First, just to let you know about my background, I'm an original poster of the post, http://www.antimoon.com/forum/t7702.htm. I'm currently taking an English class. This class is discussion-driven, so most of the class time is spent on exchange of ideas and opinions between a teacher and classmates on various things, ranging from assigned novels to current events. During the discussion, I am always passive, and when I'm picked by the teacher, I always provide very simple opinions consisting of very simple sentences.
As I said in my other posts, I can communicate well via written forms of communication like email, but I can't in person or via telephone. It's probably because, for written forms of communication, I have much, infinite time to say, edit, and add what I want to say, trying to minimize any mistakes in grammar and word choice.
When I'm talking with others in-person, however, I'm expected to talk off the cuff. In person, it's inappropriate and awkward to take much time like 10~30 minutes in formulating my answers to ideas, responses, or questions. So, most of the time, I'm forced to say only simple sentences; this prevents me from expressing myself clearly. One of the reasons I think that contributes to this problem would be that I can't think in English; it's faster and more comfortable to think in my native language.
Anyway, last week, the teacher assigned essay homework due next day. I worked hard on it all by myself and handed in a final draft that was almost flawless in terms of grammar and spelling. After all the papers were marked, the teacher summoned me after class. With my paper in her hand, she asked me if I gained help from someone, implying that she is very sure that I did. I told her I did it by myself, and she gave me a suspicious look, and then just said, "Okay". It's maddening that I worked my ass off on this paper and all that she had to say was "Did someone help you on it?" Judging by how I normally perform and behave during class discussion, I can understand how and why she might’ve thought the way she did, but I just can’t help getting irritated.
I feel very bitter and even offended because my writing ability and effort didn't seem to be recognized and because I seemed to be viewed as a person who presents someone else’s work as my own. Do natives tend to think that non-natives’ oral-English ability equals or doesn’t differ much from written English ability?
.....
Sorry, I needed to rant.
As I said in my other posts, I can communicate well via written forms of communication like email, but I can't in person or via telephone. It's probably because, for written forms of communication, I have much, infinite time to say, edit, and add what I want to say, trying to minimize any mistakes in grammar and word choice.
When I'm talking with others in-person, however, I'm expected to talk off the cuff. In person, it's inappropriate and awkward to take much time like 10~30 minutes in formulating my answers to ideas, responses, or questions. So, most of the time, I'm forced to say only simple sentences; this prevents me from expressing myself clearly. One of the reasons I think that contributes to this problem would be that I can't think in English; it's faster and more comfortable to think in my native language.
Anyway, last week, the teacher assigned essay homework due next day. I worked hard on it all by myself and handed in a final draft that was almost flawless in terms of grammar and spelling. After all the papers were marked, the teacher summoned me after class. With my paper in her hand, she asked me if I gained help from someone, implying that she is very sure that I did. I told her I did it by myself, and she gave me a suspicious look, and then just said, "Okay". It's maddening that I worked my ass off on this paper and all that she had to say was "Did someone help you on it?" Judging by how I normally perform and behave during class discussion, I can understand how and why she might’ve thought the way she did, but I just can’t help getting irritated.
I feel very bitter and even offended because my writing ability and effort didn't seem to be recognized and because I seemed to be viewed as a person who presents someone else’s work as my own. Do natives tend to think that non-natives’ oral-English ability equals or doesn’t differ much from written English ability?
.....
Sorry, I needed to rant.