http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htmPost your essay, short story or composition here. Review, comment, or just read for fun.enXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#77861Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:57:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:77861Germlishspeaker0http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#77861http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments9-77861.xmlyou would hope so... lol maybe I'm too much of a perfectionist. But I'll stick to my accent, that's for surehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76761Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:57:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:76761pieanne1http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76761http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments9-76761.xmlI 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?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76605Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:57:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:76605Germlishspeaker2http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76605http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments9-76605.xmllol! 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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76591Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:57:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:76591pieanne3http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76591http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments9-76591.xmlNothing 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... ?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76586Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:57:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:76586Germlishspeaker4http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76586http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments9-76586.xmlI 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?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76115Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:57:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:76115pieanne5http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htm#76115http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments9-76115.xmlHello, 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...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htmThu, 26 Feb 2009 14:57:44 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:75605Germlishspeaker6http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowImproveAdvancedSpeaker/pgkg/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments9-75605.xmlHi 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....