I am not sure about "my noble work worth remembering" as, I believe, teaching is a mutual process.
More likely I will be the one to remember my students, especially their unusual gifts - this year two of my pupils independently drew a portrait of me. I spent hours comparing the masterpieces to understand that it was really I, in spite of absolutely different styles. It was amazing.
I really love my profession.
Best wishes to everyone willing to master his/her English.
Never say "Never"!
It's the only truth born in disputes.
"Deep knowledge of grammar allows us to speak fluently and avoid mistakes. "
1- Deep knowledge of grammar allows us to know grammar rules, to understand forms and function, to distinguish one form from another; in the long run to understand written texts and, perhaps, be able to correct your own.
2- "Not to make mistakes" doesn't belong to knowledge but to skills. One might know by heart that in Present Indefinite verbs in the third person singular have -s, but when it comes to speaking/writing he's constantly misusing it. It's elementary, but it usually works like this.
3- Speaking is a very complicated skill. I've explored tons and gigabytes of information about how speech is born. Just believe me, the knowledge of grammar rules is of minor importance; it's considered as an additional tool to polish one's utterance.
"modern English is full of slang words"
the same is true about Russian and other languages as well. It's not the problem of a language, but of people. One's vocabulary depends on people he is mixed with. Personally, I am glad not to know lots of "modern" Russian words!
"Reading English books and newspapers, listening to native English speech may be very useful for a person, who wants to master his/her English."
It's obvious. Though one should bear in mind that listening and reading are perceptive skills, and to master a language one should activate productive skills which are writing and speaking. I'd add that reading books and listening to pod-casts as well as watching films with and without subtitles create the-so-called language sense. It also proves style and enriches passive vocabulary. (passive vocabulary consists of words one understands but doesn't use)
"I learn new words and expressions with great interest and pleasure but soon forget them, alas!"
1- you'd better substitute "learn" for "read") When I'm short of books or just in the mood I find great pleasure in reading dictionaries. Actually, that doesn't mean learning.
To learn a word one should start using it (in drills, exercises, writing, speaking) - The word which is not used is not learnt!
2- on the other hand, can you recollect the word when you meet it some time later? If yes, then the word is in passive, and your memory is OK.
"Nevertheless, these exercises (on this forum) help me maintain the level I’ve reached earlier."
Are you sure you are not mastering your English?!
Practice makes perfect! The more one practice English the higher level one should be. Perhaps, your are not aware of your progress?
And just one more thing...
All people are very different, unequal in their personal abilities, preferences, skills, likes and dislikes. It would be very unfair to treat everyone equally. If Nastycoolcat managed to find his own learning style and is making a great progress now (which is obvious:)), it's really great. Professionally, I can't help being interested in what he did to have such a success. Though it doesn't mean I would recommend anyone this way to master English. My own learning style is different though quite successful, I hope, but I would never insist on it being the only one possible. It's the teacher who should recommend the best learning strategy for the students, and this is the main idea of my job and hobby.
Although Stanislav worked very diligently, he did not seem to earn enough to meet all of his expenses!
New sentence: Unisg the icndeblire pweor of the hmuan mnid, aocdcrnig to rseecrah at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mttaer in waht oderr the lterets in a wrod are, the olny irpoamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rhgit pclae.
It's true we are from different countries. But here we are members of one community.
It's true that English brought us here together. And since then we have become friends.
It's true we find some people more pleasant to communicate with then others. But if someone asks for help everyone is willing to be useful.
It's true we sometimes quarrel about some vital things, though mostly about nonsense. But everyone wants to live peacefully with other people.
Right words for right ideas are of greater value then one's desire to show off.
As I understand your starting the discussion, you intended to write the following:
"I want to know your views on life, God, universe, outer space, religion, and suchlike things. Will you share your ideas?"
