Hey, I think your question has already been answered very well! It's one of those strange words with two meanings. It can be used to make something less (i.e., "he's quite good at French, but his sister is better"), or more (i.e., "he's quite good at French, I think he's about B2."). Just don't ask me why! : )

Hi Lester. Can you be a little more specific as I am not sure what you mean? Whatever it is, I am confident that you absolutely can speak English! There is no reason why you can't speak / learn / improve your English. Hope that helps!

Fascinated by the beauty of different cultures, I enjoy learning new languages, so as to have a deep insight into diverse art forms. Personally, I'm keen on classical music. Every time I listen to Italian opera, except for being touched by the elegant flow of notes and singing, I always wonder what actors and actresses are singing about. Besides, I think learning Italian can help me to better understand the unique beauty of its phonology, as Italian is known as "The Language of Opera". What's more, though it sounds difficult, I'm in the hope of communicating with locals and appreciating its artworks by directly reading Italian introductions when travel in Italy. It's the same hope with German and English learning. Anyway, I have to improve my comprehensive English ability first! ... Hi Lucy! You've used a lot of linking words at the start of the sentences. I wonder if your writing might feel a bit more natural if you mixed things up a bit regarding the linking? Using linking phrases at the starts of sentences is fine, but it can become a bit repetitive if it's done all the time! I LOVE classical music. Every time I listen to Italian opera, AS WELL AS being touched by the elegant flow of notes and singing, I always wonder what THE actors and actresses are singing about. As Italian is known as "The Language of Opera", I ALSO think OPERA can help me to better understand the unique beauty of ITALIAN phonology . What's more, though it sounds difficult, I HOPE TO communicate with locals and appreciate ITALIAN artworks by directly reading Italian introductions when traveling in Italy.

Hi Lucy! Thanks for inviting me to comment on this. It reads like a paragraph for an exam essay, was that what you were intending? What you have is fine. You have used linking words well (from my point of view / besides / moreover) and you have a couple of complex sentences (first and last). I'd like to see more depth to the argument. You have listed three benefits to speaking other languages but have not really explained much about them so your paragraph feels a little superficial. You have accurate vocabulary and grammar throughout. Well done!

If you send for someone / something, you ask for them / it to be brought to you. It's a little old-fashioned and wouldn't really be common in everyday talking but it can be found in literary texts, films and so on.

Prepositions are always so troublesome, aren't they! I've just checked online - the most common preposition to use with 'understand' is 'by' (to be used in a passive sentence), closely followed by 'in' and 'about'. I agree with some of the other comments here - your phrases feel a little unnatural. We are understanding about a problem (my boss was very understanding about the delay to the project) We can show understanding towards someone (it's good to show understanding towards new employees) I don't think we can use understanding + with. Hope that helps!

Hey Mari! to answer your questions: 1. "do whatever they can to get them to calm down" is totally fine! You could also say: keep them calm / occupied / take their minds off the flight 2. "kids, are full of energy and it’s not easy FOR THEM (or their parents!) to travel by plane. The seats very close TOGETHER and it’s not easy to move AROUND. They need to sit STILL FOR at least for an hour, and as time goes by they feel suffocated and get TEARFUL / AGITATED (?), and eventually, they might start kicking in front of their seats." this is fine! Hope that helps!