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标题: Anyone interested in sharing reading experience? [打印本页]

作者: A.Jiang 时间: 2009-10-7 23:17 标题: Anyone interested in sharing reading experience?

Hey, guys, how is everyone doing?
It’s my first post here in this English section and this forum.
I’m glad to be here and get to know you guys.
To be here is to have a sense of belonging.
And to know your guys, I’m sure, is the starting point of a special and lasting bond.

I see there are a lot of articles that are quoted rather than written by ourselves.
I’m not opposed to sharing good articles.
But I believe we need some creative writings, too.
Maybe some of us can set up some kind of reading club.
We don’t have to meet in person to discuss about what we’re currently reading.
Online posting will suffice.
Just write an outline of the book you’re reading/the movie you’re watching/the music you’re listening or whatever, and write down your thoughts IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
Yeah, say it in your own words. You can research about the subject in order to inspire your writing, but do express your own point of view in your own words. That’s the whole point.
This is going to be like book reports you wrote in college, only this is not mandatory.
You have all the freedom at your fingertips and the imagination to excel.
I’m wondering if anyone is interested in doing this together.

By the way, I'm reading Lin Yutang’s The Vermilion Gate (Chinese title: Zhu Men) these days. I have finished 200 pages, almost halfway through. Maybe I can start with this one.

Guys, what do you say?

[ 本帖最后由 A.Jiang 于 2009-10-7 23:24 编辑 ]

作者: cynicbull 时间: 2009-10-10 08:58

Ding, guli ni de "sharing"

作者: 769720101 时间: 2009-10-10 15:07

Surprised at so proficient your English is,I cannot help wondering that you write this article by yourself you just copy it from somewhere.Because it will be beyond my wildest imagination if it is written by a Chinese.

Whatever,I'm reading a book named The 48 laws of Power.It just started several days ago.
So what do u say?

作者: cynicbull 时间: 2009-10-10 17:37

Anyway, when I read your msg, I can make sure that is written by non-native English speaker. There are so many Chinglish expressions.... lol

原帖由 769720101 于 2009-10-10 15:07 发表
Surprised at so proficient your English is,I cannot help wondering that you write this article by yourself you just copy it from somewhere.Because it will be beyond my wildest imagination if it is w ...

作者: A.Jiang 时间: 2009-10-10 23:21 标题: 回复 3# 的帖子

Finally there are responses to my post!
Thank you!
I was starting to feel worried that I was only embarrassing myself by making such a proposal.
I know quite often, we're easily intimidated by the seemingly arduous work of thinking and writing.
I think there are also people not feeling confident about writing in English, even if they want to.
Plus this is definitely time-consuming, both in the reading and the writing part.
But I really want more of you to join in.
Take this as a practice and a way to improve English. That’s what I think it really is.
Don’t worry too much about your English. It’ll get better and better in the process.
However, be sure to check if you’re making careless mistakes by looking up in a dictionary or googling.

It’s really a compliment to me that you said I might be a native English speaker.
While I may have better command of English than some people, I definitely still have much to learn.
The truth is, writing like this is no easy task for me.
I have to think very carefully about the sentences and word choices and consult dictionaries very often.
It takes time but I enjoy it.

I never heard the book you mentioned, The 48 laws of Power.
What’s in it? Is it about exerting influence on other people in the business world?
I can google it, but I prefer you tell me (and other possible viewers) about it. : )
So, come on.

[ 本帖最后由 A.Jiang 于 2009-10-11 09:01 编辑 ]

作者: pol168168168 时间: 2009-10-11 13:55

Months ago, I read the book "AUDACITY OF HOPE" written by the US President, BARACK OBAMA. President Obama shares his view in politics in the book.
Two years ago, I read the book "TUESDAY WITH MORRIE". The author wrote about his visiting to his former sociology professor who was dying. Through his visiting to the professor, the author gives me a sense about the value of my life, family, etc.
I know there is still a long way for me to learn English. Hopefully, I will gain great experience with you guys

[ 本帖最后由 pol168168168 于 2009-10-14 12:26 编辑 ]

作者: A.Jiang 时间: 2009-10-11 23:50 标题: 回复 6# 的帖子

Keep reading and practicing and we'll improve along the way.
Tuesday with Morrie is such a bestseller. It says on Wikipedia that more than 11 million copies has been printed worldwide. I haven't read it. But it should be a book that would interest me. I've already download a pdf version from eMule. Hopefully I can get back to you and talk about this book very soon.

