Let's speak English!

As Salty said or you can find it on my profil

http://www.noumenie.com/

Hi! I got into this langage as I love travelling (can save in many situations!), american and british humour, as a scientist I need to be able to read articles and also because I can't stand movies in VF!!! My pronouciation is not that bad and most of the time I hear "really you are french?". But in general french accent sounds sexy for most foreigners as long as "TH" is not pronounced "ZZZZZZZZZ"!! And also I like myself speaking english, the joke I can make, maybe I feel more confident when I express myself in english because it's ok to make mistakes as it's not my mother tongue!

Good afternoon everybody
I'm in euro english class

Good evening
I tkink I am an alien, a sweet alien, with a candel in my hand....
Let's have fun my friends because the night is my friend, my beautiful friend, my only friend...
Let's talk about the hours that will come.
At the end of the day, at the end of the night, let's bring our souls, let's bring our hearts across the black of the poverty, across the call of the midnight.
Run sweet love, crie my angel, upside down, terrible end cool night...

I would like to wish everyone a good night, today was an exciting day: I went to a "gift hunt", before Christmas No peeking at the big box before 25th!

Hi everybody,
I started learning English seriously in the late 70s at high school (in France). I read and wrote it properly during the next 30 years but listening and speaking was a problem. In the 90s I worked a few months in Bosnia where I picked up an Eastern European accent that was upsetting my American uncle. He used to say I was sounding like a silly gangster.
So when I arrived in New Zealand 8 years ago it was a bit of a challenge to adapt, in particular to the tonic accent. But I succeeded after a couple of years and people were not asking me anymore where I was coming from. Many people think I'm from Germany or Scandinavia when I speak in English.
Nowadays I understand almost any English accent but I still struggle with some UK accents (especially Eastern London).
Unfortunately since I'm back in France my English is getting rusty.
I know there is one word that causes me troubles but I cannot remember it at the moment. Will come back later when I get it.
Cheers mates.

Could we organise an irl where we would speak english ?

Do it in the right section ?

Yeah, we are all spread over the World. An online meeting would be easier.

Easier ? with time difference ? Let me lol ?

Well, when we speak at the same time with several places, it's always possible that some of us make an effort to stay awake at night. Provided it doesn't happen too often.

@noum i'd be grateful if you'd stop insinuating that i'm wrong. I'll create a topic in the meeting section when there's enough people interested. And i do it the way i want since it's my idea (yeah there's a copyright).

Online meeting? Why not! Where are you all situated??

Do it in the right section means that you have to do it in the appropriate section, even if you suggest this one there. Using "right" doesn't mean that you were wrong...

Thanx pad four intervening.
I van't read the spoilers with my phone anyway

saltymbanque a écrit:Thanx pad four intervening.
I van't read the spoilers with my phone anyway

That's interesting, when you talk with your smartphone, you have an accent!
Where have you bought it??

For *
I can't *

Snaky ? Why is that ??

At the moment I'm interested to find how's life for gifted people outside France. If their is a cultural difference or not. Of course I'm looking at English-speaking issues, my German and Italian are too weak for other languages.

I just found an interesting article about giftedness on a forum related to Attention Deficit Disorder: Can you hear the flower sing?
Seems that our difficulties in life are universal. But on the other hand the way the author addresses our issues looks very positive. For example I like the idea of learning to deal creatively with our conflicts.
I mean I haven't read yet on ZC forum any suggestion that we could use our creativity to resolve our problems. Did I miss some posts?

I'm also planning to buy the book "The Gifted Adult: A Revolutionary Guide for Liberating Everyday Genius". The title sounds very promising. I would tell you what it says when I'd have read it.

Your thoughts about this idea? Shall I publish a dedicated thread?

I keep going on my new search and found this interesting Irish blog that directed me to a page of Caltech University about the IMPOSTOR SYNDROME.

That's interesting because I have the feeling of being an impostor each time I get a new job (once every year then). Are you feeling it too?

About the impostor syndrome, you can find some thread on zc.
I think I am, but seriously, I don't care about it for the moment.

I love English so much, I've been praticing for about 15 years now and I still have much to learn. I enjoy playing an good old RPG or watching a movie in this language. To make things simple I love foreign languages and love to practice them whenever possible.

i pretty sure i can tel : i'm learned english mostly with vostfr! but now, i'm capable to watch an entire movie without subtitle and i'm kind of proud of that!
maybe zebra are hability for language (when they are receptive!)

Hello. I love potatoes.

Hi there!

