Natalia's Post August, 25th

I began to learn English language in my first year of university whit[11] the teacher Simon Higginson, this class is very difficult for me because all classmate have a base in English but I have learned very much in this[12] years.In the beginning of the course I not enjoy [13] to learn the English language because I not [14] understand nothing. I was unsuccessful in the first years to the class of English because it was scaring. I don’t know what kind of learner I am and not find nothing easy about learning English because this language have a structure different from the Spanish language in the logic.I find difficult the form of think in the English language for the communication with other people because the structure to speak is different..I don’t know about English culture but I think that is completely different of[15] my culture because I know some people from the English country and they think of different form.
The English language for me is useful in some occasions as in the university and when I was working of part-time in a restaurant but in my daily life is not useful because my family and the people common [16] not speak English language and this people don’t have opportunity of to learn the English language.
In my opinion the English language is the tool of communication for some countries but is not necessary for all people. The people have his own language and culture and I feel that it is not necessary to press [17] them.

[11](S) Spelling
[12](WF) Wrong Form
[13](T) Tense
[14](WW) Wrong Word
[15](WW)Wrong Word
[16](WO)Wrong Order
[17](WW) Wrong Word

Sebastian's Post September, 8th

The typical Fiestas patrias means nothing special for[11] me. Because, in Chile doesn't exist or haven’t great traditions. Because, for the common people in the country the Fiestas patrias just means[12] eat and drink a lot for two days, and the reflection or the true mean around this date is unknown for the common people. I think that the bad education it[13] 's guilty for the common people's disinformation about the real mean[14] of the fiestas patrias.Well, for the 18 September [15] Chileans celebrate the first government reunion and this is the base for that Chile can calls itself an independent country. Is[16] for that reason that this date the Chileans celebrate eating and drinking in excess, the typical food of Chile and other countries in sudamerican is the * Asado¨ and *empanadas* or *anticuchos¨ but you can to find [17] this foods in the other countries in the region. And the typical cocktail is the cola de mono and the more popular drink is the Chicha and wine with coke and when you drink in excess this drink you should sick.My best 18 september [18] was the last year, because my girlfriend leave[19] of the country and it was a great fare well.

[11](WW)
[12](T)
[13]Extra Word
[14](WW)
[15](WO)
[16](DP) Deletion of pronoun
[17](TO is not needed)
[18](WO) Word Order
[19](T)

Sebastian's Post August, 18th

My name is Sebastian Llantén and I live in ñuñoa. I have 23 years old and alive[11] in Santiago nine year ago and currently[12] I `m studying geography in the university of Chile and it is my last year in my career. Before I lived in Punta Arenas all my childhood and I think that is a great city for a boy, because I could play with the nature and this city is very safely for a kid, [13] moreover I could see wonderful landscape and I could play with snow and skate on ice and is [14] very funny for a little kid. My family is composed[15] for five persons my dad, my mom, my sister, my brother and me. But I live only with my mom and my sister, because my dad live in other place and my brother live with his wife and his little son. My nephew is very young, because he was born two days ago, and I `m very happy because is a beautiful boy and his name is Nicolas. Currently besides of study I `m working in the military geography institute for my professional practice and I think that is very funny[16] because you can read, talk for all building and the people are very friendly.

[11](WW)
[12](WW)
[13](P)
[14](T)
[15](WE) Wrong Expression
[16](WW)

Sebastian's Post August, 25th

My experience with learning English has had highs and lows,[11] because in the school I had good performance and I had a good teacher, but I think that I had a very few classes of English. When I sign[12] in university I had a bad experience, because I disapprove[13] the chance in English two and reprove[14] the class, because this time I not liked study English and I not went to all class, but now I like go to class, because my teacher is very motivating and he gives time to explain when I can’t understand in class, the major time I have problems with the vocabulary and my teacher explain of good form. Now, I enjoy with the English class and before I not enjoyed the English class. I think that learning English is not difficult but I feel that me study is very poor because with English I am very lazy. Personally when I find a web page in English I haven’t problems for read in English, but is[15] very difficult for me write or talk in English.
About the English culture, I feel very close because I hear[16] music in English and I have a sister that is English teacher but as the proverb says: “in house blacksmith, wooden knife”.
Finally, I know many people who speak English, for example my sister and me[17] girlfriend speak English. And I think that the learn English is very useful for[18] me, because I can read English text or see web site in English.

[11](P) Punctuation
[12](T) Tense
[13] (WW) Wrong Word
[14](WW) Wrong Word
[15](DP) Deletion of Pronouns
[16](WW) Wrong Word
[17](WW) Wrong Word
[18](PP) Preposition

Posts

Jaime has very interesting ideas. I can always follow what he wants to say even though sometimes he has some spelling mistakes which I believe it has something to do with writing too fast. He has some problems with mixing words but they can be improved. Good job!

Sebastian has some problems with mixing English and Spanish. You can notice this by the way he uses prepositions. However, I can still understanding most of his ideas and you can see he tries to do his best in some activities that are not that interesting for him. Keep working!!

Natalia has improved a lot and it shows in this last post. Maybe she was more committed to this topic or day after day she has improved. I couldn’t find big mistakes and after all, communication is the most important thing of learning a new language. Keep working!! Well done!!

This has been a very good experience. I hope I can help them to improve their English but what I would like more, to make them understand that communication is the main point of learning a new language. After all, we would have our own like to keep learning.

Common Mistakes

I can see the same type of mistakes in their writing. So, I believe it will be easier to identify those in their future piece of writing.

Most of Sebastian writing problems is wrong words. I believe this could happen because he is using a translator or bilingual dictionary that it is not giving them the right words. Also, this could happen because he wants to write more things about himself so he tries to use some words that he doesn’t know, what would be great.

In Natalia’s case, it is almost the same. She uses a lot of Spanglish, this mean she tries to express her ideas in Spanish using the same logic in English. This can be solved but I believe it is going to take more time to work it out. Anyways, I really like the idea of at least, try to do the blogs and improve her English.

Finally, Jaime understands better the idea of writing in English although he needs to improve his vocabulary. This means he also has problems with wrong words and expressions. Also, he needs to check better his writing because he has some spelling mistakes that I believe happen because he doesn’t read his blog after finishing it.

Diary: first impression

First day!!
I can feel how much I have improved my English in these years. I can remember when I was all alone in US without knowing any English and then how I could improve so much afeter a couple of months.
After entering to English Pedagogy I started to realize my learning and it is the same feeling that I had today.
I made some of the same mistakes these students did in their blogs and now I can realize the Spanish influence that we have to deal with.
So, I hope they receive my future comments in a good way and after all, they use them to improve their leven of English.