In this case you possibly can't react to any comment "No, this is not the right answer" ;) as people do usually have different views))
If you believe that only your opinion is the right one))) - we have nothing to discuss then :DDDDDD)
Nevertheless, 'I wonder' usually has the meaning of 'I'd like to know'
here's an example:
'When he phoned me two days ago he was telling me a long story about why he had been late for school. At that time I was wondering if he was really delayed'
I mean that at that time I was thinking if he was telling the truth. Some time later, I either learnt the truth or lost interest in that matter.
some useful notes:
- in such sentences 'if' is usually translated into Russian as 'ли'
- mind the tenses:
I wonder - present simple
I wondered - past simple
I was wondering - past continuous
I belive, there's some grammar reference on the site
The most beautiful part of population inhabitted the fifty-state country is belived to be so into their dutes to provide their families with neccesary as well as useless things by paying lots of money for them that they get frazzled long before they manage to get home.
New sentence: It is not so easy to get used to the state of being awarded with a medal.
Whether to run your own business or to be employed... To my mind it mostly depends on the kind of business and, which is of more importance, the region where you're going to be registered as a businessman/woman.
Once I had a business of my own in Moscow. I didn't have enough time to enjoy my job - lol - as too much time had to be spent in legal offices of all sorts.
I like the idea of feeling free while doing my job, and I also like the idea of being safe. But to a greater extent I like the idea of being professional in my sphere and this leaves no free time for any enterprise.
It's not so easy to trace the origin of the Russian word 'banya' (this is the spelling provided by the dictionaries, if they ever have such an entry) The most popular version is that the word is borrowed from Greek together with 'angel', 'icon', 'mathematics', 'torch', 'bed' etc.
In the 4th Ode of the Canon on Pentecost St. John of Damascus (the 8th century) wrote:
"Having by a word mixed the divine bath of rebirth
With a compounded nature,
You rain down upon me a stream from your immaculate,
Pierced side, O Word of God,
Sealing me with the fervour of the Spirit"
The original text was rendered from Old Greek into Old Church Slavonic where the underlined phrase was translated into 'bania pakibytia' in the meaning of 'purification for eternal life' (this English version is another translation from Slavonic)
Another variant is that the word was borrowed from turkic's 'hamam' - a turkish hot-steam bath
Still another variant - from Latin's balneum (as well as French 'bain' and English 'bath')
So, one may choose the version he likes most ;)
The only thing worth mentioning is that I failed to find the word 'bania' in various dictionaries of the English language.
Actually, it IS very easy:
you say: It is a cat (poiting at the cat) and btw, you mean it's not a dog :)
but There is a cat on the mat :) (you want to say what is on the mat)
next comes the plural form: They are cats (once again - not dogs :)) There are cats on the mats (there are many cats, at least more than one)
The construction "it's" can be be used much more widely:
It's raining/snowing
It's hot/warm
It's lovely/ugly
What I really hate in this life is politics. Not a single word of truth, respect, care.
So great temptation is that a wise person being engaged in politics loses the rest of his common sense.
Two best friends starting politics inevitably become long-life enemies.
If I care about a person I dare not say a word of politics to him.
Our planet, our countries, cities, peoples - all had a beginning once. It's just a matter of common sense to admit that there should be the end sometimes.
Speaking is considered by so many people to be the top of the language command. At least it's the most vivid sign of the learning success. So, it looks quite natural that students of all ages and levels are longing to speak leaving other skills unmastered. Apparently, no one would boast of his high-level language knowledge because he can listen or write perfectly. However, my personal experience in language learning is that listening and writing skills turn out to be the most neglected by students as well as by most teachers.
What should a student do to master his target language?
First and foremost, lots of 'boring' work: grammar drills, vocabulary study, pronunciation exercises, phrasal verbs and idioms practice, prepositions and modal verbs mastering, listening tests, creative writing, all kinds of reading:skimming, scanning, extensive, intensive, loud, silent reading; etc. etc. ect. There are so many course books and cd-roms nowadays!
