Well...I must say it: I didn't know anything about blogs!
So I've just come into contact with this huge and complex world: I was fit in using forums, which I often look at, but blogosphere was something unknown to me!
Well, now I've got my own blog and it sounds a bit strange to me! So that maybe the best thing I can do to learn using it is...using it! And going to visit other blogs!
So I've just come into contact with this huge and complex world: I was fit in using forums, which I often look at, but blogosphere was something unknown to me!
Well, now I've got my own blog and it sounds a bit strange to me! So that maybe the best thing I can do to learn using it is...using it! And going to visit other blogs!
I love the fact of having my own blog in English, because actually I'd really love to speak English all the time...at home, at university, in the streets...unfortunately I live in Italy!
Ok...I know Italy is a wonderful place...I know we eat so well...but...I've always loved English, since I started learning it at primary school, is it impossible to have an English speaking Italy?
I'm obviously joking!
I also love the fact of having the opportunity of using everyday English, in my own style!
(As I would never say during classes...) THAT'S AWESOME!!!
Surfing the net I've found this interesting website where you can build a map of the "world you've seen"!
Since my blog will essentially be about travels, I publish my map...it's not a lot, I know, but I hope I'll have the chance to see as much world as possible!
I'm only 23 now!
Well, If you want to create your own visited country map, this is the link!
It would be nice to see where you've been so far!
Camilla
5 commenti:
Hi Camilla!
How are you? Thank you so much for the comments you sent me last week. I really appreciate the critics you wrote about my ‘too academic’ style.
As you know, last year we were used to use a very academic style during lessons. Now, I find it odd to write in such an informal way but I will catch up soon, I promise!
Keep on writing me your comments, they are very welcome!
In your post you say that you love the fact of having the opportunity of using everyday English, I definitely agree with you.... I mean, I will try to make the effort of adapting my register to the linguistic context. Therefore, when I will write my comments about someone’s post, I will use a formal and academic register ( I think it’s the most proper one for such a context); when I will write on my blog, I will try to write an informal style, using colloquialisms and expressions which catch the readers’ attention!
I would like to ask you a question.... what kind of register should we use in our post? I think it depends on the context.
I mean... if we are writing on our personal page we can use colloquialisms, slangs and so on; but, when we are talking about language, register and style I find it difficult to discuss about it in an informal way...
What do you think about it?
See you!
I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Martina
Dear friends,
I completely agree with Martina when she says that it is difficult to adapt our register to an informal register. As a matter of fact, during these years at University we've always read documents, articles and books written in Academic English. Moreover, during the third year we attended a course about Writing Academic English. This course was very useful in order to learn the style to use when we are writing an article or a thesis.
However, if you keep on reading and translating works in Academic English you run the risk of forgetting the terms of everyday life. These terms are the most important when you live in a foreign country! Therefore, I am very happy to enlarge my vocabulary by visiting blogs which are full of colloquialisms and effective expressions. Actually, this is the way in which English people express their ideas!
Actually, register depends on the topic. If you are talking about grammar or language you cannot use an informal style.
As far as your post is concerned,I agree with you when you say that it is very difficult to speak English here in Italy. However, learning languages requires a certain amount of practicing. If you would like to improve your English by speaking with a native English student you can go to the Centro Linguistico and ask for a tandem partner. This year I have a Spanish tandem partner!
see you later,
Silvia
Hi Lola (nice nickname for Camilla ;-),
how are you?
Your blog looks very impressive: dark background with white characters and shocking colours for titles and pictures! Good choice! And what a lovely idea to create your own map to be updated every time you visit a new country…a useful tool for travelling lovers, like us! I will undoubtedly create my own map! Thank you very much for the suggestion!
Anyway, as you can read in my post ‘Becoming a blogger!’ I knew very few about blogging too! Before starting our English course with Sarah I had sometimes read the blog of a friend of mine, but I had never sent a post or created my own blog…I think, however, that’s something positive because this may increase our curiosity and our involvement in our English course…Don’t you think so? Don’t worry if you haven’t got a lot of experience using blogs, they are user-friendly and I couldn’t agree more with you: the best way to learn how to exploit blogs is to use them! It is so funny to discover all the applications a blog has…Isn’t it really entertaining?
I quite agree with you! It’s so neat to have our own blog in English; indeed, I will keep it updated also when our English course is finished because I love the idea of using blogs as vehicles for communicating ideas and feelings with anyone…I must confess that I hope to find a comment on my blog some day posted by a complete stranger saying that he/she likes my blog, agree or disagree with something he read on it, and so on! I think I would talk ten feet tall if it happened!
As regards register, you are absolutely right: we must see this last English course also as a chance to practice everyday, informal English so I’ve decided that from this moment on I’ll write at least my comments on your posts in an informal way…Martina and Silvia correctly pointed out that we are not used to using slang or informal structures; therefore, now the time is ripe to learn informal English expressions and idioms! However, I think I’ll use a more neutral style in the posts on my blog because there I aim to discuss not my personal life but my learning, my scholarship or other relevant issues that might interest also people I don’t know (and may be non native speakers) who visit my blog to learn something about a subject. Thus, a neutral register is the happy medium! Hope you understand what I mean… If I’m not mistaken, I will do just the opposite of what Martina will! Which one is the best solution in your opinion?
Have a nice Halloween!
Elena
Hi Camilla!
Thank you for the comments on my posts; I appreciate your contribution!
I like very much your blog! I think that the black background makes the blog very mysterious and smart… and all the other colours seems so bright!
I visited the website you suggested and I found it wonderful! I tried to create my own visited country map; I visited seven countries, but I hope I will travel to many others!
I noticed that we shared the same feelings when we started blogging. We never used blogs before attending this English course and we were both excited about having our personal blog! I agree with you when you say that is very important to speak and write in English as much as possible in order to improve our English.
I agree with Martina, Silvia and Elena; it is a bit difficult to write colloquial English, since we always read and tried to write Academic English. I think that this last course is a good chance to practice informal English. I think I will use it when writing comments on my friends’ posts, while I prefer using a neutral register when writing posts on my personal blog.
That’s all for now!
See you soon
Veronica
Sorry, Camilla! I have just seen that, in my comment, I wrote: "I think I would talk ten feet tall if it happened!", but it is: "I think I would WALK ten feet tall if it happened!"...A slip of the pen, sorry again!
Anyway, thanks for your tips...I promise you to write less long-winded posts! I know my style is heavy!I'll do my best!
Bye,
Elena
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