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Hi, I'm from Ukraine. A month ago I started my blog for English learners. But since English is not my native language, it's far from being perfect. I don't think in English and that's why my phrasing is often incorrect. I used to learn from textbooks, not anymore; but many-many-many people around the world still do. It means that their English will never sound natural. Unless they get some help. I believe that together we can help millions of people out there with their English. If we share our experience and everybody make a small but priceless contribution, it will all make a difference. All I ask of you is to share a particular story or an example, from your own experience, of interacting with non-native English speakers that made you think "What? We would never say it this way". Maybe just a phrase, an expression used incorrectly or in wrong situation, and your suggestion as to what should have been used instead. I'll give you a small example. All our text books teach that you should say "how do you do?" which is in fact less commonly used than "how are you doing?", "how are you?" or "how's life?" (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). All these little things are very important. Since nobody has done anything similar before I decided to start a research project, collect these things and share with people. So now I ask you for a bit of help. I truly believe that natives are best teachers of a language, so I'll appreciate your contribution very much. I'm going to thank you not just personally but make a list of those who contributed most of all, and make it an integral part of my research. I'm sure you are going to be on that list. So please use this template, spend a few minutes, and help millions of people improve their English! Name, age, occupation, city, country Your example (a little story, an expression etc.) Thank you very much and see you soon! Best regards Vika
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  • Answered
    Thank you very much guys!!! Not only did I learn much more about there is/are structure, but I also found out about the order of the cutlery. You helped me so much!!!
    0 voted
    November 19, 2013
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  • Posted
    Do you say: There are a spoon, a fork, and a knife? Or There is a spoon, a fork, and a knife?
    November 18, 2013
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  • Corrected
    0 voted
    August 21, 2013
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  • Posted
    This content violates our Community Guidelines.
    August 21, 2013
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  • Corrected
    0 voted
    August 4, 2013
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  • Corrected
    0 voted
    August 4, 2013
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  • Commented

    Thank you very much! I found it really useful!!! But what about the whole expressions? Do you happen to have any experience with them?

    It's more about liteal translation. When people don't communicate ideas but just try to do word for word translation. And of course, it depends on which language is their native.

     

    For example: this expression - do you happen to know. If we translate it word for word from Russian we will get DO YOU ACCIDENTALLY KNOW - which makes no sense in English, right? 

     

    So, my goal is to find as many examples like that as possible.

     

    0 voted
    August 3, 2013
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  • Commented

    Thank you, Jeff! Your answer is very useful! And I will definitely watch "My Fair Lady"! 

     

    You see, that's why I'm asking you guys - many a little makes a mickle!

     

     

    0 voted
    August 3, 2013
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  • Commented

    Shanin, thank you for the answer. Yes, I believe that only native speakers can help you learn how to communicate ideas in English, not just do a word for word translation. Thant's why I ask people on Italki to help. I believe that together we can make something really worthwhile. 

     

    So, keep track on my activity! I'd be glad to share any useful information I will receive!

    0 voted
    August 3, 2013
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  • Posted
    My research

    Hello everyone! Do you have an experience in participating in some big project, being a part of something really great and meaningful? I've started one (it's not that big yet, but it's growing)and now I invite you to join it!

     

    A month ago I started my blog for English learners. But the truth is I'm not the best teacher as English is not my native language. It's far from being perfect. I don't think in English, that's why my phrasing is often incorrect. I used to learn from textbooks, not anymore, but many-many-many people around the world still do. And it means that their English will never sound natural. Unless they get some help.

    I believe that together we can help millions of people out there with their English. If we share our experience and everybody make a small but priceless contribution, it will all make a difference.

    All I ask you is to share a particular story or an example from your own experience of interacting with non-native English speakers that made you think "What? We would never say it this way". Maybe just a phrase, an expression used incorrectly or in wrong situation and your suggestion what should have been used instead.

    I'll give you a small example.
    All our text books teach that you should say "how do you do?", which is in fact less common than "how are you doing?", "how are you?" or "how's life?" (fell free to correct me if I'm wrong)))
    Or as my friend from Canada told me: if you are at the kitchen table with your friend and you ask him to pass a spoon, you wouldn't say "Give me a spoon, please", you'd rather say "Have you got a spoon" (which surprised me very much).

    All these little things are very important. And since nobody has done something similar before I dicided to make a research, collect these things and share with people.

    So now I ask you for a bit of help. I've already sent hundreds of requests and got many answers. Some cases are unique, some repeat over and over again proving that this work is really gonna be something of value, and it will help many people.

    I truly believe that natives are best teachers of a language, so I'll appreciate your contribution very much. And I'm gonna thank you not just personally but make a list of those who contributed most of all and make it inseparable part of my research. I'm sure you are gonna be on that list.

    So please use this template, spend several minutes and help millions of people improve their English!

    Name, age,
    occupation,
    city, country

    Your example (a little story, an expression etc.)

    Thank you very much and see you soon!

    Best regards
    Vika

    August 2, 2013
    9
    2