[ 本帖最后由 A.Jiang 于 2009-10-11 23:58 编辑 ]

作者: pol168168168 时间: 2009-10-12 13:44

I grew up in China, and i'm really interested in the Chinese recent history.
However there was no class in Chinese recent history when I studied at school.
I got to know the Cultural Revolution, Great Leap Forward, Tiananmen Crackdown from the English articles.
Is the communist dirty?
Did the Chinese suffer enough? What's more coming?
Can anyone give me an insight of the CCP?
Is the Vermilion Gate a book about a family story of communist China?
A Jiang, can you write a conclusion after you finished the book?

[ 本帖最后由 pol168168168 于 2009-10-18 14:29 编辑 ]

作者: A.Jiang 时间: 2009-10-13 00:59 标题: 回复 8# 的帖子

I think we do have history lessons in school.
And they pretty much give us a sketch of China’s modern and contemporary history.
Only…maybe something is left untold, or truth told slant.
But still there are other sources of information.
And you can manage to piece together what it was really like decades ago.
You’re right about one thing though.
We can learn certain facts unavailable in Chinese via the English media (mostly on the Internet).
For example, you can read this piece of news.
It’s what our government chooses not to tell us.
Fairly speaking, we enjoy more freedom of information and speech than our fathers and grandfathers.
But the reality is far from satisfying.
China still needs to progress in spite of today’s achievement.
I believe in the long run, problems concealed will be discovered, only more to the dismay of those responsible;
just like emotions repressed will come out, only in a more explosive way.
Those in authority should learn this and be careful in their decision-making.
Hopefully, China will improve without much disturbance.
When disturbance does happen, it’s our people who will suffer.

I have been writing about the first half of Vermillion Gate.
I'll share with you in a few days.
The story setting of the novel is in Xi'an in the 1930s.
So it's not about things of "Communist China".

[ 本帖最后由 A.Jiang 于 2009-10-13 08:17 编辑 ]

作者: pol168168168 时间: 2009-10-13 14:32

A.Jiang, are you English as Second Language or English as Native Language?
Not too much Chinese are able to write the English posts like yours.
If you are English as Second Language, you are an outstanding person in English.
If you are English as Natvie Language, you may not understand that it is a hard thing for most Chinese to study English.
First, from elementary to high school(except some special schools) in China, students don't have any practice in writing English essays.
Secondly, unlike the Spanish or French, structure of the Chinese words is very different from the English words in which harden us to spell correctly.
Third, Chinese students don't have an English environment to impove thire listening, spoken English etc.
So don't suprise if people don't understand what you talk about in English

[ 本帖最后由 pol168168168 于 2009-10-14 00:53 编辑 ]

作者: A.Jiang 时间: 2009-10-14 01:45 标题: 回复 10# 的帖子

Hehe, I'm not a native English speaker.
I'm Chinese. So I fully understand your point.
It's really difficult to learn a language without "immersing " in it.
Going abroad is a way of immersion.
But maybe it's not the only way.
I mean let yourself be obsessed with English.
Learn English whenever and wherever you can.
A friend once said jokingly to me,
if you're so eager to learn a language,
that you even take a book with you when going to the bathroom,
then you're sure to master the language.
That sounds a little bit crazy.
Few people can really do this.
But maybe being "crazy" is just the right way.

[ 本帖最后由 A.Jiang 于 2009-10-18 14:56 编辑 ]

作者: 凹凸不平 时间: 2009-10-14 06:40

大哥，我鹰蚊差，看不懂啊！

作者: pol168168168 时间: 2009-10-14 07:52

I would never take a book into a bathroom, except there's no toilet papper!!

[ 本帖最后由 pol168168168 于 2009-10-18 14:13 编辑 ]

作者: A.Jiang 时间: 2009-10-14 09:03 标题: 回复 13# 的帖子

But the problem is oftentimes you won't know there is no toilet paper till the last minute.
So in order to be safe, you should always take a book with you.

