作者名称 国旗国籍

ジェームズ

EN

JP

2020.06.13 22:13

I looked back over my moments and found one of them begins with

a mistake. As native speakers, sometimes our brains correct typing errors as we read them and we don't even notice there was anything wrong. This is why authors hire proof readers to check their work. It reminded me, however, that we all make mistakes - even native speakers! Did you know that many native English speakers use incorrect English? Grammar, spelling, punctuation - errors aren't uncommon.

When I speak with non-native English speakers, many apologise for their mistakes. Some even feel anxious for being unable to deeply express themselves or worried that they'll seem less intelligent. The truth, however, is that you are amazing and doing a wonderful job. YOU are the one putting in the hard work to communicate in a foreign language. When you speak to me in my language, you are the one making the effort to leave your comfort zone so that we can communicate. For that and all of your efforts, you have my respect.
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Comments

  • Li zi 2020.06.13 22:26

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    你这段文字很真诚,也挺让人感觉温暖的。谢谢你。😊
  • Diane 2020.06.13 22:38

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    Thank you soo much. That means a lot to me and all of people trying express themselves in English.
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.13 22:44

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    @Li zi @Diane You're very welcome.
  • Emma 2020.06.13 22:45

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    It really makes sense
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.13 22:58

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    @Wayne I'm glad my words were meaningful to you. Thank you also for your kind words and have a wonderful day.
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.13 23:30

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    @ジェームズ We make mistakes for different reasons than English learners. We often make mistakes because we read the right sentence in our head, and often assume that that's what we wrote ...
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.13 23:35

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    @Wayne You are a great example of the difference between an English speaker's mistakes and a Chinese person's English mistakes. Your English sounds excellent but your grammar mistakes are mistakes that James won't make. When you use the word, analysis (you were not sure which 后缀to use.
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.13 23:41

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    @大伟作家 It's funny how that works, isn't it? I do that a lot. It's almost like an annoying special ability. I'm sure you're aware of the studies that show our brains can just as easily read entire sentences of jumbled words as long as first and last letters remain in their original positions. It's fascinating how that works.
  • Wayne 2020.06.13 23:44

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    @大伟作家 😄yes. you're right. 😄
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.13 23:45

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    @ジェームズ I studied writing in college, and my professor would often say, make sure it's on the page. LoL. It's a easy mistake to make when writing.
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.13 23:48

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    @ジェームズ And sometimes, we do the opposite when editing. We delete something in our minds, but don't delete it from the script. Look how many times I had to correct this message. LoL
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.13 23:53

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    @Wayne I had a Chinese coworker from Shanghai when I was in America. When I first met her, I thought she was an American born Chinese, ABC, but the more I listened to her speak, the more I heard little grammar mistakes that English speakers wouldn't make ... Like (either and too). She would say a sentence like (I don't like it too), but she should've said, I don't like it either.
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.13 23:55

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    @大伟作家 Haha, yes, language certainly feels like a dance of sorts at times. It's easy to miss a step. It boggles my mind that I can proof read text a half dozen times but only later spot a strikingly obvious mistake - even a missing word as you said. The brain is fantastic for filling in the gaps, though it may make us put our head in our palms!
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.14 00:00

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    @ジェームズ You are absolutely right! I couldn't have said it better myself.
  • Wayne 2020.06.14 00:08

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    @大伟作家 yes. I know that. speaking correctly is more difficult than writing correctly.
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.14 00:09

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    @Wayne Most Chinese feel that writing is more difficult.
  • Noǝllǝ 2020.06.14 00:19

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    Really? Thought native speakers wouldn't make any mistake in their speech or writing. Seems I were wrong?
  • Wayne 2020.06.14 00:22

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    @大伟作家 I mean speaking doesn't allow you think it over, but writing gives time to check.
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.14 00:25

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    @Wayne well, most Chinese people would envy you
  • Wayne 2020.06.14 00:30

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    @大伟作家 don't you think so? I can't write the sentence on my mind and check if there's any mistake before I speak it out.
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.14 00:42

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    @Wayne Your problem is the same problem that many Chinese people have. That is, in English, you have to add 后缀改变词性,but in Chinese, the word doesn't change. So when you speak English, you have to remember or think about how to say the words in different词性,比如 action 名词,active形容词, act 动词,actively 副词 You can use this website to help you. https://www.worldclasslearning.com/english/list-of-verbs-nouns-adjectives-adverbs.html
  • Wayne 2020.06.14 00:47

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    @大伟作家 thank you so much. I will.
  • 大伟作家 2020.06.14 00:48

