Improve your English speaking skills - English conversation practice

[Anne1811]

This is not rude, but a daily activities you have to face with everyday. Normally, as a Vietnamese you could say "I wanna cut the flower = Tao muốn đi hái hoa = Tao đang mắc ỉa", English people they also have the same "Nature is calling me".
Some times to translate into the language you have been learning, you need to learn their culture also.

Well, I am imaging that I am myself in an emergency circumstance such that: hey buddy, do you know where toilet is? Urgent! Truely! I need to go now, I need to have a pee/ I need to pass water/ I can’t keep holding my bowel’s movements.

 

[VetMini]

No, you ask people direction to the rest room/ ladies. Or a bit less formal, the loo.
(men can call it the john)
Within a very high class environment, such as a party of important people, you might even call it the "powder room", and try something like "I need to powder my nose".

I think the popularity of Youtube has made people forgetting that a large part of those clips use bad English.

 

[VetMini]

hey buddy, do you know where ...

Gosh! I can't believe my eyes.
What ever happened to "Excuse me" ? (The nicest way to call for people's attention. Your English teacher forgot to tell you?)
"Excuse me [sir]. Would you kindly show me how to get to the rest room?" is the sentence you should learn.

I am starting to wonder whether you guys mistaking conversational English for street language.

Please, please. Go back to the beginning and re-learn some basics.
- What to say when you want to start talking to a stranger.
- How to greet people. What do you say when someone says "Good day!", and when they say "How are you?"
- How to ask somebody to repeat what he/she 's just said (because you don't understand it)
- How to ask somebody to do something for you.
- What to say when the other say "have a good day!"
- the list goes on...
And, please practice them until they become natural. That is, they just come ou of your mouth, you don't have to stop and think.

 

[moneymong.pt]

Please help me translate these sentences into English.

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• À, chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó.
• Em nghe tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi, chị đang ở ngoài đường hả?
• Ừ, chị đang trên đường đi làm, qua ngã 4 Phú Nhuận là tới công ty rồi.

 

[cadafi]

Well, I am imaging that I am myself in an emergency circumstance such that: hey buddy, do you know where toilet is? Urgent! Truely! I need to go now, I need to have a pee/ I need to pass water/ I can’t keep holding my bowel’s movements.

When you were in a romantic dinner with a beautiful girl and suddently you got pissed off of your call from nature, you can say: " oh Dear, I would be terribly sorry since I really need to see my little brother immediately or he would cry soon. Would you want me to let him cry now?"
And the girl would say : stop shooting the breeze, go now to see him!

Bài đã được tự động gộp: 29/7/20

Gosh! I can't believe my eyes.
What ever happened to "Excuse me" ? (The nicest way to call for people's attention. Your English teacher forgot to tell you?)
"Excuse me [sir]. Would you kindly show me how to get to the rest room?" is the sentence you should learn.

I am starting to wonder whether you guys mistaking conversational English for street language.

Please, please. Go back to the beginning and re-learn some basics.
- What to say when you want to start talking to a stranger.
- How to greet people. What do you say when someone says "Good day!", and when they say "How are you?"
- How to ask somebody to repeat what he/she 's just said (because you don't understand it)
- How to ask somebody to do something for you.
- What to say when the other say "have a good day!"
- the list goes on...
And, please practice them until they become natural. That is, they just come ou of your mouth, you don't have to stop and think.

At least 10 ways to say "excuse me" and more that 10 ways to say "How are you?". It depends on the context you are in. It is not because of the teacher forgot to teach her, but because she is talking in a different manner. You should take it easy since speaking is quite different from writting. And what we should learn (including you) is How to use (not to learn) English for a daily conversation. So for me, she is not making mistake but she is very fluent in speaking rather than other, learn but not use.