I'm just kidding.
Seriously, I wouldn't suggest anyone actually do that.
It's bad to your health to read in the bathroom.

[ 本帖最后由 A.Jiang 于 2009-10-18 14:57 编辑 ]

作者: Bentleymotors 时间: 2009-10-15 13:15

Such a long post...

作者: YULE003 时间: 2009-10-16 21:07

原帖由 pol168168168 于 2009-10-14 07:52 发表
I would never take a book into a bathroom, except there is no toilet papper!!

How funny!!!

作者: paradise12 时间: 2009-10-18 13:05

talking about immersing..
there are plenty ways to establish english speaking environment。
like watch english movie.
or see a lot of american series drama show..
may be it is not effective as you communicate with foreigner directly. but also a good way to achive smooth communication with foreigner...

作者: lovelovelylife 时间: 2009-11-17 23:00

here comes me and join the sharing activity.
admittedly,watching english movie is a comfortable and easy way to improve your english.
from my point of view ,however,to follow the movie is not a highly effective method.it may help to get more familiar with what you know,but kind of leaving what you don't know still not.

作者: 走遍四方 时间: 2009-11-18 13:40

原帖由 pol168168168 于 2009-10-12 13:44 发表
I grew up in China, and i'm really interested in the Chinese recent history.
However there was no class in Chinese recent history when I studied at school.
I got to know the Cultural Revolution, Great ...

what is Great Leap Forward？大跃进？

作者: 走遍四方 时间: 2009-11-18 13:42

this post has been put into my favorite folder

作者: 走遍四方 时间: 2009-11-18 13:45

原帖由 lovelovelylife 于 2009-11-17 23:00 发表
here comes me and join the sharing activity.
admittedly,watching english movie is a comfortable and easy way to improve your english.
from my point of view ,however,to follow the movie is not a highly ...

pretty good logic in your words.

作者: 走遍四方 时间: 2009-11-18 13:50

thanks you all. keeping on. hard work and have fun.

作者: A.Jiang 时间: 2009-11-18 20:32 标题: 回复 17# 的帖子

I agree with you.
That's exactly what I mean.

作者: A.Jiang 时间: 2009-11-18 20:59 标题: 回复 18# 的帖子

Welcome and hope we all have fun sharing with each other.
You’ve got a point there.
Watching movies isn't always effective, depending on what approach you take.
You can’t just sit there watching a movie from beginning to end without some kind of learning aids.
By learning aids, I mean something that can really help you understand what you didn’t know before.
For example, you can choose a version with both English and Chinese subtitles.
Watch the movie more than once. Get the plot the first time you watch it.
Then when you watch it again, you can pause now and then and focus on the sentences and words.
You can even look up new words in a dictionary.
You may want to watch it over and over till you think it’s enough.
This is called “intensive watching” (I coin this phrase from “intensive reading”, which is a course for English majors, and in which students need to spend a lot of time and effort on a textbook).
From my experience, the so called Hollywood blockbusters aren't good learning materials.
I would recommend Friends to you.
It really took my listening and speaking abilities to a new level.
Needless to say, it’s fun to watch that sitcom, too.
Oh, if you can’t get a movie version with English subtitle, you may get its script instead.
For that, I would recommend this website: www.imsdb.com.

[ 本帖最后由 A.Jiang 于 2009-11-18 21:04 编辑 ]

作者: waif 时间: 2009-11-18 21:10

Well, i am also reading a novel wriiten by Lin Yutang, “Moment in Peking". Now I've read one third of the book. Hope i will finish it soon.

作者: 走遍四方 时间: 2009-11-19 08:55

for me, I can not concentrate to reading a books, just browse some online english article sometimes when I want to twiddle my thumbs. probably these article are related with my industry....
Probably, I am forced to read this kinds english due to the expection to master something in my works, not from the native call of my heart. I have to admit that.
Maybe someday , when it is needless to rush out of my bed to shuttle bus in early morning, english will fade out of my sights.

