I really want to blog but I am afraid because I cannot speak and write good English. So, what I did is I read many blogs as many as I can, everyday. They say that if I read and read I will also be able to write good English later on.
But I noticed on some blogs I read, they are also find it difficult to write in English. But when I check their number of readers, they have small numbers of subscribers even if their blog is already old. Then I read their posts one by one and I found them very enjoyable to read. Some are also very useful, too.
So, meaning I can also blog even if my English is not good-looking over there. So I become happy. But I discovered some problems. My articles are not being allowed by paid to write sites and also by some bloggers where I want to be guest blogger. This mean that I cannot make my traffic a lot and my source of income is very limited. Sometimes, I also feel as if nobody’s reading them anymore at all.
Now I learned my lesson very well. Even if I cannot write very good English I can still make a blog. But however, I still have to improve my English because I want to earn more money and I also want to have many visitors in my blog. I also understand that I should not be ashamed if I am not that good in English because I am sure many will help me here.
Seriously speaking, I made this post to let everybody know that it is hard to make a good post if you are not fluent in English. I am also not insulting anyone here because I know I still have plenty of improvements to do with my writing.
So if you think you have to improve your English, there are some sites that can help you. I personally read posts from Daily Writing Tips and visit their forum. Sometimes, I also ask Dr. Grammar.
This is not a paid post.
Related post:
Daily Writing Tips – An Effective Guide for Effective Writing
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Article Source: Humane Blogging Tips
Is my English Good-looking Over There?
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31 comments:
May 22, 2008 at 8:29 AM
Linked you already..visit http://www.phblogger.net
May 22, 2008 at 8:56 AM
I just saw it, Lhurey. Thanks and hope you also read my posts.
May 22, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Hi G.A.,
I have the same concerns and sometimes I get a hard time trying to find the right word.
I do strive to write the best I can and to keep learning in order to improve my writing.
May 22, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Very good attitude, Anthony. I hope all bloggers will do their best to increase their knowledge.
Thanks for dropping by.
May 22, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Very nicely put. I read your blog every time I visit (from EC).
Your English is pretty darn good. Heck, some of the folks here in the USA (born & raised here) don't speak the lingo too well either.
Consider how many of us even KNOW any of the WORDS in your language (what IS your language?).
You are doing fine. Most of the time, it is pretty easy to actually figure out what you mean if not the actual grammar of it.
Take care and keep on blogging!!!
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
May 22, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Hi Pam,
Being a Filipino, I am proud to say we belong to the best English speaking nation in Asia.
However, we still cannot help but admire the Americans when they speak English.
By the way, you're among My Serious Droppers list on my other blog - Humane Blogging Tips.
Thanks for admiring my posts.
May 22, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Funny post. But I guess my blog belongs to the "not very good-looking english" blog. =)
May 22, 2008 at 11:30 PM
I agree with what Pam said and I find you very easy to read and it's easy to grasp your meaning. I am from the USA and I mess up consistently, no one is perfect and there are so many grammar police around that love to point out all mistakes which is fine because I ignore their arrogance. You're doing great.
May 23, 2008 at 12:49 AM
I personally think that high competence in English is not a requirement to blog. You only need to be able to write and get your message clearly.
On a related note, occasional misspellings and incorrect grammar gives your writing a sense of rawness and sincerity.
I don't think there's a significant number of people who will find such errors unforgivable.
So keep writing and keep improving.
May 23, 2008 at 8:36 AM
I can completely relate to this post. I also sometimes have a hard time writing in English and constructing my sentences. It's funny because back then in college I used to write for our school paper. That was the time when I was seriously into books. I don't have the luxury of time now to read maybe that's why. Hehe.
Great post by the way. Keep up the good work sir.
May 23, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Hi Girlforallstatus,
I must admit, I checked it carefully to ensure that the mistakes will look funny rather than offensive - ala Jimmy Santos.
Hi Jude,
Thanks for appreciating this post. I hope Pam's vision towards American English will awaken others that English language should not be afraid of.
You're right, Fitz. The message being clear is the more important factor in blogging. Bloggers like us need not always be a good writer.
Hi Pinoyrak,
It was my dream one time to be a school writer but time did not allow me. But now, I am happy with blogging.
By the way, I will appreciate it much if you'll call me Angel instead of sir.
That's my real nickname though.
To all of the above,
Thanks for the wonderful comments. They inspire me to do better.
May 23, 2008 at 11:37 AM
I think your English is pretty good. I admit I can find it a little hard to read but I can always figure out what you're trying to say. :)
May 23, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Keep at it!!! You're doing great.
Isn't it terrible that us English speaking nations seem to want the world to conform to our way of speaking. :(
I wish I could speak more than 1 language.
May 23, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Hi CC and LighteningsBlogworld,
I am glad to know both of you understand my simple English. Filipinos love to speak English even those who really did not study English. If we are wrong, we just laugh about it.
By the way, I can teach you Filipino language (Tagalog) for free...lol!
Thanks for dropping by.
May 23, 2008 at 1:06 PM
You hide it very well. I would have never realized that you were still learning. I do not agree with CastoCreations ( nothing against them )but I have never really found it hard to follow what you are talking about. Keep up the good work!
May 23, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Hi Tammy,
Actually, I intentionally made the the post title and first 4 paragraph full of errors or very simple English. If you'll notice, the 5th paragraph started with "Seriously speaking".
Here in the Philippines, we call that "English carabao" esp. the way I wrote the post title!
Anyway, thanks for finding my English well. It adds confidence to me as a blogger.
