Discussion What to discuss

[Than Tun]

Dear friends,

This will be the third attempt to have a net-based network. We need to understand what is interesting (and more importantly HELPFUL) for other international Arakanese students. Some of us are already in advanced level studies. Those of us can give advice on some difficulties on lower level study. The only question is we need to have disscussions happening to provide helps to each other (remember not teaching, just sharing experience).

I propose to start with how we master English (that is academic writing). It was (still is) the biggest challenge for me. How about others people? How is your written (academic) English? What did you do to achieve the level you are at?

Regards

Than Tun
PhD candidate
Anthropology and Sociology
University of Western Australia

[marmookhine]

Dear Ko Than Htwann,

Yes. Mastering English, particularly writing academic English is still a big challenge for me as well. Individual should have systematic earlier commitment in his/her own study. It took both time and effort. It would take someone anywhere between several months and a few years to master college words necessary to handle college writing well suppose he is in a very initial phase, probably an upper-intermediate level of English according to standards adopted by British Council, Rgn. An upper-intermediate level student probably might have earned anywhere around 3 to 4 thousand English words which is still an incompetent level to read most of academic writings containing a wide range of vocabularies.

From my perspective, reading helps a lot for an individual to achieve competent writing skills. But to read efficiently, he/she should have at least 5000 words in hand, otherwise he certainly will have to struggle. Appealing to a dictionary for every page is certainly laborious, and an unproductive task based on my experience.

Once you have enough words, writing mechanics steadily develop as an individual keep on reading high-level academic writings. This would probably took at least 1 or 2 years depending on an individual's effort, enthusiasm, and ability.

But, holy cow! i still haven't achieved a native speaker level writing. I don't know how long it might take me to arrive at that particular level. That would be a task, rather a process pretty demanding ha? But i like writing well and i always congratulate people who write well like ko tin aung hla and ko Marm zan wai. Ko tin aung hla is particularly talented at mechanics and the latter is high proficient in vocabulary and organization.

getting a bit lengthy brother!
Discuss with you more regarding this topic and beyond later.

Sincerely,
Marm Oo Khine
Indiana University (Bloomington)
USA

[Phyoko]

Dear Bros,

Nice to observe the discussions. To me, writing carries purpose. I wrote some short stories in English last term in order to entertain my classmates. I sent those short stories to other fellows to receive comment on its plots and language. As a bachelor student, I have written some academic papers on Intellectual Property, Thai History and Mass Communications. Apparently, all those are based on academic purposes, which are simply to receive the grades necessary to pass the courses. As the students of foreign university here in this network, most of you have done the same thing(much better than me, of course), I am sure. And following up your discussions, I can say for sure that you are proficient in English to a good extent. Outside your academic arena, you will make a good living with your writings. Will you be a historian? Will you be an economist? Will you be a policy maker? Will you be a consultant? Whatever the choice, you are the one. What we can do is to share our experience with other young fellows and upgrade their abilities.

What else can I say? Ah, yes, by the way, not all native speakers write better than a university student. I have known lots of native speakers who don't know the words such as "chronology, disdain, usurper, rice premium, and so many others. Some native speakers do not know a word about political sciences. Some do not know most of the "isms". So keep your chin up, they are not the hell of the world drivers now. The Asians will be the ones. Funny enough. Read "Can Asians Think" by Krisshore Mabubani and feel encouraged.

Look towards the east, hehe.
Phyo Ko Ko

marmookhine said:

Dear Ko Than Htwann,

Yes. Mastering English, particularly writing academic English is still a big challenge for me as well. Individual should have systematic earlier commitment in his/her own study. It took both time and effort. It would take someone anywhere between several months and a few years to master college words necessary to handle college writing well suppose he is in a very initial phase, probably an upper-intermediate level of English according to standards adopted by British Council, Rgn. An upper-intermediate level student probably might have earned anywhere around 3 to 4 thousand English words which is still an incompetent level to read most of academic writings containing a wide range of vocabularies.

From my perspective, reading helps a lot for an individual to achieve competent writing skills. But to read efficiently, he/she should have at least 5000 words in hand, otherwise he certainly will have to struggle. Appealing to a dictionary for every page is certainly laborious, and an unproductive task based on my experience.

Once you have enough words, writing mechanics steadily develop as an individual keep on reading high-level academic writings. This would probably took at least 1 or 2 years depending on an individual's effort, enthusiasm, and ability.

But, holy cow! i still haven't achieved a native speaker level writing. I don't know how long it might take me to arrive at that particular level. That would be a task, rather a process pretty demanding ha? But i like writing well and i always congratulate people who write well like ko tin aung hla and ko Marm zan wai. Ko tin aung hla is particularly talented at mechanics and the latter is high proficient in vocabulary and organization.

getting a bit lengthy brother!
Discuss with you more regarding this topic and beyond later.

Sincerely,
Marm Oo Khine
Indiana University (Bloomington)
USA

[aung than htun]

It 's the top discussion for all nationalities . I think Reading and Listening is the most important parts than others . The more we can read and listen international newpapers,news , books , novels ,poems , the more we can keep in touch with those strange words without memorie all and the more we can understand it day by day , but we need to do it pratically every day .

Internet also can help to improve Language Skills . So evey one should have Intenet access every day and learn though it but concistanly . One of my uncle have good business , companies but he never try to use Intenet how to sell his products through Internet and also don't know how to use it .

American Presedent Clinden said all adults have to use computer , Internet ,educational softwares and upgrade teachers skills .

I hope we can discuss more next time .

[e-mail]
Aung Than Htun
Shangri-la Hotel , Dubai ,