A quote from my (least-favorite) class ever:
“When your font color is black, you won’t see it on the black box. But if you change the text to white, even though you can’t see it on the white canvas, if you move it over the box, look, now you can see it.”
OMG, it’s just like in real life :D
I swear I'm going insane...
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Bad Messages (Part 2)
Bad Messages (Part 2)
I'd like to preface this message with some messaging tips.
1. It's best to type your message with proper capitalization.
2. When your message feels a bit short, try adding more words instead of more letters to the word.
Also three periods is generally more than enough.
3. It's best to simply tell someone
5. Do your best not to confuse the person you are writing so that they can understand what you are trying to say.
Now, on to the bad messages of the week.
For all I know, this guy might truly be a nice guy. Unfortunately, he is definitely coming on in a creepy way.
I don't know how he got a glimpse of my "enchanting body" but I'm mostly concerned that he is living in an Egypt businessman o.O
It confuses me when people tell me that their English is great. In my experience, people who have great English skills don't feel the need to tell people that.
I don't know why he has two different ages and I am slightly concerned that he is teaching people :(
Today was an especially sexy week.
But it seems I have only myself to blame...?
I originally thought this next message was a joke because it was so strange. I thought "Maybe, someone is very confused?"
But in the end, I was assured that they were in fact NOT JOKING. Eek.
Finally, I got a very strange message from a very strange profile.
The fact that it was in French was fine ... however, my French is listed as only intermediate ability while English is my native tongue (just like he says English is his). So I just found it very odd that he would message me in French o.O
BUT what really confused me was when I looked at his picture and realized that there is no way in hell that he is 20 years old. Creepy o.O
I'd like to preface this message with some messaging tips.
1. It's best to type your message with proper capitalization.
2. When your message feels a bit short, try adding more words instead of more letters to the word.
Also three periods is generally more than enough.
3. It's best to simply tell someone
4. When first sending a message, it's a good idea to hold off on making requests.
5. Do your best not to confuse the person you are writing so that they can understand what you are trying to say.
Now, on to the bad messages of the week.
For all I know, this guy might truly be a nice guy. Unfortunately, he is definitely coming on in a creepy way.
I don't know how he got a glimpse of my "enchanting body" but I'm mostly concerned that he is living in an Egypt businessman o.O
It confuses me when people tell me that their English is great. In my experience, people who have great English skills don't feel the need to tell people that.
I don't know why he has two different ages and I am slightly concerned that he is teaching people :(
Today was an especially sexy week.
But it seems I have only myself to blame...?
I originally thought this next message was a joke because it was so strange. I thought "Maybe, someone is very confused?"
But in the end, I was assured that they were in fact NOT JOKING. Eek.
Finally, I got a very strange message from a very strange profile.
The fact that it was in French was fine ... however, my French is listed as only intermediate ability while English is my native tongue (just like he says English is his). So I just found it very odd that he would message me in French o.O
BUT what really confused me was when I looked at his picture and realized that there is no way in hell that he is 20 years old. Creepy o.O
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
American English
How to sound American when speaking English...
Like most native English speakers, I can understand English regardless of whether it's Australian, British, South African, Indian, Canadian, American ... whatever English it is. Sometimes a specific vocabulary word will throw me off at first but for the most part it's mutually intelligible.
No English is more correct than any other and I like them all the same.
That said. There have been some folks who have asked me about sounding more American when speaking English. Certain words or phrases are just not used in the United States and if you are trying to blend in, you may blow your cover by using words common in the UK or Europe (among other places).
So, with that in mind, I've created a mini guide for words to avoid if you want people to think you are American or to think that you learned English in America.
I'm focusing on words from British English mainly because I know more about it and it seems to be more common in Europe. Also, I've noticed other words that are used in British English are used in Australian and other non-European countries.
Note: Of course, not everyone in the United States uses the same words or talks the same way (just like anywhere else). It's possible that some areas of the United States may use words I've listed as Brit speak but in my experience it's not common.
Americans who disagree or have had another experience, please feel free to comment :)
"Uni"
I love this word! :D
It seems like such a simple and effective way of referring to universities/colleges.
Sadly, we don't really say it in the United States. Most of the time people just say "college". Also, it doesn't really matter whether it is technically a "university" or a "college" because we generally still call it college regardless.
