about speaking a foreign language

[Blackroat2]

English is a foreign language for most of us. And there is this thing:

When I watch english movies, I cant understand what I can understand with english subtitles. I cant catch words and dont undertand what they say but when I watch them with english subtitles I understand. I cant even understand when one says that its the kinda place your father doesnt wanna talk about. What I can hear, its.... your father.... talk about. I hear like that but subtitle says its the kinda place your father doesnt wanna talk about. So I get it with english subtitles. Its very strange.

[Guest]

Maybe you need to take a vacation and go to America...

[LAwLz]

When I watch things on TV (even things in my native language) I usually prefer watching it with subtitles. People in movies usually don't speak very clearly (because they are out of breath, or whispering or any other reason) and when you couple that with the terrible speakers on most TVs, as well as how bad the audio quality is in some movies, a lot of things becomes really hard to hear.

When I am at my desktop, with my good headphones and listening to someone speak with little ambient noise around them (like the WANk show) then I have absolutely no problems.

 

Maybe it's the same for you? Or maybe you're just not used to hearing people speak English.

[ImBleu]

English is a very hard language to learn, one of the hardest in fact with it's different grammar from written to spoken and many other stupid rules. In my opinion, I recommend either going on a vacation to the nearest speaking English countries (That'd be the USA / Canada if you're in America, The UK if you're in Europe or Australia / New Zealand if you're out in southern asia). The best way to learn a language is practicing it. 

 

You could watch youtube videos without the subtitles, maybe not Linus's ones but find someone with a very clear steady voice and watch their videos with / without subtitles. Slightly cheaper than box-office Movie tickets.

[xnoobftw]

English is a very hard language to learn, one of the hardest in fact with it's different grammar from written to spoken and many other stupid rules. In my opinion, I recommend either going on a vacation to the nearest speaking English countries (That'd be the USA / Canada if you're in America, The UK if you're in Europe or Australia / New Zealand if you're out in southern asia). The best way to learn a language is practicing it. 

 

You could watch youtube videos without the subtitles, maybe not Linus's ones but find someone with a very clear steady voice and watch their videos with / without subtitles. Slightly cheaper than box-office Movie tickets.

You sir have no seen mandarin in action have you . Even as a chinese when i step into the examinations hall for my mandarin paper i cant understand half the paragraph. (Thank god i am in a polytechnic now aka no mandarin) 

[Recon97]

This is not a big problem.It's happens to me too.If you physically talk to Englishmen, you will understand it.

[Blackroat2]

-snip-

I meant it in the world. In this world its a foreign language for most of people but its the most important language.

[killcomic]

-snip-

6 countries?! Break out the champagne! I'm sure the Mandarin and Spanish speakers are quaking in their boots!

[ImBleu]

You sir have no seen mandarin in action have you . Even as a chinese when i step into the examinations hall for my mandarin paper i cant understand half the paragraph. (Thank god i am in a polytechnic now aka no mandarin) 

 

I live in Hong Kong, I study Putonghua in class

[Blackroat2]

When I watch things on TV (even things in my native language) I usually prefer watching it with subtitles. People in movies usually don't speak very clearly (because they are out of breath, or whispering or any other reason) and when you couple that with the terrible speakers on most TVs, as well as how bad the audio quality is in some movies, a lot of things becomes really hard to hear.

When I am at my desktop, with my good headphones and listening to someone speak with little ambient noise around them (like the WANk show) then I have absolutely no problems.

Maybe it's the same for you? Or maybe you're just not used to hearing people speak English.

I am used to watching films with english subtitles. When I try it without english subtitles, I dont understand anything. I am used to watching them with english subtitles

[ImBleu]

This is not a big problem.It's happens to me too.If you physically talk to Englishmen, you will understand it.

 

Unless they're from the northern parts of England, or from the rough parts of London. Heck not even I can understand that.

[xnoobftw]

I live in Hong Kong, I study Putonghua in class

I almost died from studying the normal level of mandarin (only got a B3 for O levels if you know what's that ) putonghua is basic chinese if i am not wrong right? 