I learned english by watching american tv-shows, but the best thing that made me improve my skills was to read Harry Potter. Thanks to that, I was almost fluent in english at age 14 the only problem which I encountered was... highschool teachers! haha, they were so suspicious
Fortunatelly, I'm now living in the english speaking part of Canada, so it's really usefull. And it should be more and more because I want to try to pursue my studies in England next year. Anyway, I looove shakespeare's mother tongue

It's a great thing, luluberlu, but not enough.
Just to correct you some little things:

luluberlu a écrit:i('m) pretty sure i can tel( L but say will be better here) : i'm (no 'm here) learned english mostly with vostfr! but now, i'm capable (just able is enough) to watch an entire movie without subtitle and i'm kind of proud of that!
maybe zebra are (have not are, or are able to learn different or some languages and no H to ability and s to languages) hability for language (when they are receptive!)

Antilope a écrit:Fortunatelly, I'm now living in the english speaking part of Canada, so it's really usefull.

Hey, good to see an American cousin here.
By the way, can you tell if challenges faced by zebras over there are the same than in France? I would assume high IQs are better perceived in the Canadian society. Is that true?
I understand you're still a student. High school or university? Are you getting support for your "condition"?

Hi Silwilhith!

Not really an american cousin because I'm french. I just live in Canada for this year, then I'll go back to France to spend the holidays there. Fortunately, I'll go in UK after summer time
Concerning the point of view toward gifted people here, I don't know much. I did not tell anyone about me being a zebra. I'm still a bit confused on this topic given that I do not think I'm worthy of it. Anyway, the few things I heard about gifted people in Canada were optimistic. Although, I also read some research papers dealing about the difficulties of school to adjust to the gifted pupils... Even if the global opinion seems more benevolent, I think zebras still feel kind of guilty. The good point however, is that university system is way more enthusiast about welcoming gifted people in their programms than they are in France.

I'm a student actually: I do a master degree in comparated literature by homeschooling with a french university. That's why I can travel and avoid wasting my time in classes Hopefully, next year I will try the english university system... We'll see then.

And how about you? are you living abroad or practicing your english on your own?

Hey hey! Good to have an Irish English speaker here!
I really love Ireland. I went to visit Sligo and Dublin 3 years ago. It was an amazing trip, especially for Dublin nights Irish are such nice people. I hope I would be able to get back there next year.

Yes, I do homeschooling since the beginning of my undergrad degree. It's the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Before, it was just school anguish, bad mood and despair. Now, it feels almost good to study

If I were to visit another english speaking country, I think it would be New-Zealand. Only because I'm fond of quiet spaces

Lord of the Ring rocks!! Tolkien is one my literary gods, along with Dostoïevski, Zweig, Kakfa, and Zola.
Okay, I admit it, I'm a books geek

Are you currently living in France?

You just have to cross the bridge perhaps you'll enjoy them then.

It's a bit like literature studies, except that you are expecting to show the continuations one book can offer. To make it simple, it's literary texts that you observe through other discplines point of view while keeping in mind yours too. This is interesting to see the differents consequences a humble book can produce

Haha! Where did you find it??? I looked for weeks but never was able to see one. Maybe I needed glasses and did not know it

I was in New Zealand as I say, and this is were I really start to learn english.
Their accent sound to me the sweetest you can hear. More "high" and quite slow.
Some scottish, especially girls, could have the same "high tone" but, as australians, I could'nt often understand what they try to say.
And it's worst with irish

For some who wanna go in N-Z, you should take a looooot of money, because it's expensive to go and back and live in.
If you wanna go for a road trip, just take 3-4 months, and a lot of money too. You don't need more time to spend because, yeah, it's a beautiful country and 2 big islands, but there is not a lot of things to do (and if there is, they are expensive. A kiwi way of life is easy : Work from 8-9 to 18h, hang out with friends or familly around a BBQ or beer. Weekend ? Go to the beach and enjoy (and yeaaaah you will enjoy it, it's soooo perfect and amazing ! Or climb a mountain. What's else ? ) )
Btw, it's quite difficult for an expat to find a job, even if you have a Working Holiday Visa.
Fruit picking ? bad salary, usually bad life conditions.
Waitress ? often half time job, half salary, around 350$. Yes, dollars, but NZ dollars, so 1/2 cheaper than euro.
Barista ? Forget it. They have specialities you don't know, you can't have the job.
You have to think about it before you go there. And be able to talk english pretty well, and it's better if you have degrees.
Fruits and vegetables are expensive. REALLY expensive. But you can have junk food close to a free price (and, yep, that's why a lot of people are fat there).
A rent is quite cheaper if you are good to find the good place. And you can find a place to live in 5 days, truly.
the gas/petrol, is fucking expensive. rent a car too, but depend. Who can find some service where you can take a car in Auckland and depose it at Wellington or somewhere else for a road trip of 5 days for ~300$
For a roadtrip : you need a minivan/campervan.
Cheaper to have, easy to sell back, just take care to really bad and swindler garage.