May 23, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Are you talking to me? lol! Honestly I'm hurt hahahaha! lol! I am a reader of your blog, and I think your writing now isn't as good as your previous post, I don't know what eats you lol!
You know? I should write this post not you, because I find you’re writing so eloquent.
Heniways, I am so happy with your English speaking commenter by giving you good feedbacks, at least you haven't had a comment from a fellow Filipino telling you to "stick to TAGALOG" and let the first world English Filipino user "speak".
That hurts right?
When I read that in my comment box, I sigh, and I weep (lol! That’s exaggeration), but after a while, what the heck? I know, I am better than “her”. Can she write a very good Filipino like me? Lol! I have to stand and tell her face that I can write well in English too or at least I am trying.
Diba?
May 24, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Ayan mali mali ang grammar ko lol!
May 24, 2008 at 1:47 AM
Don't feel bad, my native language is english and I have terrible grammar and spelling also. Some people have even pointed this out on my blog ;)
I think its awesome that you are trying your best to overcome that though!
May 24, 2008 at 5:50 AM
Hi Manilenya,
I am lucky enough to receive good comments from my English speaking commenters.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Don't feel bad. Take it as a challenge to do better next time.
Hi Pagedlife,
Thanks for the support. Now at least I know, I am in the right path of my new found career - blogging.
May 24, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Hey Angel!
You Wrote:
"By the way, I can teach you Filipino language (Tagalog) for free...lol!"
What about posting sometimes (make it relevant of course!) and giving us the words in BOTH languages, making it a lesson and the blog post more interesting to some folks out there interested in that sort of thing?
That would be WONDERFUL!
I have had training in Spanish (2 yrs) and in French (5 years here and in England!) and I'm ALWAYS looking for new things to learn about languages.
I've taught myself some Russian and Arabic.
The beauty of most languages (NOT ours!) is that they are 'phonetic' - they are pronounced as they are written.
English, not so much.
I think it would be super if we could come here and you could help us understand things in your language.
I certainly see it in other EC blogs and I have NO IDEA what they are saying.
It's sure fun to know some of those things. It comes up in conversations sometimes too.
I've learned phrases in Urdu (juta pe lo) and Finnish (aku ankh) and some words in some other languages.
I can count some in Japanese thanks to my daughter who learned some of the language in grade school.
It's a weird mix. Why not add Tagalog to it? ;)
Thanks for your consideration. I'm a willing student!
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
p.s. please ask if something doesn't seem clear in English to YOU. if i can't figure it out, i can find out! then I learn something too!!! :)
May 24, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Hi Pam,
I am surprise to know you're taking my joke seriously. Although I understand some foreigners who come here loves to learn to speak Tagalog, this is the first time I heard a non-Filipino blogger who is interested to learn about it.
Anyway, this is a great challenge for me esp. to all Filipino bloggers. It is hard to do but I think it's worth trying to do.
For sure, I will think about it and if I will do it, I will have a different approach, as in not like the English-Tagalog dictionary on line.
But if you like to view some, I am sure there is one on line.
Thanks for your suggestion. I will definintely consider that.
May 25, 2008 at 5:38 AM
Having the goal to improve your English is a great idea and I hope you do achieve it.
The people who told you reading is the best way to start are smart, but you also want to hear English as much as you can so that you can get how it sounds when people actually speak it. It helps with writing in a way that is natural to read.
May 25, 2008 at 6:53 AM
Very true, Holly. But I only have small problems with regards to hearing someone who speaks English clearly. Fortunately, we have English news, tv shows and Hollywood films to learn from me.
Actually, this is also the reason why Filipinos love to speak English. We can easily catch up with English. Pam' right. We have almost the same alphabet.
Thanks for the suggestion. I will take your advise.
May 25, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Your English is pretty good, really. I am also with you for improving language with the help of blogging. (With this in mind only, H had launched my second blog 'The Writing Pages' recently)
But I understand that people visit blogs if the content is interesting to read and has substance. Even if the language is plain & simple, readers won't stay away from such blogs. I'm confident that you've really achieved this objective. Now, for improving the language, there are many blogs to read and of course, books too!
Great thoughts. Thank you for sharing.
May 25, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Hi Meghna,
With you saying that makes me confident. We have been virtual friends for quite some time and you know that you're one of my inspiration here.
Anyway, I always find time to read blogs because I believe that the search for improvement does not end.
It's again my pleasure having you near, and I will find time to visit your second blogs.
Thanks as always.
May 26, 2008 at 10:06 AM
My native language is not English. I'm Burmese (Myanmar). I don't write English in good way too. But what I understand is the more we write, the better we can do in writing. Keep it up your writing.
May 26, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Hi Myo,
You're right. Practice makes perfect. Your English is quite good though so just keep learning.
By the way, I am sad to hear the bad news about the disaster your country experiences recently. I hope you can get through it soon.
Thanks for dropping by.
May 27, 2008 at 5:41 AM
It's easy to gain basic communication skills in English, but it's a very difficult language to master. Many native speakers of American English have a horrible time with it.
Often times, foreigners speak better English than natives!
My suggestion is to keep things simple. This is good news for you as a blogger. Simplicity is usually the best choice.
May 27, 2008 at 6:33 AM
I also noticed that, Elliot. I will try to be as simple as I can be.
Thanks for the suggestion.
August 6, 2008 at 2:02 AM
i can recommend a site, www.engrish.com.
sincerely,
nobe
http://www.deariago.blogspot.com
http://www.nobe112681.blogspot.com
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