(no subject)

[emmuzka]

There was English tutoring at work today. Very educational. In Finland we don’t usually learn English punctuation or using the semicolon or the differences between American and British English. Or differences between which and that.. For my text sample, the teacher deducted that I

have an affinity to throw the article the in *lots* of places,

have an aversion towards semicolon

has problems catching the nuances of punctuation concerning independent clauses

should stop writing can’t and won’t, and stop writing “rapport”, it’s report, damnit! (Really. She even gave me two pre-written post-it notes to stick to my screen.)

Now I’m traumatized. I will not be able to write anything ever again.

Tomorrow there will be a quick brush up course to proof reading. Joy! :)

Comments

[franklymydear.livejournal.com]

I think I might have an aversion to the semicolon too. I tend to use dashes instead.

[emmuzka.livejournal.com]

Semicolon isn't something that we use in our native language; therefore, it doesn't flow in my texts...

[breny.livejournal.com]

>differences between American and British English.<

It's strange hearing someone say that since I never considered that people learning English would be taught differences between American & British English. I mean I realize there is differences but never looked at it from that perspective.

As for your writing, I wonder how many people reading it would find any faults.

[emmuzka.livejournal.com]

At school, they aren't thought that much. Still, when you write professionally, you are somehow expected to know the differences. Yes, I know the differences between organize and organise and percent and per cent, but when it comes to the lenght of American and English dashes and on which side of the quotes the periods, commas and exclamation points come, argh!

[teroyks.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry too much about the dashes: even different style guides disagree on their use, on both sides of the pond. Punctuation and commas is easy to remember: the Americans do it weirdly. :-)

[twindouble.livejournal.com]

Now I’m traumatized. I will not be able to write anything ever again.

How very Finnish! Sometimes I feel that language teaching in Finland has been designed to make people be afraid of using the language in question.

(I hate semicolons!)

[emmuzka.livejournal.com]

I think that the Finnish teaching has made people afraid of talking the language; not so much writing it.

[rowanna73.livejournal.com]

I doubt less than 1 in 10 Finns can actually use a semicolon in their own language...

Funny, I remember having learnt (on several occasions) about the differences between British and American English in highschool.

[emmuzka.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I don't remember that. But on the other hand, I never learn any languages in school.