again about Language barrire

crystal90
Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:08:03 +0000

well. I’m also an international student who is attending college this fall.
After reading through all the posts before, I found out that most of them are more focusing on how to get along with a daily English, speaking, listening and communicating stuff. but not so much emphasised on studing and cultural aspects.
For me, i live in a big city here with a really prestigious University, so I started to make friends with the american students who were doing their oversea studies here since I knew that i was going to US college.
Actually I’ve had an American boyfriend for several months. Basicly we speak english with each other everyday, talking about different stuff and making fun of each other. (He’s back to States yesterday though…sigh~)
I’ll say that I can understand 99% of his english, but with other americans especially from south is range from 80% to 95%, Don’t know why.
My main problem here is about reading and writing. I really want to get good grades in college, coz I’m still thinking of transfering to other better colleges . My vocabulary is very very limited.also the american culture and history is an obscurity for me, even it’s so short like only 200 years.
Like each time I tried to watch stuff like the daily show. I even though I understand what they say, I can’t laugh coz I don’t know the background of that thing or who in hell they are laughing at.
I have had a basic knowledge about US geo, history, and social background. Much more than most Americans to my homeland- China. But it’s not enough for any conversation in a deeper culture or politic base. I still havn’t found a quick and efficient way to resolve it. And I’m desperately mad for my lack of knowledage, and my lliteracy.
besides my writing skill is really really bad. My essays are such a horrible mess, with limited phrases, inaccurated words and cliche.
Can anyone help.