作者: 走遍四方 时间: 2009-11-19 08:57

Did you any of you have watch the new movie：dwelling narrowness(蜗居), a movie discribe the status of the while collar living in big city renting a small apartment, like a snail. due to the incredible high real estate price. These peopple having a pretty and decent job still can not afford to buy a house. it will take more than twenty years salary to pay it.
This movie disclose the real life status of the current office works. High house price has severely damage the heart of the young people, most of them are the after 1980. one popular saying is that the generation after 1980 is a collapsed generation that intensively embody how they are crushed by the cruel reality: all dreams are the becoming vanity. they have to piece together all the earing and save it and can not spend them on dailing consumption,let along the wonderful journey.

This movie has called up a lot of attention in society,

[ 本帖最后由走遍四方于 2009-11-20 11:26 编辑 ]

作者: 11号宅男 时间: 2009-12-6 22:31

看电影练听力效果的确不是很好，我常常是被剧情吸引了，顺着中文字幕就看下去了，至于英文讲的是什么，无暇顾及了。

听力是练习英文最难的环节。真要达到英美人的反应速度，估计要有很多年的持续训练和学习才可以。
学外语没有窍门，持之以恒，数十年如一日，水平肯定能上来。

作者: lovelovelylife 时间: 2009-12-9 22:52

acutually, i am trying to get to read "lord of the rings" of english version,however it really is a tough work to get the book.i watched the movie and i fell in love with it several years ago,therefore i would prefer to dedicating my spare time to the fabulous story.once i got it,i will definitely have more chance to share my reading with you.

[ 本帖最后由 lovelovelylife 于 2009-12-9 22:53 编辑 ]

作者: 心灵伴侣 时间: 2009-12-13 14:46

I am reading YU DAN QUAN JI(于丹全集） these days.Every night finished reading several pages before go to bed,it makes me feel peaceful in my heart and fall in sleep easyly.

作者: 走遍四方 时间: 2009-12-14 09:42

原帖由 心灵伴侣 于 2009-12-13 14:46 发表
I am reading YU DAN QUAN JI(于丹全集） these days.Every night finished reading several pages before go to bed,it makes me feel peaceful in my heart and fall in sleep easyly.

english version?

作者: 心灵伴侣 时间: 2009-12-14 12:02

Of course Chinese version.Its difficult to share this book,cause its very "chinese" wisdom...enjoy your life all...

作者: pol168168168 时间: 2009-12-21 10:19

I watched the movies, Terminator 1 and Terminator 3 these days.
Both movies are the same scientific fiction about the war between humans and machines. The machines try to destroy human future by changing the past.
Terminator 1 is directed by James Cameron. Arnold Schwarzenegger acts as the killing machine from the future. He tried to kill the future human leader’s mother, Sarah Connor. At the same time, Michael Biehn acts as Lance from the future to protect Sarah Connor. The first battle between mankind and machines is sparked in the movie, Terminator 1.
Terminator 3 is directed by Jonathan Mostow. Arnold Schwarzenegger acts as the machine from the future again. But the machine has a different mission by saving John Connor and Kath (John Connor’s wife in the future). There is also another machine from the future to kill John Connor, Kath and other people. The machine also wants to control the human weapons to kill mankind by using virus in Sky Net. The same as Terminator 1, the two machines fight each other. In the end of the movie, both machines from the future are destroyed in the fighting. John Connor is saved. However, they can’t prevent the nuclear war; the missiles are launched and cities are destroyed. Human are killed by the weapons are made by themselves.
From these two movies, I didn't know what I learned. However I really enjoyed by watching them.

作者: 走遍四方 时间: 2009-12-21 10:52

原帖由 pol168168168 于 2009-12-21 10:19 发表
I watched the movies, Terminator 1 and Terminator 3 these days.
Both movies are the same scientific fiction about the war between humans and machines. The machines try to destroy human future by chang ...

who will be back.
Longing for the King Terminator Come Back

作者: pol168168168 时间: 2009-12-27 13:08

原帖由 走遍四方 于 2009-12-21 10:52 发表

who will be back.
Longing for the King Terminator Come Back

Chinese English!

[ 本帖最后由 pol168168168 于 2009-12-27 13:10 编辑 ]

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