| Speaking TOEFLŪ - Some undergraduate students follow a course of study designed... | Speaking TOEFLŪ - Practice - Who is your best friend? Describe this person... |
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#1 (permalink) Wed Feb 24, 2010 19:05 pm I need your advice. |
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I am a new member here, and I was so happy to register with you. The forum looks exciting and useful.
I am a student in the English department, and I have studied English for two years.
At the beginning, English was so difficult. I was not able to understand, write, read and speak. But, I never stopped. I worked hard, and now I am improving. I could improve my reading skill, listening skill and writing skill as well. However, I have difficulty in speaking English. I tried many ways, but they did not work. Maybe because we study literature and translation a lot, I do not have the chance of speaking English.
Many teachers are astonished at my exam papers. They say my language is good, but they wonder why I cannot speak fluently.
When I try to utter a sentence, I feel that I have only a small group of words. I think about grammar, pronunciation, accent, and correct usage of words before I utter a sentence. As a result, my sentence will be like this>>>> Can - we - consider - writing - history - as a - form - of -literature? I mentioned the previous question because it was my last time of attempt to speak English with my professor.
I REALLY feel bad. I want to know what is wrong with me. Do not think I feel shy or afraid of speaking infront of people. I am brave.
Sometimes, I force myself to ask a question or say anything at university. But, as soon as I utter a sentence, I regret speaking. I feel so because my voice is soft, my accent is not that good...etc.
I need your advice. Please put in your consideration that I am too busy studying. I have a lot of courses which deal with literature, linguistics and translation, so I have not leisure time.
Regards, Bashayer |
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Bashoorah I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 32
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#2 (permalink) Wed Feb 24, 2010 20:41 pm I need your advice. |
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Recite poetry aloud, or sing songs aloud. Project your voice outward. Do not be shy or afraid. You have overcame many obstacles on your travels to achieving success. Do not be deterred from taking the final step ... the easiest of steps. SPEAK, SING, REJOICE. You've made it through!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! _________________ Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting. |
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Kitosdad Language Coach

Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 13417 Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)
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#3 (permalink) Wed Feb 24, 2010 21:13 pm I need your advice. |
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Thank you for your reply.
I have said that I am not shy or afraid of speaking. Maybe because I want everthing to be perfect, I feel that there is a big obstacle. I do not like poetry, but I will give it a try.
Regards, Bashayer |
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Bashoorah I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 32
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#4 (permalink) Wed Feb 24, 2010 21:21 pm I need your advice. |
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Hello Bashayer,
I hope I pronounced your name correctly. Can you please tell us what exactly you mean by 'have difficulty speaking'? Also, how much time do you spend speaking English very single day? Imagine a football player asked you how they can improve their playing skills. What would you answer them? Do you think it would be very helpful if that football player read a lot about playing football? Wouldn't you ask that player how much time they actually practice playing every single day?
TOEIC short conversations: Reordering stationery |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 15008 Location: EU
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#5 (permalink) Wed Feb 24, 2010 21:36 pm I need your advice. |
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I mean that I cannot speak fluently. I spend a lot of time thinking of the sentence before uttering it.
To tell you the truth, I do not practice speaking English everyday because I have no one at my home who can speak English with me. However, when I study, I read loudly. I imagine myself explaining something to a group of people. I practice listening skill almost everyday in order to be able to speak.
I have tried speaking with my friends at university, but we have found that we lack verbal skills. We study formal English, and everyday English differs from formal English.
Do you think that caring about grammar kills my ability of speaking? |
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Bashoorah I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 32
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 15008 Location: EU
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#7 (permalink) Wed Feb 24, 2010 21:44 pm I need your advice. |
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Thanks. I will give it a try. By the way, you have pronounced my name correctly. |
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Bashoorah I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 32
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| Speaking TOEFLŪ - Some undergraduate students follow a course of study designed... | Speaking TOEFLŪ - Practice - Who is your best friend? Describe this person... |