Back for a new beginning!!!
Hi Everyone,
This title that I write today is full of message. And today, i'm going to speak a little bit more about me. I'm really confused not to write during such a long time, but to be completely honest with you, it is because I was afraid. In fact, after reading a lot of blogs and the texts that you have already posted Helen, I was just afraid that my way of writing english was just boring ... and not really good! I don't know if it's the same for a lot of english learners, but I think it's easier to speak, than to write. I feel in fact easier with the oral language, as I can express my feelings with words, but not only! It's also with smiles, expressions of face which show approval, disapproval, well all the feelings that human nature can have!
So, I have been afraid of the "white page": during my day, I thought about writing so much things in order to tell what happened to me, and then, in front my screen, nothing was going out from me. It's like I have been an oyster. I have decided to see one of my very good friend, who is also a native english speaker. Don't worry, he has not helped me to write this text and it was not in my mind to ask him to. But, he has done something much more, even greater, he gives me a cultural lesson that I am going to share with you. He said that english speaker are not so strict on grammar. The important thing for them is the way that you make efforts, and nobody is going to look down on you if you make mistakes, the most important thing is to try. Well, to my mind, french people are note completely the same (and if I say that, it's because I'm french). In fact, we are so harsh on grammar. After this good advice which is "write, you have nothing to loose and don't care about grammar", all my fears left and ... here I am!!!
First of all, I want to thank Helen for your nice pictures, it just makes me dream, you know! And also, I feel relieved with your remark about my english, I feel that maybe, I am not so bad at it!
Well, a lot of things happen during this week and the first thing that I think about is Obama. I think that all over the world, it has been a relief to say that the United States are going to change, not only their president, but also it's going to be a different way of governing the country. I was just amazed to see the impact of USA's political situation in the world. And, as everybody, I just feel relieve to see Obama has President. Well, in a way, he has helped me, because, I have told myself, that "yes, I can", to write my blog.
For me, it has been a busy week: I'm a student but my situation is a bit special. In fact, in a month, I am fifteen days at school and the other fifteen days I work in an insurance company. I don't know if this kind of situation exists in England, or elsewhere. We called in french "alternance", and I don't know the english word. I'm waiting for you, all readers, to give me a piece of information. And my studies are about law, insurance and liability. I will talk to you later about the insurance business and what I do. I also need your feelings about insurance, and what you think of it. And it's my 7th year at university and the last I hope! In spite of I'm really interested in what I do, I really want to begin working in order for example, to earn more money!
So, I was at school this week and I have an english lesson. And by chance, we have talked about the way we speak english and if we translate directly french to english and in the other way! In France, for example, it's common when you learn a foreign to directly translate to your mother tongue to the foreign one. To my mind, I think that it's not a good way to learn a foreign language, and I try not to do this in spite sometimes, during my schooling, I must have to. And also, sometimes, when I don't know expression, I think in french and try to translate it. In general, those kind of translation are not nice! I think that I have been lucky to have an english native speaker teacher (this expression seems a bit strange or long, doesn't it?) who told me that I had better not to translate directly but find a way to speak as a real english (or spanish if you try to learn it). A language is for me a music and you have to find the rythms which is linked with the way that people of the country think. But, it's completely true that for a French, it's easy to make mistakes as there are some words with are quite the same in english and in french, but don't mean the same thing. I have a very interesting example which shows that english and french are particularly linked: the word is "knife". In french, we have "canife", which means knife. I don't know how has been influenced, maybe french wants to say the "k" and english can't pronounce it... who knows!
So Helen, I just will take some time, just to try to correct the sentences that you give to me and for this time, I will come back soon!
Have a good day everyone!
Olfa
Comments
Hi Olfa: I'm Mercè, a woman from Spain (your neighboring country). I'm very happy for reading your last entry. Please, be confident with your English. Be sure that many people would envy you (in positive, of course) for being the student blogger. I think that you have a fluent English and a very nice way for explaining things about you and your life. I'm looking forward your next comment and please think how many people are enjoying sharing this "English time" with you. Be happy and confident!!!!!! See you. Mercè
I am glad you back!Olfa you are at least better than me in writing! About the translation way,especialy from English to French ,one has to know what you call in French (les faux amis)like notoriety-which means bad reputation while (notorite)means reputation as you know.
