Germlishspeaker  +  75605 Mon, 21 Feb 05 09:12 PM Hi friends I think I have a not-so-common problem for ESL with my language skills. I was born and bred German but live in the States. My English is what most would perceive as pretty fluent. I work here and communicate daily, but at home we keep the German up for our kids, they would lose it too quickly. My kids are high school students. Unfortunately my English still shows typical German patterns. It's not the pronounciation I worry about, as *shrugs* accents are most welcome. It's simply that native speakers can still detect some mistakes in my writing. For those who know Germans they even can detect that I am German by my writing. In speaking it's excusable, but not in writing. Of course, nobody would correct or help me. They just say they have an inkling. Sometimes it's so subtle that they only know something was odd not wrong, just a little off. or they are just polite :D That makes it difficult. I am not talking about the common mistakes, it's far more subtle and I have no idea how to tackle the issue. Even taking the typical ESL course won't help as I'm far too advanced for most or even all what is out in my area. Anybody have an idea or resource? Thanks in advance Germlishspeaker Joined on Mon, Feb 21 2005 New Member 06 Accents

	pieanne  +  76115 Wed, 23 Feb 05 07:07 PM Hello, Germlishspeaker, I can understand your problem... German and English are "germanische" languages, but the sentence constructions are different. You must try to avoid putting the verbs at the end of the sentences! My best advice would be to read comics, and/or to watch cartoons, and listen to them, of course. That's everyday language, even street language, and may be helpful to you? I'm sure you KNOW the grammar and all, all you need is some practice in "relaxed" language? Hope I'm helping... pieanne Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005 South of France ...But I'm Belgian! Veteran Member 7,517 I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos... Grammar, Constructions, Verbs

	Germlishspeaker  +  76586 Fri, 25 Feb 05 04:37 PM I appreciate your input. Thing is, well, I live in the States, I am a resident, work and watch tv, read tons of books... do roleplay, lots of opportunity and exposure. I don't place verbs at the end of a sentence. Do I know my grammar? Well, I'd say most of it. Like I said, something more subtle, less obvious. What is it? Anything visible in my two posts? Germlishspeaker Grammar, Verbs

	pieanne  +  76591 Fri, 25 Feb 05 04:46 PM Nothing visible to MY eyes! Maybe it's the way of thinking? I'm a French speaking Belgian, and I've learned both German & English at the University. I DO know you don't think the same in German as in English. Why not make your "difference" an asset? It might look exotic... Otherwise, I'm afraid there's only the rap lyrics... ? pieanne Universities

	Germlishspeaker  +  76605 Fri, 25 Feb 05 08:57 PM lol! Yeah, I know what you're saying. I've been told my accent, both spoken and written, sounded "sexy", whatever it means... Of course, there are differences in the way of thinking. The perception of time is one example, the use of prepositions another. I am afraid the only way for an advanced speaker to excel is to hope for the best. Unless you haven't got a friend (native speaker) who's willing to give a hand by telling you right when the mistake happened. Easier said than done. Germlishspeaker Accents, Prepositions

	pieanne  +  76761 Sat, 26 Feb 05 10:52 AM I have the same kind of "problem" here: you see I'm Belgian but I live in France. I'm French-speaking anyway, but sometimes I can feel a little "distortion"(?) when I talk, mainly in the choice of words, not accent, because I don't have a Belgian accent. But well, I like my difference! But if you read a lot of modern novels, and watch a lot of modern films, you should get over it rather quickly? pieanne Accents

	Germlishspeaker  +  77861 Wed, 02 Mar 05 06:13 PM you would hope so... lol maybe I'm too much of a perfectionist. But I'll stick to my accent, that's for sure Germlishspeaker Accents