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I'm from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. These days, I live near Washington, DC in Bethesda, Maryland with my wife and daughter and stepson. I hadn't spoken any language other than English in many years, but recent trips to Spain and Germany reminded me that I enjoy the feeling in the brain that comes from exercising foreign language skills. During a weeklong trip to Germany with my stepson this summer, I was chuckling to myself half the time because of how much I enjoyed dusting off the old German vocabulary. I never learned any second language well enough to be 'fluent' in it. But, since the last time I tried to learn a language, I see that some low cost or free resources have popped up on the Internet. Italki, in particular, looks very promising. 'Flashcard' style programs are great, but trying to say something original in your target language -- that's a bit more interesting. I would be more than happy to help some learners with their English. I worked for many years as a journalist, for what it's worth, so my grammar and so on is at least average, if not better than average.
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  • Corrected
    0 voted
    October 15, 2014
    0
  • Commented

    As with you, I think I also have the habit of applying patterns or structures from my mother tongue to the language I'm trying learn (German). I also know the disappointing feeling when I come back to italki and see that no native speaker has come along to fix up my journal entry! 

    0 voted
    October 8, 2014
    0
  • Posted
    Die Mauer, eine alte Geschichte Wenn die Maur in Berlin hat gefallen, ich war in Amerika. Natürlich war ich da, weil ich Amerikaner bin. Eine Deutsche freunde von mir war aber auch hier. Wir haben den ganzen Tag gefahren, zwischen Atlanta, Ga und Richmond, Va. Das ist ungefähr ein 10 stunde Fahrt oder so. In meinen Auto, wir haben nicht am Nachtrichten angehören. Wir haben lieber den ganzen tag Kassetten angehörtet. Was fur einen Überraschend am ende der Fehrt. Wir fährten nach den Hause meinen Onkel. Er sagte uns was in Deutschland um diesen Tag passiert hat. Am ersten, wir dachten daß er muss verrückt sein. Meine arme Freunde. Es war am interessantesten Tag in kürzklich Deutsche geschichte. Aber Sie war nich bei seinen Heimet, sie war in eine ziemlich Langweilig Stadt in einen andere Land.
    October 8, 2014
    3
    1
  • Posted
    Abendessen Heut Abend: Fisch und Spanisch Köche Dieses morgen ich habe nach einen Spanisch Essen und Fisch spezialität Geschäft in meinen ort geganen. Ich habe Heilbutt und Austern gekauft. Ich habe auch typisches Spanischer essen gekauft, nämlich Tortilla und Hänchen Kroketten. Für Nachtisch, ich habe Milchreis gekauft. Meine Frau mag Austern nicht. Mehr für mich, oder? Meine kleine Tochter mag Fisch nicht aber letzemal wenn wir in einen Spanischer Restaurant waren, sie magte Kroketten. Sie sagte die Kroketten schmeckt wie Behirne. Komisch, aber Kinder oft sagen Dingen die Komisch sind. Zombie Kind! Hoffentlich, ich can ein lecker Abendessen kochen. Gibt es kein besonderer Anlass heut abend. Ich hatte lust etwas andere für Abendessen heut abend zu haben. Ich habe auch einen sechserpack Deutsches Bier, heisste Jever, gekauft. Vielleicht werde ich ein paar trinken später am abend wenn ich ein Baseball Spiel anshauen. Das Spiel heut Abend fäng spät an, wiel es werde in San Francisco passieren. Es kann auch sein das dieses besondere Spiel werden für mich zu antrengend und zu spät zu anschauen.
    October 7, 2014
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  • Commented

    Hasan - 

     

    I can see that your English is better than any second language I have. I did read your most recent entry, let's take a look at the first couple of sentences...

     

    "Students spend several years at their universities which implies that not having access to appropriate sports’ facilities is very bad for their health. Therefore, universities must give their students’ sports activities no less priority than that of university libraries."

     

    There's nothing technically wrong here that I see, as an average English-speaking guy. However, it's still written in a confusing manner. When I read it a second or third time, it seems like an interesting thought.