hi olfa! i think your english is very good indeed. in april i went to dijon for a student exchange programme and i stayed there for about three weeks. most of the students that i got to know during that time were not half as good as you are so you have every reason to be confident with your english. seriously! what's that "alternance" programme in france? i've never heard of that before - would you care to explain to us how it works? sounds really interesting and quite convenient for students. if i remember rightly, you said that you live in paris, right? t'aimes bien? ;) j'aime beaucoup, paris. take care, min
Hi! Olfa I do totally understand the feelings of fear and panic that you have to face with. Speaking English is much easier than writing something in English for me, too. I’ll honestly tell you that I am inclined to be panic and suffering mental blocks from time to time when I am trying to compose things in English. But I feel that I have no choice but only have to tackle the problem, because I love the language so much. You’re extremely courageous to take part in being a student blogger and you are in good hand. Just take the great chance and improve your writing. By the way, your life seems so hectic and no time to put your feet up. I am very interested in your study. Do you want to be an insurance lawyer when you have finished your study? Forgive me if this question is too intimate.As far as I know that when Anglo-sexon invaded England their laguages greatly impacted on english.As a result some of English have similar french pronouciation or written words.It’s so nice to hear from you again. All the best
Hello Olfa! It´s so nice to hear form you again :-). I believe you don´t have to worry about your English. You write very well and it´s a pleasure to read your blogs. Just be happy and write your blogs please. We´re all eager to know more about you :-)! Best wishes, Ana Paula.
Olfa, for me is the same difficult either to speak or to write English. Actually when i was kid i wasn't cosistent student. My advice as older than you, is to keep trying. You are doing great.
hello our student bloger Olfa i was wondering why it is difficult for you to find topic for your blog. as you are living in Paris the most beautiful city in the France. why you do not write about it and attach some photo about it. as you know it is so important for us to tell about cultural diffrence, the way of living about ourselves. if i were in your place i would try to write about special thing about your country, special food, special event, ceremony and etc...
hi olfa;i am so glad to read your blogs .this bloging service is a good way to contact with other people from different country oll over the world and also improvment of writing skills.i am so interesting to know about the france insurance system. for example if it cover the oll price of treating seek people or not like iran?
Hi Olfa! It´s just oposit with me, the same fear you have with writing takes me only at the idea I ought to speak English. I am convinced I would fail to get a single word out. The way of studying you´ve described has to be demanding. Here, I do not know if something similar exist. Some universities provide external forms of studying when you go for lectures on weekends. Nowadays actually, it became wide-spreaded form, profitable for schools teachers and even people near their fifty attend such schools in order to obtain higher degree education. But, I´ve never heard about two weaks turnuses here. So, Olfa, don´t hesitate to write to us, we desire to know more about you in any way. All what I am able to put down I took here on this site and it was terrible at the beginning. Have a nice day!
I think that your enlgish is ok and very intresting . we can not imporve our english without mistake so it is better to speak and write and read as much as possible and this is the only way to learn and to improve . Thanks.
Welcome Back Olfa. We were missing you. In my opinion, the way you write english is very comprehensive and easy to read. I think your friend is absolutely right. Grammar is important, but much of it you get trough practice. I really like your idea comparing a language with music. I'v never heard that before, but I believe it's a very good aproaching to the issue. Write us soon. Bye.
Hi Olfa this is my first time to comment and read about your blog. Honestly, I found myself inferior with my recent peers who are now living now in United States and they speak fluent english although it is not their mother tongue. I think you have a good english and keep on practicing.
HI Olfa, We can understand your English. Don't worry unnecessarily. be courageous. you have got wonderful opportunity and teacher to improve your language. Don't miss it. write as much blog possible even though it is simple and little. we are all in the same boat. we want to know more about you. till then bye.
hi olfa, I'm french and I live in Normandy.It's the first time I send a post. I'd like to speak and write as well as you. I have read this blog since last year and I see few french people connected. I'm glad you were chosen for sharing our culture. like you ,my son,a 22 years old boy,has studied "en alternance";fifteen days at school and fifteen days in a logistic company. That allows to find out the work background and to earn a little money at the same time. Be relax. all the best.
Hi Olfa, dont worry about your english, it is good. I think that the most important thing is that you profit this opportunity and try to write a post every day even if it is shorter. I have a different feeling about a new language, more precisely English. For me is more difficult to speak it than to write it. Continue to tell us about your life.
it is really an intresting way of improving language through light conversation.
Hi olfa i too agree with the problem you had faced i think majority of english learner 'faced the same difficulty but practive makes the man perfect.so all the best to all of us.
Hello Olfa I saw this "article" and I identified with you. Of course, I think that my english is a slightly less develop than the your! But, I am a litle diligent...I think that who say that is very easy to learn English really...not understand very well the language! Cheers, Sara!
Hi Olfa.I'm from Kosova .You write very well english even so you are french.I hope that you and speak english very well to...you improve the language english through light conversation.I read for you and hope that once day you going to what you want to job, to earn a lot of money hahaha.Have a good time...Bye from Blerina.
Hi Olfa: Thank you for sharing English writing, it encourages me somehow. Sometime, we seldom try to do new things because we are afraid of making mistakes. However, when everything gets ready, maybe the opportunity is also disappear. It’s a better way to try and improve English writing until all your fears away. As soon as we start to change, maybe things will be quite difference. I also enjoy your other articles and feel sorry to know that you have decided to stop blogging. Hope you will be back someday.
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