Reflective Writing-First Try
Jan, 28, 2014
I have been learning English since I was in
primary school. In fact, the time that I have used to learn English is almost
as mush as that I have used to learn math, Chinese and other important courses
in China.
However, I still cannot understand it well. To dig into the reasons, maybe the way that almost every Chinese student uses
to learn English is not so effective for me—we just keep working
on how to solve the problems, for instance, multiple choices, cloze tests,
readings and so on. Finally, we all become good solvers of English problems , but
not good users of English.
Now, maybe it is the time that I should
start to become a true English user.
Needless to say, the first thing that I
need to do is to strengthen my vocabulary base. Anybody cannot learn English well or write something fluently
without a huge accumulation of vocabularies because they are the basis in English. Actually, something embarrassing happening last semester was that in a final exam, I failed in solving an important
question just because I misunderstood a word in the question statements. So in
this semester, I am going to accumulate as much as I can—maybe it
will be easy and fun to start writing the unknown words in a small vocabulary
notebook and revise them everyday.
Secondly, it is the grammars that I need to
pay more attention to. Frankly speaking, I’ve learned almost all grammar rules in
English but I cannot use them as accurately as I want. While I was doing multiple
choices before, it was not so difficult because I could remember the features
of every type of grammar questions and then made my choice. However, the key
difficulty in using grammar in your own essays is that there are no features
and you have to build all sentences word by word, which needs your fully
understanding of grammars. Also, it is the only way for you to use it well. To
handle this problem, what I want to do is following the courses of ES1102 and I
believe at last I will have a clear mind about grammar.
Last but not least, thinking in
English is necessary for me. When I am working on reports, essays, or even daily communications, I always
find somewhere I cannot truly express my ideas in English. Then, what I usually
do is: thinking in mandarin and translating or interpreting it into English. Actually this is not good for my English learning process because
simple translation does not make my sentences fluent . Instead, simple translation just makes me waste
plenty of time in writing and speaking. So in this semester, I am going to try my best not
to use my old thinking pattern but to think as a native English user. By doing
this, I expect to improve both my English writing skills and English speaking
skills.
All in all, I believe that if I keep faithful to learning English,
ready for whatever efforts it may demand to learn it well, then one day, I shall succeed.
Hi Mao Ke:
ReplyDeleteIn this reflection you talk about your English study and the future plan.
Here are some opinions about this reflection:
Overall, the organization is quite clear as you use words like first, secondly, last but not least and in the end. These words make your essay clear to read. For each body paragraph, you also use topic sentences in the beginning and then elaborate the idea, which is quite good.
However, I think the introduction part is not as good as your body paragraphs. When I finished reading your first paragraph, to be honest, I cannot get what exactly you what to say in this reflection. Maybe it will be better that you write the thesis statement in the first paragraph and them use some sentences to describe the present situation. After that, you start your main body paragraph, i.e. the three things you plan to do.
But generally speaking, your reflection is quite good in organization.
Hi Mao Ke,
ReplyDeleteThis reflection has clear structure: the past of your English learning, three aspect you focused to change and concluding remarks. Overall, the use of transitions shows a good logic. However, in my view, you spend too many words to express such kind of idea “xx is very important”. What I suggest is that you should elaborate more about how you enrich your vocabulary and improve your English writing skills and English speaking skills.
Mao Ke,
ReplyDeleteOrganisation and content: Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts about learning English with us. I hope you will give ES1102 a chance as I am sure you will benefit a lot from the course if you are willing to learn and put in the effort. At the same time, I hope I will be able to ignite your interest to learn English.
To get the most out of ES1102, please make sure you seek help when necessary, and learn from the feedback I give you.
Work hard, and I am sure your writing will improve. I look forward to seeing your progress with you in the next 8 weeks or so.
Overall, your reflection is well-structured, and the ideas flow very logically from the past, present and future --great job.
If you are serious about learning vocabulary, you must ensure you do not just work on increasing the number of words you know. Instead, you must explore the words you learn in depth so you truly understand how different words are used in different contexts.
I agree with you. Learning grammar rules is one thing, but it is much more difficult to correctly apply grammar rules and write grammatically accurate sentences in writing.
1. Language: You should use the conjunction 'and' instead of 'or'. Do you know why?
In fact, the time that I have used to learn English is almost as mush as that I have used to learn math, Chinese or other important courses in China.
2. Connection of ideas:
However, I still cannot learn it well and to dig into the reasons, maybe the way that almost every Chinese student uses to learn English is not so effective for me—we just keep working on how to solve the problems, for instance, multiple choices, cloze tests, readings and so on.
3. Vocabulary: I think you meant 'understand', right?
I still cannot learn it well
4. Do you know the difference between using to infinitive (to strengthen) and gerund (strengthening)
Needless to say, the first thing that I need to do is strengthening my vocabulary base.
5. Think about the main focus of the sentence and put the main focus at the beginning.
Vocabularies are the basis in English and anybody cannot learn English well or write something fluently without a huge accumulation of it.
6. Can you see you have 2 verbs in one clause?
Actually, something embarrassing 'happened' last semester 'was' that in a final exam,…
7. -Grammar is an uncountable noun. I think you mean grammar rules.
- Incorrect word form 'accurate'
Frankly speaking, I’ve learned almost all grammars in English but I cannot use them as accurate as I want.
8. Unparallel structure: Look at the use of tenses
When I was doing multiple choices before, it was not so difficult because I could remember the features of every type of grammar questions and then made my choice.
9. The latter part of your sentence (after the word but just make me waste plenty): What wastes your time? Is it the English learning process or the simple translation? There are two concepts, you need to specify which one you intend to refer to in the latter part of the sentence. Clear?
Actually this is not good for my English learning process because simple translation does not make my sentences fluent + but just make me waste plenty of time in writing and speaking.
10. This is very cryptic.
… if one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand, then with God's help, we shall prevail.
I concur with your blogging buddies. It is very important to stay focus when you write. Include fewer ideas and spend time elaborating on those ideas.
ReplyDelete