In my fun with LiveMocha, I've had bad and good experiences. Certainly, I would say that the majority of all my experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. I've been able to practice with natives through all manner of communications and best of all through voice.
I've noticed the great potential to learn vocabulary and colloquialisms of natives. I've kept a list of all the new words I encounter, which I will undoubtedly revisit for future reference and to enhance my learning experience. I've noticed that my verbal aptitude for language is somewhat impaired by the necessity to think out the grammar and conjure what I desire to say. Often, I am slowed by conjugations, and at times a lack of functional vocabulary. I imagine that it can only improve with further practice.
With other learners I've encountered some difficultly in cross-cultural communication. As I've brought up before politics can be a particularly difficult subject, especially when it is likely that the person on the other end of the line may not agree. Still, most of the time when difficult issues arise the subject is changed and things become cordial once again. Some learners have pointed out some odd pronunciation tendencies in my English, which were a complete surprise to me, although I try to write and speak as fluidly as I can to avoid confusion on the end of the learner.
The most common and pervasive problem is when people I encounter trying to learn English simply don't know enough to communicate, or to further the conversation. At first, a conversation in a foreign language, as I know from experience, can be intimidating and very stressful, as well as mentally draining if you are not well versed in the language. I notice that myself included, learners like to slip into their own language, even if the person they are talking to may know very little of that language. Nevertheless, continued communication and some translation can help to further the vocabularies of both people.
Perhaps some common problems result from sayings such as, "I'm back," which might in turn be translated into "I'm a back," a truly odd body part to be. Often simplifying written and oral communication helps as the person you communicate with learns more proficiency. Thus, "I'm back" would transform itself into "I have returned," which has a more precise meaning to it, although both will make sense to a native, which the latter is less casual.
Of all the back experiences I've had on LiveMocha. I count out the flood of messages and speaking to almost five people at once as the worst thing to handle. I would say rather the people who abuse LiveMocha for whatever malcontent filled idea they have. I would especially rate the man with the Webcam from Turkey as the worst experience I've had in my many weeks there. Simply put, don't look for love, but rather amistad and perhaps if one follows the next then love. Nevertheless, never trust anyone without a shirt on that happens to be in front of a web cam.
(Photo Courtesy of Szeke through Creative Commons)
I've noticed the great potential to learn vocabulary and colloquialisms of natives. I've kept a list of all the new words I encounter, which I will undoubtedly revisit for future reference and to enhance my learning experience. I've noticed that my verbal aptitude for language is somewhat impaired by the necessity to think out the grammar and conjure what I desire to say. Often, I am slowed by conjugations, and at times a lack of functional vocabulary. I imagine that it can only improve with further practice.
With other learners I've encountered some difficultly in cross-cultural communication. As I've brought up before politics can be a particularly difficult subject, especially when it is likely that the person on the other end of the line may not agree. Still, most of the time when difficult issues arise the subject is changed and things become cordial once again. Some learners have pointed out some odd pronunciation tendencies in my English, which were a complete surprise to me, although I try to write and speak as fluidly as I can to avoid confusion on the end of the learner.
The most common and pervasive problem is when people I encounter trying to learn English simply don't know enough to communicate, or to further the conversation. At first, a conversation in a foreign language, as I know from experience, can be intimidating and very stressful, as well as mentally draining if you are not well versed in the language. I notice that myself included, learners like to slip into their own language, even if the person they are talking to may know very little of that language. Nevertheless, continued communication and some translation can help to further the vocabularies of both people.
Perhaps some common problems result from sayings such as, "I'm back," which might in turn be translated into "I'm a back," a truly odd body part to be. Often simplifying written and oral communication helps as the person you communicate with learns more proficiency. Thus, "I'm back" would transform itself into "I have returned," which has a more precise meaning to it, although both will make sense to a native, which the latter is less casual.
Of all the back experiences I've had on LiveMocha. I count out the flood of messages and speaking to almost five people at once as the worst thing to handle. I would say rather the people who abuse LiveMocha for whatever malcontent filled idea they have. I would especially rate the man with the Webcam from Turkey as the worst experience I've had in my many weeks there. Simply put, don't look for love, but rather amistad and perhaps if one follows the next then love. Nevertheless, never trust anyone without a shirt on that happens to be in front of a web cam.
(Photo Courtesy of Szeke through Creative Commons)