And remember : opposite side of the earth, opposite season. The sun is the most dangerous thing you have to think about 'cause as Chili, there is no ozone layer. So after the sun set it's a very cold climate.
And sand flies.
Worst.
Creature.
EVER.  
)

Some of my best friends came from UK/USA/Canada or live there.
And most of all of my friends are VHIQ (we also have to translate THQI :p ).
About Canada, it's seem to be like UK, about the "gifted child" acceptance and for adultes they don't really care. It's a good thing and it's ok. But seriously, would you and need you to scream about it anytime? Don't think so.


Well, after Vietnam, I will go in Canada, or trying to go back in NZ.
I already travelled a lot, I would like to go back in Sweden and other north island too.

Just wanna think out loud it's so weird to speak english only with french.
Indeed, I've a US cable TV but I don't speak to my TV you know.
I though I was a screwed up guy but I'm not the only one definitely, but where I am ? lol.
Ok teasing mode disabled.

Are you gonna watching the premiere of DIG on USA NETWORK? http://www.usanetwork.com/dig

I never speak english so i'm not really comfortable this kinda thread you know.

I lived for four years in Wellington, New Zealand. That was not too difficult to get a job, thanks to my networking skills. I must admit I've two Masters' degrees, one in IT and the other one in Management. In Europe I work as a Business Controller but that job doesn't exists in NZ. So I had to adapt. My first job was an accountant position in a small company and I got it through the French-speaking community. The second, permanent job was obtained through my landlord who was a Director of this company. So I worked for him as a Web developer.
My wages were 30% higher than France, and the cost of life was 20% lower, but it was before the Economic Crisis.
I visited my friends over there last year and realized the prices was now comparable to France, though the wages are still much higher.
Nevertheless that's true that small jobs are not very well paid. And you must have some luck to find an employer who is ready to employ a foreigner and pay you a good salary. Their approach of management is very different than Europe, leaving lots of freedom and responsibilities to employees, provided they can bring good skills.

Beside the country is gorgeous. The people are lovely, welcoming new friends, interested to know about Europe. In Wellington we were not going to the beach very often as the climate is a bit rough, but there are so many cafés in the city to spend good times and catch up with friends. BBQ gas cooker became our common cooking appliance, even in Winter.

Yeah.. I kept some e-mails told me, "because your a stranger, we can't hire you".
You-hou !  
And yes, because of the crisis, everything is higher.

But well, I worked for france when I was I NZ.
And, it's sad but if I came back it's because someone robbed my car and stole all of my stuff (electronics precisely) when I was at Rotorua Lake.

Btw, Welli is a best town than Auckland, if you are looking for a human size city (but auckland is better if you wanna live in a BIG city with a lot of expats, things to do, to see, to try, a big city with big price (economic city) ), aaand if you don't want to spend all your money in transport. It's cheaper in Welli and easy to walk (distances are shorter than in Auckland and around) )

That miss me a lot :')

They don't have a lot of good museum for art, but the best natural museum I have ever seen now (but i'm sure to find better in USA).
Very precise, easy to learn so much things, with some experimentations to do, as fun for kids as adults

First, my parents were comedians, so we had to move a lot.
After, for my studies and for some friends.
Now, for work and fun.

I wish i could speak english one day because it's just easier to speak with worldwide citizen, sound weird I know but I understand myself.

lynka a écrit:
Hugues : What's Dig about? What's the plot?

Not to get water I guess, i'll be able to tell you more after watching.
I've seen the teaser everywhere so i'll take a look

Hello there

I'm not sure what got me into english, and I didn't consider myself good or anything.

At my previous work I handled every foreign customers, I enjoyed it but never thought I was the only one able to do that... I was shocked when I found out that my english level was way higher than the one my coworkers had.

I guess I learned from watching a ton of movies/TV shows, playing a lot of games, both offline and online, on US or UK servers. I had an Hong Kongese ex-girlfriend too, with whom I spoke english on a daily basis.

I think I lacked confidence before I found out I was good at something, something useful I could use to help people understand each other. I'm now studying at uni to get a translator master degree.

I wish I could learn japanese as easily as I did english, but it's on another level entirely...

I think some people have a natural talent to learn foreign languages.
Once in Wellington I was gob smacked by a waitress who was a Kiwi who was speaking a perfect French without any track of English accent. I thought she was a native French person, possibly from Paris. When she said me she had learn French at school and never visited any French-speaking country I couldn't believe it! So impressive!

I know right ? Some people are really talented, a friend of mine is half Italian/Venezuelian, studied in China, knows english, now studies in France and learns japanese...
I feel so dumb when I'm around her

On the other hand, some overconfident people often speak with an awful english accent, not a french accent but like a caricature of a noble britishman.

As for japanese, the language is scary indeed, but japanese people are so nice and cheerful, even if you know little vocabulary, if you use it, and show interest, they'll be really nice to you (at least from my own experience).