Examples:
1. I thought high school was easy but college is so much more stressful.
2. My boyfriend is going to college in New York but he visits me at UC [University of Cincinnati*] sometimes.
*If people are from the same area or if it's already known what college they go to, they generally abbreviate it. Otherwise, you have to be careful with abbreviations because they can stand for multiple colleges (OSU is Ohio State University or Oklahoma State University or Oregon State University xD)
"Maths"
I noticed that many Europeans say this as well so it's interesting to me. I can see where the 's' would come from (MathematicS). Still, in the United States we pronounce it and spell it without the 's' unless we say or write the full word (mathematics).
Examples:
1. I need to finish my math homework before I can go out with my friends.
2. I really like math and science but I hate writing.
3. How much math did you have to take in high school?
"(On) holiday"
This seems to be a common term in much of the rest of the world. Still, I feel like it is rarely used in the United States in the same context.
For example, I often hear people from other countries say that they are "on holiday" when they are off from school or work or whatever.
For whatever reason, we don't really say this in the United States. We use the word 'holiday' but generally only when describing an actual national holiday. In other words, we use it to describe a day and not a state of being.
Examples:
1. I don't have school next week because it's a holiday
2. Maybe the restaurant is closed because of the holiday.
3. How are you spending the holiday(s)? [In my experience, "holidays" is only used when talking about Christmas time and New Years. Otherwise, it's a specific holiday, such as Easter.]
More often, instead of saying they are "on holiday", I hear people say that they are a) "on vacation" b) "on break" [especially if it's from school] or just c) "off".
Examples:
1. I will be on vacation from the 14th through the 18th of December.
2. Do you have any plans for the break?
3. I've requested off from work next week so I can attend the hearing.
Anyway, this is a start. I might add more in the future :)
Like most native English speakers, I can understand English regardless of whether it's Australian, British, South African, Indian, Canadian, American ... whatever English it is. Sometimes a specific vocabulary word will throw me off at first but for the most part it's mutually intelligible.
No English is more correct than any other and I like them all the same.
That said. There have been some folks who have asked me about sounding more American when speaking English. Certain words or phrases are just not used in the United States and if you are trying to blend in, you may blow your cover by using words common in the UK or Europe (among other places).
So, with that in mind, I've created a mini guide for words to avoid if you want people to think you are American or to think that you learned English in America.
I'm focusing on words from British English mainly because I know more about it and it seems to be more common in Europe. Also, I've noticed other words that are used in British English are used in Australian and other non-European countries.
Note: Of course, not everyone in the United States uses the same words or talks the same way (just like anywhere else). It's possible that some areas of the United States may use words I've listed as Brit speak but in my experience it's not common.
Americans who disagree or have had another experience, please feel free to comment :)
"Uni"
I love this word! :D
It seems like such a simple and effective way of referring to universities/colleges.
Sadly, we don't really say it in the United States. Most of the time people just say "college". Also, it doesn't really matter whether it is technically a "university" or a "college" because we generally still call it college regardless.
Examples:
1. I thought high school was easy but college is so much more stressful.
2. My boyfriend is going to college in New York but he visits me at UC [University of Cincinnati*] sometimes.
*If people are from the same area or if it's already known what college they go to, they generally abbreviate it. Otherwise, you have to be careful with abbreviations because they can stand for multiple colleges (OSU is Ohio State University or Oklahoma State University or Oregon State University xD)
"Maths"
I noticed that many Europeans say this as well so it's interesting to me. I can see where the 's' would come from (MathematicS). Still, in the United States we pronounce it and spell it without the 's' unless we say or write the full word (mathematics).
Examples:
1. I need to finish my math homework before I can go out with my friends.
2. I really like math and science but I hate writing.
3. How much math did you have to take in high school?
"(On) holiday"
This seems to be a common term in much of the rest of the world. Still, I feel like it is rarely used in the United States in the same context.
For example, I often hear people from other countries say that they are "on holiday" when they are off from school or work or whatever.
For whatever reason, we don't really say this in the United States. We use the word 'holiday' but generally only when describing an actual national holiday. In other words, we use it to describe a day and not a state of being.
Examples:
1. I don't have school next week because it's a holiday
2. Maybe the restaurant is closed because of the holiday.
3. How are you spending the holiday(s)? [In my experience, "holidays" is only used when talking about Christmas time and New Years. Otherwise, it's a specific holiday, such as Easter.]
More often, instead of saying they are "on holiday", I hear people say that they are a) "on vacation" b) "on break" [especially if it's from school] or just c) "off".
