I come from China where English is rarely used in daily life. Without enough resources of learning English, English is considered as the most difficult subject for many students, and i'm no exception. It had been being my weakest subject since Sec One. I went for tuition in order to improve my English grade. My tutor told me that doing MCQs is the most effective way to improve my result. In China, academic result means everything. It indeed worked. I did about 6,000 MCQs before i took the final examination. And i became the top student, getting the highest marks for English.
But when i came to Singapore, something has really changed. In the first place, I thought that my English was good enough to handle school stuff. Coincidentally, I got the highest marks for essay in the first common test. I stopped paying much attention to learning English. Conceivably, my English had no improvements anymore and got even worse since then.During these years, i always told myself that English would be useless for me. Passing English at school should be fine for me. Now, i thought that i was wrong. When I write an essay, i feel so helpless. I cannot exactly express what i want to say. And i am like a dumb person when i face to my local friends. I cannot normally talk with them.
I feel so regretful that i do not try my best to learn English in these years. I decide to spend 30 mins reading newspaper everyday and watch an English movie weekly. But i am not sure whether i will work or not. I hope that i can get some useful suggestions from you.
Short but impressive your essay is. You show a true story of your English learning. Hope you can pay more attention to your English enhancement in your ongoing study.
ReplyDeleteyou write as you speak. It is a fluent essay, and it is very easy to understand.
ReplyDeleteSiqi,
ReplyDeleteContent and organisation: Thank you for sharing your English learning journey with me. I enjoyed reading your blog. You are obviously a very capable student. It is never too late to learn English. I hope you will give ES1102 a chance as I am sure you will benefit a lot from the course if you are willing to learn and put in the effort. The best way to learn about one's weaknesses is through feedback, so please make sure you ask for help. Make the most of the people and resources available to you, ok? Ask me for help :-)
Overall, this is a coherent piece of writing, and you described your learning experience well. You also successfully linked from past, present and future plans--good job.
Language: Pay attention to:
1. Remember the difference between 'to learn' and 'learning':
Without enough resources of learning English…
I stopped paying much attention to learning English.
2. Use of tenses:
It had been being my weakest subject since Sec One.
But when i came to Singapore, something has really changed.
Now, i thought that i was wrong.
I feel so regretful that i do not try my best to learn English in these years.
3. Try to avoid using so many conjunctions (and/but) at the beginning of sentences. Instead, try to use other transitions to link ideas across sentences.
4. Parallel structure:
I decide to spend 30 mins reading newspaper everyday and watch an English movie weekly.
5. Do you mean 'I' or 'it' will work?
But i am not sure whether i will work or not.
corrections:
ReplyDelete1.
Without enough resources of learning English…
I stopped paying much attention to learning English.
(i think these two are correct.)
2. Use of tenses:
It had been my weakest subject since Sec One.
However, when i came to Singapore, something had really changed.
Now, i think that i am wrong.
I feel so regretful that i do not try my best to learn English in these years.
(i think this sentence is correct.)
4. Parallel structure:
I decide to spend 30 mins reading newspaper everyday and watching an English movie weekly.
5.
But i am not sure whether it will work or not.
Siqi,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the corrections! See my feedback below:
1.
Without enough resources of learning English…
I stopped paying much attention to learning English.
(i think these two are correct.)
Misty: Right, both sentences are correct, but the meanings are slightly different. Do you know the difference between using to-infinitive (to learn) and gerund (noun)?
2. Use of tenses:
It had been my weakest subject since Sec One.
However, when i came to Singapore, something had really changed. (THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PAST/PRESENT PERFECT TENSES. PAY ATTENTION TO THE VERB TENSE PRESENTATION)
Now, i think that i am wrong. (CORRECT)
I feel so regretful that i 'do' ('DO' IS PRESENT TENSE. YOU INTENDED TO REPORT ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO FAR BY SAYING 'IN THESE YEARS'. THIS MEANS YOU DID NOT JUST REFER TO 'NOW'. THEREFORE, PRESENT TENSE IS INCORRECT) not try my best to learn English in these years. PAY ATTENTION TO THE VERB TENSE PRESENTATION.
(i think this sentence is correct.)
4. Parallel structure:
I decide to spend 30 mins reading newspaper everyday and watching an English movie weekly. (CORRECT-GREAT JOB)
5.
But i am not sure whether it will work or not. (CORRECT-GREAT JOB)