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Best day of my life! :D | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| datsunking1 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5589 days ago 1014 posts - 1533 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: German, Russian, Dutch, French | Message 1 of 13 16 May 2011 at 8:19pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Well, I know I haven't been around recently, I've been keeping up with my studies for the most part (and I miss this forum) but I work a lot (poor college kid...who saw that coming)
BUT ANYWAYS! While at work, I made a discovery :D This German couple stopped to talk to me about engineering (The man was a chemical engineer, his wife was a microbiologist) and offered their time to help teach me anything I need help with. Keep in mind I should be WORKING :D luckily it was a slow night. The man speaks 5 languages, his wife 4, and his chemical work was published in some books dating back to Stalin. He lived in Russia for 5 years, had research work published in a lot of books over there, while his wife worked on developing the vaccine for polio (along with other people of course) So he was talkinga about how he would do all of his research with other scientists, then translate it completely into Russian, or receive a research journal in Russian and have to translate it into English or German. They were more than kind and we got onto the subject of languages, where I complimented their English (Every German I've ever met has had more than impressive English skill) and that's when I found out she was an English teacher (professor actually) helping German kids learn English. One of the most significant parts of our conversation was when she said "Everyone is doing it wrong you know, I don't think you can learn a language without understanding your own. Kids don't even know what a past participle is, and they expect to speak another language well? I just don't understand that. You must learn to understand. Understand why it works and then it's easy...and fun." With a slight grin on her face. That's when he butted in a little and talked about Russian, which is another language on my hit list. They then went on to offer to tutor me in math, physics, or whatever language, since they are completely fluent in a combined 6 languages (3 are the same for each) Fluent enough to where he was making technical translations and they are both able to teach in them. I stood there with a dumb look on my face and a half smile, you never know what you stumble upon at work. He has a PHD in Physics and math, and he was so excited to say that he could help me. Hell, I was excited. It's one of those things that inspires you, you know. They never stopped learning, and continue to still learn, whatever subject they want. They actually got excited over physics and calculus. Big smiles and some winks like "Oh that's EASY stuff!" Overall, I think I learned a lot in our 10 minute conversation. I think quality over quantity is important, and he made it blatantly obvious to say "Don't rush, you have all the time in the world." Sure, you might spend 5 years learning a language; slow, regemented, but learning with a purpose. I think when you do that, you can appreciate years later when you did it the right way. It might seem like a long time to learn something, but I was more than excited to find 80 year old people that still speak/teach the languages they know. Maybe I should take them up on their offer? :D 11 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| The Real CZ Senior Member United States Joined 5653 days ago 1069 posts - 1495 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese, Korean | Message 2 of 13 16 May 2011 at 8:32pm | IP Logged | |||||
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By the way you're writing, it sounds like you'd regret it if you didn't take their offer.
7 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Keilan Senior Member Canada Joined 5090 days ago 125 posts - 241 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German | Message 3 of 13 16 May 2011 at 8:55pm | IP Logged | |||||
Usually I only correct people's writing on sites like Lang-8, but in this case I need to make an exception. I don't think you used the word "Maybe" correctly, as it indicates uncertainty. A better thing to write would have been: "I should take them up on their offer." 4 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Cowlegend999 Groupie CanadaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5148 days ago 72 posts - 94 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Mandarin, Cantonese | Message 4 of 13 16 May 2011 at 10:54pm | IP Logged | |||||
He's a native English speaker (based on his profile) and I completely agree with his use of maybe. It helps turn the statement into a question and I know that where I live it's very common to use this form. I personally feel your post was insulting to him or her, although I hope you didn't mean it like that. To OP: I know if I was in your position I'd take it up in a heartbeat, and by the sound of excitement in your post you should too. 3 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| hrhenry Octoglot Senior Member United States languagehopper.blogs Joined 5134 days ago 1871 posts - 3642 votes Speaks: English*, SpanishC2, ItalianC2, Norwegian, Catalan, Galician, Turkish, Portuguese Studies: Polish, Indonesian, Ojibwe | Message 5 of 13 16 May 2011 at 11:04pm | IP Logged | |||||
We're discouraged from using emoticons here, but had there been a smiley face, it might have been clearer what he meant with his response. He's telling him to drop the "maybe" and just do it. R. == 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| dbag Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5026 days ago 605 posts - 1046 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 6 of 13 16 May 2011 at 11:08pm | IP Logged | |||||
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I too agree with his use of "Maybe".
"Maybe I should take them up on their offer?" is a question (although judging by the tone, probably a hypothetical one) whereas "I should take them up on their offer" is a statement. It seems obvious to me from the context that it was supposed to indicate uncertainty. The biggest clue is the question mark at the end of the sentence! 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| PonyGirl Groupie United States Joined 5023 days ago 54 posts - 70 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German | Message 7 of 13 16 May 2011 at 11:12pm | IP Logged | |||||
Wow. The reward for a funny comment is five people taking you seriously. OP: I wish my day had been as good as yours! 5 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Cowlegend999 Groupie CanadaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5148 days ago 72 posts - 94 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Mandarin, Cantonese | Message 8 of 13 16 May 2011 at 11:16pm | IP Logged | |||||
I guess that may be what he meant, but it wasn't very obvious (atleast to me) and I usually catch this things quite easily. Still don't see why he couldn't have a ;) or :D at the end to show he ws joking because based on his wording I didn't get that intent at all 1 person has voted this message useful |
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