Examples:
1. I will be on vacation from the 14th through the 18th of December.
2. Do you have any plans for the break?
3. I've requested off from work next week so I can attend the hearing.
Anyway, this is a start. I might add more in the future :)
Many people could relate to my note on bad interpals messages (from several years ago). I've decided to begin documenting some of the worst messages I've received on interpals recently.
It might be unrealistic to hope that this will change anything. But I hope it will provide some examples of precisely what kinds of messages are not acceptable to send.
Bad Messages - Hall of Fame (Part 1)
Next, this message COULD have been okay. If it wasn't so obvious that a) he saw my name but didn't bother to spell it right :( and b) clearly didn't look to see that I have intermediate French skills ><
Unfortunately, this guy did not read the first sentence in my profile either.
To be continued!
It might be unrealistic to hope that this will change anything. But I hope it will provide some examples of precisely what kinds of messages are not acceptable to send.
Bad Messages - Hall of Fame (Part 1)
Aside from giving me waaaay too much (copypasta) information about himself, this one ends in the strangest request I have ever heard.
Luckily, this guy's got my name (and the spelling) right :)
I've never seen a pink message like this before so I'm super excited that interpals is trying something new. Of course, I've probably already blocked the majority of the countries most likely to send spam or scam messages. But hey, kudos to interpals :)
Unfortunately, this guy did not read the first sentence in my profile either.
To be continued!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
I've been trying to avoid any class that has anything to do with design for most of my academic career. Unfortunately, a design course focused on web content is required for my major. So, I'm currently taking a visual communication and web design course.
We've been working toward making a website and learning how to use photoshop.
It should be a really helpful skill for securing internships and jobs.
But the pace is so cripplingly slow that I can barely stand sitting in front of the computer screen folding my hands to avoid internet temptations. And stabbing myself with my pencil.
The class makes me feel like I know way more about HTML and photoshop than I ever imagined. And it's scary because I still really really don't. Certainly not aside from what I needed to learn to finish my own projects. Maybe some parts of photoshop are just easier to learn by fiddling around with it on your own.
Then, when we are learning without the computer programs, I wonder if I'm living in a blackhole where people are telling me things that I have known since I was like 12.
I don't see any of the knowledge as something that I would ever brag about (because honestly, it's not that exciting) but I am trying to figure out if we are "learning" this because people really didn't know or if everyone's time has been wasted.
For example.
"Everything you see in magazines has been photoshopped."
Dun dun DUN. Next!
"Sign language - that's a language, too."
Language is in the name of most sign languages (ex. American Sign Language). I didn't know that this had gone so unnoticed.
Easy is good. Easy is relaxing.
But it's still killing me.
And this is only Week 3.
Last semester, all of my classes felt really worthwhile and informative. This time it's been somewhat of a disappointment for a couple of them.
It makes it difficult to fend off my constant feelings of guilt about the cost of the education.
So then I try revert back to dream world and start planning a dream vacation through Scandinavia in the Winter.
We've been working toward making a website and learning how to use photoshop.
It should be a really helpful skill for securing internships and jobs.
But the pace is so cripplingly slow that I can barely stand sitting in front of the computer screen folding my hands to avoid internet temptations. And stabbing myself with my pencil.
The class makes me feel like I know way more about HTML and photoshop than I ever imagined. And it's scary because I still really really don't. Certainly not aside from what I needed to learn to finish my own projects. Maybe some parts of photoshop are just easier to learn by fiddling around with it on your own.
Then, when we are learning without the computer programs, I wonder if I'm living in a blackhole where people are telling me things that I have known since I was like 12.
I don't see any of the knowledge as something that I would ever brag about (because honestly, it's not that exciting) but I am trying to figure out if we are "learning" this because people really didn't know or if everyone's time has been wasted.
For example.
"Everything you see in magazines has been photoshopped."
Dun dun DUN. Next!
"Sign language - that's a language, too."
Language is in the name of most sign languages (ex. American Sign Language). I didn't know that this had gone so unnoticed.
Easy is good. Easy is relaxing.
But it's still killing me.
And this is only Week 3.
Last semester, all of my classes felt really worthwhile and informative. This time it's been somewhat of a disappointment for a couple of them.
It makes it difficult to fend off my constant feelings of guilt about the cost of the education.
So then I try revert back to dream world and start planning a dream vacation through Scandinavia in the Winter.
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