How to determine my REAL level of knowledge?

[Fallen Angel]

Hi,

this is maybe a strange question, but I wanted to give it a try. I have a smallish problem.

I write and read in English a lot. My online friends (who are all native English speakers) have told me that my writing in English is great and that my English is even better than some of their real life friends'. I've been told how my English is great and I am only seventeen years old.

Yet, sometimes, writing in English seems quite difficult. It's often dry and I have to find words in dictionaries to add in my essays/stories/something else.

Another thing that I am quite confused about are English tests I take on different websites. Sometimes I take a simple grammar tests and get, for example, 6 out of 10 - but sometimes I take a massive advanced test with all correct answers.

At school we are currently working on Past Tenses (Perfect, Simple and Cont.). Sometimes it is so difficult to choose which tense to use. Sometimes I get...well...not that good grades.

My problem is this - HOW do I determine which level I am really on, when I can speak and understand English better than all my classmates, BUT can't seem to understand even some elementary stuff?

May post is probably confusing, but I am just SO frustrated! My professor thinks I know nothing and my English friends think my English is great. How to determine the REAL thing?

Is my question too confusing? Sorry!

xxyxx Marina

[Torsten]

Hi Marina,

Welcome to our forum, we are very glad that you have joined our community. As for your English, you really shouldn't worry too much about your grammar because you have an excellent grasp of it. You also have been able to acquire a very high level of written English and if your professor says you know nothing then he is simply having you on. What I and many of our forum users would be interested in is how exactly you have learned English. You mentioned that all your online friends are English native speakers. How and where did you meet them? Also, are you a university student and if so, what do you study?

Finally, to determine your 'exact' level of English you should take the TOEIC test.

Speak to you soon,
Torsten
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Fallen Angel]

Hi Torsten,

Thank you very much. About my professor: yeah, I think he doesn't like me at all, which makes him very subjective when it comes to my English.

I've studied English for seven and a half years, but I think my English wouldn't be half as good if I didn't visit forums. However, you can't just choose a forum full of spam and chat-speak and expect that your English will improve. By being challenged to write in good English with my friends from good forums, I have learned quite a lot.

I think that listening is a key factor, too. When I get an English movie on DVD from someone, I turn off the Croatian subtitles and try to listen. Now I am trying to convinve my dad to buy DSL TV so I could watch CNN, National Geographic and other channels in English. It would be my dream come true.

I am not a university student. I am in my third year of high school. Croatian educational system is a bit different from American or British (or is it 'different than'?). To go to 'normal' or 'ordinary' high school one has to be a top student, with nothing but outstanding grades. It's because normal high school prepares for college. However, I am not one of those who were the greatest students before high school, so I had to choose my calling. I chose commercialism (because I couldn't travel to other schools). After I finish high school I will be a commercialist, BUT I will also be able to go to college. Howerer, those who go to 'ordinary' high school will HAVE to go to college to be employed in the future. So I'm lucky actually.

I don't really like trade, economy and commercialism and I am hoping to go to college. It will be difficult to get in, but...
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Thanks for your help Torsten. I've heard about all those different exams and tests such as TOEIC, TOEFL, ESL and whatnot, but I don't understand what all of them are and where I can take them/how much they cost/etc. Where can I find something about all of them?

Thank you,

xxyxx Marina

[Torsten]

Hi Marina, could you please tell us why have the impression that your professor doesn't like you? Is he your English teacher? If so, it might make sense to talk to him about the situation. Just ask him what he suggest you do to improve your English. Try to initiate some kind of friendly dialogue with him to find out what he really thinks about you.

You are absolutely right in saying that it is vital to pick forums deliberately so you can be sure you will benefit from them. It's pretty much like in the 'real world' where you make a choice as to what kind of people who want to communicate with. That's why I would be very interested to learn how you found your native speaking friends online. Did you google specific keywords or did a friend tell you about those forums? How many forums do you use on a regular basis and when did you start your 'forum career'?

Yes, if you somehow can convince your father to get DSL TV you will have another great tool to create your own English language environment. What's more, I'm quite sure that your farther will benefit from this investment as well. You can watch English programmes and movies together and talk about them. Your farther will get access to vital information that might help him advance in his career. What do you think about this?

As for the English language exams, the situation might seem more complex than it actually is. For starters I suggest you read through this short Wikipedia article:
Overview of English Language Exams
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_as_a_foreign_language

The question you should ask yourself is this: Who determines how good my English is? After all, it's you who decides what you want to learn and whom you want to exchange experiences with. There will always be organizations who design English language examinations but the most important language test is life itself. You can have an excellent TOEFL or TOEIC score and still feel that others are 'better' than you. Be yourself, enjoy life and be aware of the fact that learning a language is life long process.

So please tell us more about your forum activities.
Regards,
Torsten

PS: As for the differences between 'different to/different than/different from', you might want to post that question in our grammar section. Also, please check the meaning of the words 'commercialism'. I'm quite sure you were referring to commerce and trade or maybe business administration?
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[SkiIucK]

Hi Marina!
Welcome to the forums! I study economics related stuff, too. Hope that we could share some knowledge.
P.S. Your English seems quite good! Don`t listen to your professor. It`s very likely that you know more than your tutor. At least, here in Bulgaria, it`s like this. For instance, my teacher of English confuses "flower" with "flour" and so on.
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If you find any typographical or grammatical errors in my post, please let me know.

[Butterfly]

[TomWelling]

Hi Marina, In my opinion ,I see your English quite accurately and I wish I could write as well as you do.
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Minds are like parachutes they only function when they are open!

[Alex Anna]

hi Marina! I think that your English is good,too. ^^ At least, better than me. And can u tell me your experience about writing English? When u write in English, do you think what u want to write in your native languag first, then you translate them to English or you think them in English, then write? And if so, how can u think in English? My question's so stupid ? but I write English very slowly. And I dont know how to improve it.
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I am studying English everyday ^^