     

    On italki, one is more comfortable correcting simple and objective matters of spelling or grammar. In your case, the English here is correct enough. However, if this were a high school English class (for native speaking students), I would suggest the writer simplify the sentences and thoughts.

     

    "When they go to college, students spend most of their time on campus reading and studying. But if the body is as important as the mind, it follows that universities should place as much importance on their gym and sports facilities as they do on their library."

     

    Something like that, maybe? That's what I think you're saying and how I'd write it. Another English speaker would do something different. In any case, the good news for you is that your grammar is correct enough, though it took me a couple of readings to get your meaning. I don't know that the point of italki is to completely rewrite somebody's paragraph, so it's possible that's why you didn't get a response. Just a thought.

     

     

     

    0 voted
    October 7, 2014
    0
  • Answered
    I think what you're asking is how to say "Have you ever been to Italy?"
    0 voted
    October 6, 2014
    0
  • Corrected
    0 voted
    October 6, 2014
    0
  • Posted
    Meinen Haustieren Henry und Stewie Ich habe zwei Haustieren. Die beiden sind Hunde. Mein Stiefson hat unser alter Hund bennant. 'Henry' ist seine Name, und dieses Hund hat sechs Jahren. Die Tierärztin sagte uns das Henry is ein Belgischer Shäferhund, aber wir wissen nicht genau. Henry war in einen Herrenlos Haus gefunden. Naturlich dafür hat er kein Stammbaum. Haben wir auch einen neue Hund zuhause: "Stewie." Dieses Hund is ein 'Pit Bull.' In meinen Land, diesen Hunde haben einen schlechte Leumund. Mann glaubt dass diesen Hunde aggressiv sind und dass diesen Hunde sind gefärlich sind. Kann sein. Weis nicht genau als er aggressiv ist, aber Stewie ist ein Schrecken gegen Kinderspielsachen. Auch, der Hund mag es die Pflanzen in meinen Garten zu essen. Kein grosses Problem da, aber seine Pflanze Diät hat er manchmal durchfall gegeben. Nicht süss.
    October 6, 2014
    6
    1
  • Corrected

    Routine Life - House

    I have a two-bedroom house.
    The house has two floors and I live on the second floor.
    My house is about 120 square meters. There is only a trace by about 6 square meters. (?)
    I have rented this house for about $400 a month. However, the cost of both floors together is more than $1000 a month.
    It's in a relatively good neighborhood.

     

    (I didn't understand one sentence (trace?))

    0 voted
    October 6, 2014
    1
  • Corrected

    A phone talk. P.S. Please correct my mistakes, I'd appreciate it.

     

     

    A phone rings.

    Zoey: Hello? Hello?
    Anonim: [silence] 
    Zoey: If you like silence, you can have it.

     

    Zoey angrily puts the phone down, but it rings again.

    Zoey: Who the hell is it?
    Sherry: Umm, it's Sherry. Is something wrong? 
    Zoey: Oh, it's you. Sorry - it's just that these idiots keep calling me and then not saying anything! I don't know what to do.
    Sherry: I wouldn't worry about it - it's probably just kids. Can I give you a piece of advice?
    Zoey: Of course, if it helps.
    Sherry: When you answer your phone don't say anything. Just be quiet and wait for them to hang up. It'll help you.
    Zoey: Well... I'll try it, but I doubt that's the most effective solution.
    Sherry: Give it a try. Actually, I called to ask if you want to go shopping with me? You know I can't go alone because I'll buy useful (?) stuff.
    Zoey: If I could, I would go with you, but I'm on a deadline at work and will be stuck here all night.
    Sherry: Too bad! Maybe next time.
    Zoey: Yeah, sorry.
    Sherry: Maybe next time. See you this weekend, ok?
    Zoey: Yeah, sure. Bye. 
    Sherry: Ta-ta

     

     

    (I changed a bunch of things in your text, but it's not exactly like anything was exactly wrong. If this was for a grade in school, for example, you'd do fine with this. It's all understandable enough. However, if your goal is to write 'natural' sounding English, this is how I as an (American) English speaker would expect the same conversation to flow.)

    0 voted
    October 6, 2014
    0