FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Announcements and Help => 
FORVM Announcements and Website Help => Topic started by: Joe Sermarini on October 09, 2008, 06:49:59 am
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If you speak or write English as a second language and are not perfect, don't worry about it and no need to apologize. Sometimes we have small communication problems here because people who use English as a second language misunderstand or are misunderstood. Often English as a second language speakers apologize to me for their "poor English." One reason English has become a world-wide language is because English speakers are understanding and are not offended by mistakes. We really don't think that way at all. There is no need to apologize. Just keep trying. We are happy to have you in the discussion.
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
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Thank you Joe for these words.
I would add that Forum, in addition to being a great forum and a nice coinshop, is a fantastic "tool" to improve our english, writing and reading. Mine has been dramatically improved since I am a member here. (hope my words are understandable ;))
Regards
Potator
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And on this board we experience the advantages of kind communication to the point, respecting each other.
(Yes, i know, sometimes we also have an educational example from the other side in the sandbox.)
A.
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I very rarely have any difficulty understanding anyone here. Since I'm the only one in the family who speaks English as a first language (or was at any rate; the girls find Krio a bit unfamiliar now), I've come across far worse problems.
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Thank you very much, speaking is much easier than writing.
great Forum.
all the best from,
The Netherlands
Eric
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Thank you very much, speaking is much easier than writing.
great Forum.
all the best from,
The Netherlands
Eric
Hi oki,
I feel the opposite way. For me, reading and writing a foreign language is easier than speaking it.
I am a third generation American of Italian descent. My grandparents emigrated here from Italy. I have always been fascinated with the Italian language. After English, it is the language I am most familiar with. I took 3 years of Italian language courses in high school. But I forgot most of it within a few years. Ironically, my interest in ancient coins has re-awakened my interest in the Italian language. And I am slowly re-learning it. But I still find it very difficult, if not completely impossible, to speak Italian. I really struggle with speaking it. Maybe it's just the way my brain is set up. I'm a "science and math guy", and I come from a science and engineering background. When I was in school, languages, including English (my native language), were always my weakest subjects.
That being said, I very rarely have trouble understanding Forum members in foreign countries who struggle with English. Maybe it is because I was a physics and engineering major in college. Most of the graduate students who assisted my college professors were from foreign countries, and many of them spoke "not so good English". But I had no trouble understanding them.
Additionally, most people in foreign countries are better at understanding English than most Americans are at understanding foreign languages. And I am a perfect example of this. I have a cousin who lives in Genoa, Italy. We communicate regularly. Her English is much better than my Italian. And I am the one who is the intellectual. :)
So, as Joe said, "Don't worry, be happy!!!"
Meepzorp
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Hi Meepzorp,
We have a saying here " whit hands and feet you can come a long way" and were there i willingness even more.
Italians speak always with hands and expression.
That we love here in the Netherlands +++
cheers,
Eric