 

[VetMini]

• Yup, I’m on my way to work, go through Phu Nhuan intersection……Can I call you later?
• Yes, have a fun and productive day! I’m going to go to work.
• Thanks. Be careful

The last three lines:
1. Yup: these kinds of expression are not exactly what I would recommend UNTIL you are very confident with your wording.
2. don't just say "yes". Need to go further: "Yes, please", "Please do", "By all means",...
3. You forgot the basics. When a person wish you "a nice day", you must wish back. "Thanks, same to you"

Read post number #43, practice the rules of conversation first. Learn manners by heart before you start what you call "friendly" way and shortcut them.

I am not interested in learning English to chat with friends. What I think you should learn is how to go to a meeting, conference, or party and confidently shake hands with foreigners. The kind of "daily conversation [sic]" you have learnt so far definitely will not win you any friends there.

 

[1+1=2]

This thread is about conversational English, right?

Before going on any further, we need to acknowledge one important aspect of conversational English:
Conversation is very much a habit. And habit means things that might not make any senses.

Therefore, you guys need to be aware of the fact that, unlike written English, a conversational English sentence migth not always be able to translate directly into Vietnamese. In other words, you will often find that the sentences are quite different.

Most of short sentences in conversational English are learnt by memory. Just memorise what you see (including where and when they occur) and repeat them in the right place, at the right time.

(tên tôi là Vẹt. Tôi chuyên học vẹt như vậy)

Vẹt Bikini

 

[ptm0412]

I have just banned nick "1+1=2" because of spamming (#47)
No comments, please.

 

[cadafi]

chém = slash
gió = hơi phức tạp hơn. Từ này vốn do cụm từ xưa "đánh gió" tức là đánh giả vào khoảng không (không trúng vào đâu cả). Có lẽ dịch ra aimless là gần nhất.
chém gió = to slash aimlessly.

Nhưng nếu dịch thực nghĩa thì:
chém gió = full of hot air.

Stop shooting the breeze, It's killingly funny

 

[cadafi]

Please help me translate these sentences into English.

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• À, chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó.
• Em nghe tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi, chị đang ở ngoài đường hả?
• Ừ, chị đang trên đường đi làm, qua ngã 4 Phú Nhuận là tới công ty rồi.

You could say:
+ Hallo, Have you just called me? I just woke up and saw your miss-call so I am calling you back.
+ Ops, Perhaps my phone was unlocked and some keys have been pressed unintentionally so it called you unfortunately.
+ I can hear many noise from vehicles, are you on your way?
+Uhm, I am on my way to work, just crossing the Phu Nhuan corner to reach my office then.

 

[moneymong.pt]

You could say:
+ Hallo, Have you just called me? I just woke up and saw your miss-call so I am calling you back.
+ Ops, Perhaps my phone was unlocked and some keys have been pressed unintentionally so it called you unfortunately.
+ I can hear many noise from vehicles, are you on your way?
+Uhm, I am on my way to work, just crossing the Phu Nhuan corner to reach my office then.

Thank you so so much, Mr handsome Prince.

 

[VetMini]

...No comments, please.

English is funny.

 

[ptm0412]

English is funny.

Yes, it's funny. The phrase "no + noun" seems always singular noun, not plural; but on earth always exists exceptions
Thanks for your correction.

 

[cadafi]

Yes, it's funny. The phrase "no + noun" seems always singular noun, not plural; but on earth always exists exceptions
Thanks for your correction.

Sometimes we should be hand-in-hand to play Chinese chess and drink red wine.
Miss you, Cheetit Oldman!

 

[Anne1811]

Sometimes we should be hand-in-hand to play Chinese chess and drink red wine.
Miss you, Cheetit Oldman!

how about the tamarind fried crab food ^_^

 

[VetMini]

Please help me translate these sentences into English.

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• À, chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó.
• Em nghe tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi, chị đang ở ngoài đường hả?
• Ừ, chị đang trên đường đi làm, qua ngã 4 Phú Nhuận là tới công ty rồi.

