Dear Nice2u,
It wasn't my intention to instruct you. There are all kinds of people here and I try to be helpful. In your case I showed how Canadians have certain problems of the same kind that Chinese have to overcome. Hopefully you weren't trying to put me on the defensive when you remarked in brackets about instructing.
I am a Westerner living in Canada, and know the United States quite well, and also England, so Ido have some things of value to share on certain subjects. I've also lived almost twice as long as the oldest of you here, bar Tim and David and have tried various approaches to life and seen a lot of them. So in that regard I also have some useful things to offer.0 You can, of course, take my suggestions, or leave them. Nobody here instructs anybody else except when it comes to what is good English and what isn't. And in that regard, not very many people seem willing to listen to the fact that it is not done, to write without capital letters, and to write run-on sentences filled with commas. However, that is their loss. The whole world doesn't yet run on chat room talk.
As for Westerners not minding poor grammar and word usage. Let me assure you that we do when it counts and we don't feel any longer that we need to be compassionate and understanding of new and struggling speakers of English. We make great allowances, but if somebody speaks in a particularly illiterate way they won't progress very far with an English speaking employer or with reasonably well educated English people for long.
Those who think these things don't matter should take into account that there still aren't very many really capable English speakers in your country -- yet. However, if you have followed the posts here you will see that many of the students here intend to become very good at English. As soon as you have people available who are very good at English they will get the jobs that require it, and unless you have cultivated some other kinds of talents that are much appreciated, such as excellent sales ability, you will be replaced by those who can use English fluently. Don't feel too confident that you don't need grammar or punctuation. That is only at present. It will change.
Be careful where you learn your English. Neil is among educated people and speaks good, educated English. If you don't intend to have a job among educated people, but prefer to unload trucks and work in a warehouse or on a factory floor it won't matter much how much you swear, or how coarsely you speak. If you learn your English from people with whom you work at those jobs it won't matter how fluently and well you speak Mandarin or Cantonese, when you speak to English speaking people with the tongue of an uneducated person. They will see you as such. How else could they see you? The people who speak the same way as you do won't notice, of course. But you won't get the jobs or the chance to move up.
I try to tell the truth as I see it, and I don't say things or give advice that I don't work on doing myself.
Please don't try to tell me that the person who speaks uneducated English, and the one who has a high education and speaks excellent English are intrinsicly equal, or maybe even that the one with the lower education is a better person. I know those things. I'm only talking about the way the world goes 'round.
Sure, you can say "Long time, no see." It's interestisng to me to learn that that originally was a Chinese expression. English picks up words and phrases from everywhere. It is amazing to read about the origins of many English words.
Of course, "Long time, no see" is very informal, used only among friends, or maybe with somebody you feel at ease with. It works there, but wouldn't work in many other situations.
Many employers believe that if you have had the perseverance to complete your education well and earn your degree, or degrees, you will similarly have perseverance in working for them. Everything you learn in school isn't useful. That's true. But you learn things from what you do. How to research and present papers properly with proper footnotes and references, for instance. And many other things. The idea of going to university isn't just to learn for a job. That is a real mistake. Good employers want well-rounded people. Not just somebody who can do a certain job, and doesn't know much more. Lots of times what you learned acts as a background for what you will learn later on the job. It may help you to understand, for instance, just how vital certain things are, and why you shouldn't take short-cuts, or break the rules. They act as a foundation for the practical study and performance.
MBA courses are very useful if you intend to go into business. Everyone isn't suited for business. If you are, go for it! You won't become well-rounded in your general knowledge, but you will know how to make your way in business. My son has his MBA and his Ph.d without dissertation so I'm not talking through my hat.
I suppose I have agreed that learning in class is important and learning on the job is efficient. They are usually rather different from each other. That's why experience is treasured by employers. Of course, there are those who want a fresh slate on which they can write their own ways.
Best to you, Mary