As for pure speaking practice, one can't say there's no opportunity - the Internet, and Skype in particular, give you lots of speaking opportunities. Though I fail to get the idea of such speaking since no one is going to correct your mistakes.
Russian
I am not sure about "my noble work worth remembering" as, I believe, teaching is a mutual process.
More likely I will be the one to remember my students, especially their unusual gifts - this year two of my pupils independently drew a portrait of me. I spent hours comparing the masterpieces to understand that it was really I, in spite of absolutely different styles. It was amazing.
I really love my profession.
Best wishes to everyone willing to master his/her English.
It's the only truth born in disputes.
"Deep knowledge of grammar allows us to speak fluently and avoid mistakes. "
1- Deep knowledge of grammar allows us to know grammar rules, to understand forms and function, to distinguish one form from another; in the long run to understand written texts and, perhaps, be able to correct your own.
2- "Not to make mistakes" doesn't belong to knowledge but to skills. One might know by heart that in Present Indefinite verbs in the third person singular have -s, but when it comes to speaking/writing he's constantly misusing it. It's elementary, but it usually works like this.
3- Speaking is a very complicated skill. I've explored tons and gigabytes of information about how speech is born. Just believe me, the knowledge of grammar rules is of minor importance; it's considered as an additional tool to polish one's utterance.
"modern English is full of slang words"
the same is true about Russian and other languages as well. It's not the problem of a language, but of people. One's vocabulary depends on people he is mixed with. Personally, I am glad not to know lots of "modern" Russian words!
"Reading English books and newspapers, listening to native English speech may be very useful for a person, who wants to master his/her English."
It's obvious. Though one should bear in mind that listening and reading are perceptive skills, and to master a language one should activate productive skills which are writing and speaking. I'd add that reading books and listening to pod-casts as well as watching films with and without subtitles create the-so-called language sense. It also proves style and enriches passive vocabulary. (passive vocabulary consists of words one understands but doesn't use)
"I learn new words and expressions with great interest and pleasure but soon forget them, alas!"
1- you'd better substitute "learn" for "read") When I'm short of books or just in the mood I find great pleasure in reading dictionaries. Actually, that doesn't mean learning.
To learn a word one should start using it (in drills, exercises, writing, speaking) - The word which is not used is not learnt!
2- on the other hand, can you recollect the word when you meet it some time later? If yes, then the word is in passive, and your memory is OK.
"Nevertheless, these exercises (on this forum) help me maintain the level I’ve reached earlier."
Are you sure you are not mastering your English?!
Practice makes perfect! The more one practice English the higher level one should be. Perhaps, your are not aware of your progress?
And just one more thing...
All people are very different, unequal in their personal abilities, preferences, skills, likes and dislikes. It would be very unfair to treat everyone equally. If Nastycoolcat managed to find his own learning style and is making a great progress now (which is obvious:)), it's really great. Professionally, I can't help being interested in what he did to have such a success. Though it doesn't mean I would recommend anyone this way to master English. My own learning style is different though quite successful, I hope, but I would never insist on it being the only one possible. It's the teacher who should recommend the best learning strategy for the students, and this is the main idea of my job and hobby.
New sentence: Unisg the icndeblire pweor of the hmuan mnid, aocdcrnig to rseecrah at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mttaer in waht oderr the lterets in a wrod are, the olny irpoamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rhgit pclae.
It's true that English brought us here together. And since then we have become friends.
It's true we find some people more pleasant to communicate with then others. But if someone asks for help everyone is willing to be useful.
It's true we sometimes quarrel about some vital things, though mostly about nonsense. But everyone wants to live peacefully with other people.
Right words for right ideas are of greater value then one's desire to show off.
Precisely, we use 'some' in requests, despite the question mark in the end of the sentence.