[ImBleu]

I almost died from studying the normal level of mandarin (only got a B3 for O levels if you know what's that ) putonghua is basic chinese if i am not wrong right? 

 

It's mandarin, just a different name for it. 

[TheMcSame]

It's probably because of the accents or something. 

[TheGamingBarrel]

When I watch things on TV (even things in my native language) I usually prefer watching it with subtitles. People in movies usually don't speak very clearly (because they are out of breath, or whispering or any other reason) and when you couple that with the terrible speakers on most TVs, as well as how bad the audio quality is in some movies, a lot of things becomes really hard to hear.

When I am at my desktop, with my good headphones and listening to someone speak with little ambient noise around them (like the WANk show) then I have absolutely no problems.

 

Maybe it's the same for you? Or maybe you're just not used to hearing people speak English.

Subtitles one youtube is the funniest thing "I eat cheese" Goes to "Farting these" sometimes.

[.spider.]

For me its a lot easier to understand English using headphones instead of speakers.

[harrynowl]

Well I'm English and I often use subtitles because I miss out words or hear the wrong word entirely.

[Levent]

I started just like you.

I watched english stuff with with english subs then I started to play shit ton of mmo games then I started to speak with the players at that point like in 6 months or so I was able to understand whatever people were saying in movies (exception of some accents). I am currently doing the same thing with French and so far it seems like it is working for me. If you need help with english I can try to help you as much as i can

[LAwLz]

English is a very hard language to learn, one of the hardest in fact with it's different grammar from written to spoken and many other stupid rules.

I am not so sure English is a hard language to learn. The grammar is pretty straight forward (nouns don't have genders, quite few conjugations and so on) . The word order is similar or the same to a lot of other languages. It's very easy to pick up because it's so common, and so on.

I am not sure what you mean by having different grammar for writing and speaking. I can't think of any case where that's true (in English).

 

English is absolutely atrocious when it comes to spelling and pronunciation but other than that I don't really see how it's hard.

[Blackroat2]

I am not so sure English is a hard language to learn. The grammar is pretty straight forward (nouns don't have genders, quite few conjugations and so on) . The word order is similar or the same to a lot of other languages. It's very easy to pick up because it's so common, and so on.

I am not sure what you mean by having different grammar for writing and speaking. I can't think of any case where that's true (in English).

English is absolutely atrocious when it comes to spelling and pronunciation but other than that I don't really see how it's hard.

English is difficult only when you try to understand native english speakers speaking english without english subtitles.

[A.D.A.M]

I'm actually better in english than my native language.

[Blackroat2]

English is kinda my native language although it isn't actually my native language...... right from when i was a kid i was thought to write and read in English....English can be quite difficult for those try to learn at a later age.... try solving some grammar exercises from elementary school books ....

Its not about grammar. Its about not understanding english movies without english subtitles. Not being able to catch their words

[Blackroat2]

I started just like you.

I watched english stuff with with english subs then I started to play shit ton of mmo games then I started to speak with the players at that point like in 6 months or so I was able to understand whatever people were saying in movies (exception of some accents). I am currently doing the same thing with French and so far it seems like it is working for me. If you need help with english I can try to help you as much as i can

What does you've got nothing on me mean? It means there is nothing to use against you?

[frostin1990]

Use to have this problem when i was in 4th grade maybe it had something to do with their british/american accent.

[Trik'Stari]

I am not so sure English is a hard language to learn. The grammar is pretty straight forward (nouns don't have genders, quite few conjugations and so on) . The word order is similar or the same to a lot of other languages. It's very easy to pick up because it's so common, and so on.

I am not sure what you mean by having different grammar for writing and speaking. I can't think of any case where that's true (in English).

 

English is absolutely atrocious when it comes to spelling and pronunciation but other than that I don't really see how it's hard.

I've always been told that English is the hardest language to learn to speak because of the amount of slang we use. The being said, it isn't really atrocious about spelling and pronunciation, it's just that most people can't do either well.

 

I always watch with subtitles, and English is my only language. (well, that and internet speak)

 

What does you've got nothing on me mean? It means there is nothing to use against you?

 

Yes.