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    @Wayne that's the only problem that I can see with your English.
  • Wayne 2020.06.14 00:57

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    @大伟作家 😄I just need to learn more. good of you to correct me.I appreciate your help.
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.14 07:59

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    @Noǝllǝ Indeed. Many English speakers still don't know the difference between 'there' and 'their'.
  • Danbi 2020.06.17 11:50

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    Such a genuine heart!:)
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.17 11:57

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    @Danbi Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
  • Danbi 2020.06.17 12:55

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    @ジェームズ No worries!
  • Jackson 2020.06.18 00:10

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    @ジェームズ Actually I’m one of them 😭So what’s the difference between there and their ?
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.18 09:36

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    @Jackson 'There' has many different uses, but mainly it indicates a place or point in time or begins a sentence to show that something exists, amongst other things. 'The house is over there. We're not there yet but we're getting there. There is something about that house that makes me smile.' 'Their' is something that belongs to someone. 'The project was their idea. It is also their way of looking at things that bothers me. Their time is limited, but hopefully we can speak with them.' 'That house over there is theirs.' (Points to people.) There is also 'they're', which is short for 'they are'. 'They're going to run a marathon.'
  • Mini 2020.06.21 13:41

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    Thank you for caring to us.I'm a beginner in English.I'm using the Japanese and the Oxford textbooks.There are rare errors in those texts as well. I think It's not good relied too much on someone. The most important thing is for people to work hard and study on their own. By the way, I like reading your posts. I especially sympathize with your thoughts on love. I'm looking forward to your next post. If my message sentence is wrong please correct it.
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.21 16:05

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    @Mini Hi I have rewritten your comment below with corrections. I hope this is helpful. Thank you for caring about us. I'm a beginner in English. I'm using the Japanese and Oxford textbooks. There are rare errors in those texts as well. I don't think it's good to rely too much on someone. The most important thing is for people to work hard and study on their own. By the way, I like reading your posts. I especially sympathize with your thoughts on love. I'm looking forward to your next post. If any sentences in my message are wrong, please correct them. @Mini
  • Mini 2020.06.21 16:27

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    @ジェームズ Thank you! James!
  • ZhengYi 正一 2020.06.23 11:54

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    I agree your opinion,and wish you will keep this when you’re learning languages,however learning 3 languages is really hard
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.23 12:19

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    @ZhengYi 正一 @ Yes, it's certainly challenging. I have been considering dropping one of the languages.
  • Rebecca 2020.06.25 15:52

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    respect
  • ジェームズ 2020.06.26 10:32

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    @Princess공주 You are very welcome. 🙂
  • Yun 2020.08.04 15:56

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    흠 이유가 뭘까요? 영어는 한국말처럼 표준화된것이 없기때문일까요? 사실 영어가 게르만족에 의해 알려진 언어인데 너무 광범위하게 사용되기 때문일까요...
  • Ace. 2020.09.06 23:30

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    @ジェームズ thank you. James! you are amazing person
  • Bella 2020.09.29 10:15

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    As a native Korean speaker, I also admit I make so many mistakes or errors both when I speak and when I write especially about spacing letters. It is the most difficult part for me hhh We all make mistakes as native speakers.
  • ジェームズ 2020.09.29 12:07

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    @Bella Thanks for sharing, Bella. If we can just accept that it's OK to make these mistakes, life will become easier. We do not need to be hard on ourselves about it. Nobody is perfect. 🙂
  • Bella 2020.09.29 12:39

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    @ジェームズ 맞아요 : ) I don’t worry if I make mistakes when I speak with Korean friends, but when I talk with friends here in HT, I am a little conscious if I make mistakes because I can teach them wrong Korean.
  • ジェームズ 2020.09.29 12:56

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    @Bella Ah, yes, I know that feeling. That's understandable. I think that it's good for people to get multiple opinions on things they're learning to be sure, but nonetheless I think that we are still capable of helping people reach much higher standards in our native languages, even if we do make mistakes.
  • Bella 2020.09.29 14:34

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    @ジェームズ Absolutely agree 😊That is why I am here. To get help and to give help : )
  • SweetGrace 2020.12.29 00:06

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    Your words moved me...😭😭😭 You seem to be a very kind and thoughtful person.👍🏻👍🏻 Thank you for visiting my post~~🤗🤗. And I'm glad to know you.🙏🏻🍀🍀
  • ジェームズ 2020.12.29 00:10

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    @SweetGrace Bless you. It is nice to meet you too.

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