Syn.: know, identify, acknowledge, be aware of, understand, admit, concede, grant, recall, recollect, remember, appreciate, confess, accept, greet
New word: TO DRINK
"I want to know your views on life, God, universe, outer space, religion, and suchlike things. Will you share your ideas?"
In this case you possibly can't react to any comment "No, this is not the right answer" ;) as people do usually have different views))
If you believe that only your opinion is the right one))) - we have nothing to discuss then :DDDDDD)
with best regards)
Nevertheless, 'I wonder' usually has the meaning of 'I'd like to know'
here's an example:
'When he phoned me two days ago he was telling me a long story about why he had been late for school. At that time I was wondering if he was really delayed'
I mean that at that time I was thinking if he was telling the truth. Some time later, I either learnt the truth or lost interest in that matter.
some useful notes:
- in such sentences 'if' is usually translated into Russian as 'ли'
- mind the tenses:
I wonder - present simple
I wondered - past simple
I was wondering - past continuous
I belive, there's some grammar reference on the site
good luck)
New sentence: It is not so easy to get used to the state of being awarded with a medal.
Once I had a business of my own in Moscow. I didn't have enough time to enjoy my job - lol - as too much time had to be spent in legal offices of all sorts.
I like the idea of feeling free while doing my job, and I also like the idea of being safe. But to a greater extent I like the idea of being professional in my sphere and this leaves no free time for any enterprise.
Nevertheless, good luck!
In the 4th Ode of the Canon on Pentecost St. John of Damascus (the 8th century) wrote:
"Having by a word mixed the divine bath of rebirth
With a compounded nature,
You rain down upon me a stream from your immaculate,
Pierced side, O Word of God,
Sealing me with the fervour of the Spirit"
The original text was rendered from Old Greek into Old Church Slavonic where the underlined phrase was translated into 'bania pakibytia' in the meaning of 'purification for eternal life' (this English version is another translation from Slavonic)
Another variant is that the word was borrowed from turkic's 'hamam' - a turkish hot-steam bath
Still another variant - from Latin's balneum (as well as French 'bain' and English 'bath')
So, one may choose the version he likes most ;)
The only thing worth mentioning is that I failed to find the word 'bania' in various dictionaries of the English language.
you say:
It is a cat (poiting at the cat) and btw, you mean it's not a dog :)
but
There is a cat on the mat :) (you want to say what is on the mat)
next comes the plural form:
They are cats (once again - not dogs :))
There are cats on the mats (there are many cats, at least more than one)
The construction "it's" can be be used much more widely:
It's raining/snowing
It's hot/warm
It's lovely/ugly
Almost all of them can be featured like that:
it's + a noun
it's + V (verb)ing
it's + adverb
p.s. Dearest Rodamer, did I miss anything?
But, don't mind, that's OK since we understand each other :)
I'm from Russia, Moscow
btw, welcome to the site:)
I am not having my tea in the afternoon.
I want to have my tea in the afternoon.
New sentence: The company's earrings have dropped by 5% in the first quartet.
So great temptation is that a wise person being engaged in politics loses the rest of his common sense.
Two best friends starting politics inevitably become long-life enemies.
If I care about a person I dare not say a word of politics to him.
Our planet, our countries, cities, peoples - all had a beginning once. It's just a matter of common sense to admit that there should be the end sometimes.
What should a student do to master his target language?
First and foremost, lots of 'boring' work: grammar drills, vocabulary study, pronunciation exercises, phrasal verbs and idioms practice, prepositions and modal verbs mastering, listening tests, creative writing, all kinds of reading:skimming, scanning, extensive, intensive, loud, silent reading; etc. etc. ect. There are so many course books and cd-roms nowadays!
As for pure speaking practice, one can't say there's no opportunity - the Internet, and Skype in particular, give you lots of speaking opportunities. Though I fail to get the idea of such speaking since no one is going to correct your mistakes.
And very handy for students - lol
p.s. it's an old joke. I thought, it perfectly suits your topic.