I tend not to translate this directly, since I'm not sure they are appropriate.
With regrets, I have to admit that sometimes I find it hard to argue against the comment made by a colleague "As far day to day conversation concerned, Vietanmeses are not exactly the highest ranked in terms of politeness".

Putting the scenario into perspective and rephrase the whole conversation where appropriate, I come up with the followings (assuming Tam is calling Chin, phrases inside [ ] are optional):
- Hello, is that you, Chin? [how are you?] I got up and saw this missed call from you. Just call back to check.
("chị à" without a question mark is a call for attention, not a question. Here I assume it's a question)
- Oh, hello Tam, I am terribly sorry. Must have pressed the call button by mistake. [Anyway, it's great to hear from you, Tam]
(for minor things like these, whether they're true or not, don't try to shift blame over the phone, just appologise. You might note that down and explain later face to face)
- [It's okay.] I heard traffic noises and vehicles honking in the background. Are you outside (or, out in the street)?
- Well, yes, I'm on my way to work. The place (or, office) is just past this Phu Nhuan intersection.

Important: since you are not sure that your accent and intonation is 100% correct, stay away from strange sound like Um, Er, Oopsie,...
I hate to say this again and again: don't try to be too friendly or too casual, you can easily step over the boundary line.

 

[moneymong.pt]

I tend not to translate this directly, since I'm not sure they are appropriate.
With regrets, I have to admit that sometimes I find it hard to argue against the comment made by a colleague "As far day to day conversation concerned, Vietanmeses are not exactly the highest ranked in terms of politeness".

Putting the scenario into perspective and rephrase the whole conversation where appropriate, I come up with the followings (assuming Tam is calling Chin, phrases inside [ ] are optional):
- Hello, is that you, Chin? [how are you?] I got up and saw this missed call from you. Just call back to check.
("chị à" without a question mark is a call for attention, not a question. Here I assume it's a question)
- Oh, hello Tam, I am terribly sorry. Must have pressed the call button by mistake. [Anyway, it's great to hear from you, Tam]
(for minor things like these, whether they're true or not, don't try to shift blame over the phone, just appologise. You might note that down and explain later face to face)
- [It's okay.] I heard traffic noises and vehicles honking in the background. Are you outside (or, out in the street)?
- Well, yes, I'm on my way to work. The place (or, office) is just past this Phu Nhuan intersection.

Important: since you are not sure that your accent and intonation is 100% correct, stay away from strange sound like Um, Er, Oopsie,...
I hate to say this again and again: don't try to be too friendly or too casual, you can easily step over the boundary line.

Thank you for your dedication. I have learned the way I speak in daily life.

 

[VetMini]

Thank you for your dedication. I have learned the way I speak in daily life.

The word 'dedication' reminds me of a thing someone said a few days ago. It has somehing like "an enthusiasm to learn English".

Let us be clear about that 'enthusiasm'. I don't know how Google translate this word into Vietnamese, but if I understand it correctly, this level of dedication is not enough to learn anything, unless you think learning is a hobby.

To effectlively learn a second language, you need 'passion' at the very least. This passion then needs to turn into a determination and consequently forces you to devote your time and effort. Statistics shows that even the most talented people need certain degree of devotion in order to succeed.

 

[anhtuanle123]

unless you think learning is a hobby.

i think , it is habit , not hobby , when we have a habit , it is only as a normal operation daily , i think so

 

[VetMini]

i think , it is habit , not hobby , when we have a habit , it is only as a normal operation daily , i think so

Absolute rubbish!
Without a period, one can not say which clause goes with which. The whole paragraph is unintelligible.
'when we have a habit' is a clause (assumed)
Does it go with those preceeding or following it?

"bảy mười tuổi mới sinh không thực chính là con của lão" (trích truyện cổ)
Không có viết hoa, không dấu chấm thì biết di chúc này muốn nói đứa bé thực là con hay giả? (theo truyện, Không là tên khai sinh của đứa bé)