Definitely, writing a letter to a friend who has known me for years is far more easy to handle for me. Hardly do I need to consider about the tone, the grammar, the spelling, and even the thesis, because he understands me so much that he can pick out my mood simply from my handwriting. However, while writing to the editor, I have to take notice to everything, including the thesis, the frame, the wording, and the punctuation mark.
Writing to the editor is more time consuming and less casual. I have to focus on something in my essay. Actually, even in China I did not feel like writing a letter, because seldom do I express myself vividly and thoroughly. In the letter to my friend, I was always just talking about how much I miss the days we spent together and about everything interesting that happened to me those days. I did not have emphasis at all. However, in the letter to the editor, I tried to describe the situation first, then put forward my idea with analysis and think twice before every sentence is completed.
Talking about the difference between writing in Chinese and English, without a doubt, I am more familiar with my native tongue. I can quote hundreds of classic idioms and poetry to express myself implicitly or exactly. But when writing in English, I have to rely on the dictionary, even with which I still cannot use various vocabulary and sentence patterns.
All in all, there is still a long way for me to go before I can use fluent English to compose the essay to different audiences.
I am totally agreed with your point of view, because I believe most immigrates are write better in their native languages than English. For example, I know in Spanish there are words that you cannot find the same meaning in English. Same for Chinese, there are words you just cannot find the identical meaning for its. In addition, I think writing a letter to my friend is easier than writing a letter to editor of newspaper. You must be careful of what you write on the letter, but if the letter is for a friend you may joke around and use drawings to express yourself.
回复删除i am very proud that you can also write in your native tongue, and in English is well. i am upset that i never took the initiative to learn how to write in Spanish. and it VERY difficult sometimes to get your point across in English, when you know exactly what to say in your native language
回复删除Its cool that you are trying so hard to better yourself in english.when i came I did not make sence of anything that was said in english, but I pulled through and i know you willl do the same.
回复删除yes i agree the letter to the editor was very time consuming :/
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