A friend had sent me this particular fiction (my first in English) and said I should read it, it was so good. I never would have searched for one on my own. I wasn’t too keen at first but after the first sentence I just wanted to know what had happened. It was a whumping fic ;) The most trouble I actually had when I thought I KNEW what a word meant but it did not make sense in the context. And then I found out that there was another meaning.
Watching Stargate DVDs in original language with English subtitles helped too. Just to listen to how they pronounce stuff. It was a revelation that American English is easier to understand for me, but now I do also love the British kind with which I had struggled before. And of course the internet in general, the fan forums and Facebook groups I am a member of, it’s English everywhere, sometimes I forget my German! You wouldn’t have that same exposure unless you joined a French fan group.
But yeah, it’s often that my brother asks what a particular word means and I couldn’t tell the exact translation or expression (sometimes there isn’t any), but I can tell him in which context it is used and what it means in general. And I love proverbs and idioms! And comparing them to German ones. Latest addition: Proud as a punch.
I often think if my English teacher could see me now, writing my own fanfictions! And getting better and better with them. My beta only has to point out minor things. That’s something to be proud of. Or me going to London to see David Tennant doing Shakespeare!
I have a co-worker that speaks Russian and sometime when she’s on the phone I understand some words. But I couldn’t hold a conversation.
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dancing_serpent
(no subject)
Date: 2017-06-22 11:47 am (UTC)Watching Stargate DVDs in original language with English subtitles helped too. Just to listen to how they pronounce stuff. It was a revelation that American English is easier to understand for me, but now I do also love the British kind with which I had struggled before. And of course the internet in general, the fan forums and Facebook groups I am a member of, it’s English everywhere, sometimes I forget my German! You wouldn’t have that same exposure unless you joined a French fan group.
But yeah, it’s often that my brother asks what a particular word means and I couldn’t tell the exact translation or expression (sometimes there isn’t any), but I can tell him in which context it is used and what it means in general. And I love proverbs and idioms! And comparing them to German ones. Latest addition: Proud as a punch.
I often think if my English teacher could see me now, writing my own fanfictions! And getting better and better with them. My beta only has to point out minor things. That’s something to be proud of. Or me going to London to see David Tennant doing Shakespeare!
I have a co-worker that speaks Russian and sometime when she’s on the phone I understand some words. But I couldn’t hold a conversation.