I could send.. so testing

[asica74]

which I coudn't send!

but there you are:

oh boy!
my whole letter dissapeared! Well, must try again

I feel that I must specyfy what I exackly mean by writing in English. I do
agree, that grammar and spelling are crucial, but also words order and little
English expressions are also important, are't they?

So, here we are. I will give you an example. I had to write a few essays for my
photocourse submissions. They were not difficult, subjects to be chosen by
ourselves, so it seemed to be no problem what so ever. But when it came to
writing them... It was just one big headache! A single paragraph took me an
hour! I felf such a reluctance for doing it!

I do read a lot, I have english speaking friends, I do watch english
television.
so, am I just to old to learn that and learn it properly?

[Gość: amerido]

You didn't give me the answer!

[Gość: asica74]

sorry amerido, I did not want to rude. My posts were bounced twice yesterday,
so this what I wrote above is the third attempt of sending them.
The answer to your question is: yes, I am Polish. Why, what diffirence does it
make?

[Gość: frik]

If I may suggest something... First you need to have a good example of writng
work. Then try to write something alike to the example. Than try to write
something more demanding. Every good book, which aim is to prepare candidate for
University of Cambridge Exams have very relevant descriptions, advices and
instructions how to write.
Good luck

frik-you're right

[mikajanka]

I agree with you. I know some good books regarding writing in english. I would
like to recommend the one I like most is "successful writing - advance" by
Virginia Evans, and/ or "Successful writing - proficiency" by the same author
for more damanding students.
Well, reading books, newspapers etc. is also a good solution, but practise is
the key to the success.


"Absence makes the heart grow fonder"

[Gość: X]

I dont care about my writting
Similair like talk - if you are stranger you talk different and nothing help
you

Important is to somebody understand what you mean

[mikajanka]

Gość portalu: X napisał(a):

> I dont care about my writting
> Similair like talk - if you are stranger you talk different and nothing help
> you
>
> Important is to somebody understand what you mean


- But, you can be simply misunderstood, then what?
Besides, in business contacts, for example, it is needed to comunicate
appriopriately, use professional vocabulary and structures of grammar. In my
opinion a person who has decided to learn a foreign language should improve all
his skill: listening, speaking, writing or at least do his best to use the
language correctly. Imagine yourself a member of a board of directors in the
official meeting with supervisors of international branches of this company who
cannot speak in foreign language with them. He can employ a translator but what
for? It's much easier to invest in personal skills.

[Gość: piotrek_van]

read baby, read a lot! Fiction especially. Books, stories, novels, anything
that you find interesting... It will give you an array of tools nesessary to
express yourself at the level you'd be confortable with. Mind you, you are not
alone...
The need for a better way of communicating, because that is the core of the
issue here, is as old and common as language itself. We all strugle with it.
The problem is to find a natural, less boring way of improving. Try reading...
(you can probably find a gramar of syntax error in those few lines above, lol,
who am I to give an advice....lol).

[asica74]

yes I! Yo man!
I really like the tone of your answer! love that!

read alot of books

[Gość: marcin]

nothing helps better

[amused.to.death]

Read, read, read.
Practice, practice, practice (writing).

I used to underline all the interesting expressions in books, and then, having
finished a book, I would read all underlined expressions again. And, then after
some time again...

Also, the more I wrote, the better I was. But now, when I write mostly emails,
it's getting worse and worse again:((

[Gość: s]

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