Tuesday, September 11, 2007
I'm a Geek...and I know it!
The CBC aired a show the other night that was intended to "Test the Nation" on our language ability. It was a very clever show and you could take the interactive test while watching the show on TV or log onto their website and take the test there. I often comment on how upsetting it is for me to see many basic grammar rules misused (subject and verb agreement, the use of double negatives, dangling modifiers, etc) and it sometimes irks me when people make very basic spelling mistakes (to/too, who's/whose, there/their/they're). I hate to admit this, but I am pretty uptight when it comes to these things. I blame this on me Majoring in English in university and teaching advanced grammar in the ESL schools I've taught at. Of course, on the blog and in e-mail and Facebook messages, I try to be a little more relaxed about writing and language. I am trying to let the blog be my place for free-writing and stream of consciousness-type writing. I do try to turn a blind eye if I spot mistakes in my writing, but it's something I must learn to relax with. I get angry when I see stupid/careless mistakes in my posts, but I need to learn to not be so anal about things.
I love English tests, word games, word puzzles, Scrabble, and anything to do with English grammar and vocabulary. Hubby and I took the "Test the Nation: Watch Your Language" test the other night, and I was very disappointed in myself. I scored 66/70. That's 94%...not 100%! True, I'm still a nerd, but I still didn't get a perfect score.
My score breakdown is as follows:
Spelling, Eh! 5/5
Modern English 4/4
Everyday Mistakes 10/10
Made in Canada 11/12
Nursery Rhymes 4/4
Euphamisms 4/5
Word Origins 7/8
Language Terms 4/4
Txt Talk 5/5
Plurals 4/4
The Arts 3/3
What The...? 2/2
Expressions 3/4
Though I pulled an "A" on the test, I wasn't thoroughly pleased with myself. I was a bit peeved that I got all the grammar, spelling, vocabulary and linguistics questions correct, but had trouble with some of the word origins questions. I thought the word origins questions would be something like "Which language is the root for this word?" or "Is this originally a Germanic or Latin word?". I would have been okay if they asked "What is the meaning of this word in Latin?". How on earth am I supposed to know what a nickname is for a person from Saskatoon? Do you know what a "BC Special" is? I thought it was marijuana. Apparently, it's a type of housing. Those questions stumped me.
How large is your lexicon? How versed are you in the vernacular? Take the test and find out here.
| You Scored an A |
 You got 10/10 questions correct. It's pretty obvious that you don't make basic grammatical errors. If anything, you're annoyed when people make simple mistakes on their blogs. As far as people with bad grammar go, you know they're only human. And it's humanity and its current condition that truly disturb you sometimes. |
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City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
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16 comments:
After getting a perfect score on the verbal section of the GRE, I am exempt from all language-related tests. :)
My spelling and grammar are terrible. I don't know why they let me teach English in this country. Ah, I know. It's because I'm a man, I am "Western"-looking and I speak English. Yes, that's why.
-Pete
Goodness! I may end up irritating you - especially with my spelling - I really suck at it.
But agree, especially here in the Philippines, the use and command of the English language is gradually deteriorating - and to think we are "supposed to be" the only English speaking Asian country.
Geez.
Diesel:
You got a perfect score on the GRE? Wow! You are my hero, my friend!
I would certainly write any type of test for verbal reasoning or analytical writing before ever taking a quantitative reasoning or any math related test! LOL! This may sound bad, but there's a reason I'm an English teacher! Math and I are not the best of friends. Yes, I know we tell students to have a positive look on things and not to think they can't ace a certain subject, but I will be the first to admit that I am not good at math! Thank goodness my husband is! LOL!
Pete:
Yes, they must have hired you to teach English because of your Pierce Brosnan good looks! ;)
Louann:
Oh no! I would never be irritated by you! Your writing is SUPERB!!! :) I love the way you write. I just can't stand these types of mistakes:
1) There going to the mall after school.
2) She don't know nothing!
3) We went to a restaurant and we ate to much and then we went home and could'nt sleep because we were still to full and finally we fell asleep after 1 o'clock AM and then had to get up in a few hours because we had to go to work!
4) Mine and his brothers went to the same school.
5) Why don't you have dinner with Albert and I tomorrow night?
Just little things like those make me shudder. I'm really not that horrible, am I? Plus, I will be the first to admit that I make mistakes. I try to catch them and when I do notice my mistakes, I just get frustrated with myself. Obsessive compulsive? I don't know. Maybe. Sometimes. LOL!
PS. Please tell me that you didn't think there wasn't anything wrong with those sentences! ;) xoxo
Louann:
One more thing :) Filipinos do have an excellent command of English! My mom and her sisters are all amazing writers! It always amazes me how English is not their first language! My mom is a very good writer. She's got a true gift for the written word. In fact, some of my Korean students have said that they've gone to the Philippines to study English!
Anyway, I'm off to check out your blog. You do realize that it's part of my daily internet surfing routine, right? ;)
i got 9/10! grrrr.
My engrish sucks! I think it's the spirit behind the writing, instead of the grammar.
Lighten up C? Take a chill pill!LOL
I worked 14 hours yesterday, and just dropped in to say hello before heading off to work.
Not even gonna take the test! I don't wanna know!!!!!!!
Hate my writting if you want to, love it if you can!!!!!!!!
I'm crazy this morning!!!!Just messin w/ya!!!!!
Uncivil:
LOL! Yes, Jimmy...You are right! I know I need to lighten up with the spelling and grammar thing. I don't know why it even bothers me. I guess when I see teenagers writing the way they do, I sometimes wonder what's going on. When I was in school, my teachers were strict with our spelling and grammar. I was proof reading a friend's kid's essay once and basic words were even written incorrectly. Words like "happin" (happen), "posed to"(supposed to), "should of"(should have), and "lechure"(lecture) just really surprised me.
Which leads me to a whole different topic: ESL students. No wonder students who study English as a second language have problems with the language. English is a tricky language for many. There are lots of rules and exceptions to those rules. Even people who have English as their primary language make mistakes. Hubby loves it when he catches a spelling mistake or a grammar mistake I've made on my blog :) He's always quick to point them out to me! LOL!
Yes, you're right about the spirit of the writing and not the grammar :) Writing is meaningful when it is written from the heart. That said, Ima gwanin check out yer blog now! ;)
*hugs*
OH I already know I suck at grammar! The way I see it is that as long as I can communicate verbally effectively then who cares if I don't follw every single grammar rule perfectly, right?
:0) Luv you too thanks for the email..
Your to, cute ChrisSy.
Just wanted to get your attention. ;)
I am a total English/grammar freak, too. I blame it on being the daughter of an English teacher.
I'll have to take that test!!
Jane, Pinks & Blues
"I'm a Geek...and I know it!"
That's the first step to solving the problem.
Chrissy! Those bunch of sentences kept me laughing all throughout. THey are very obvious teehee =)
Does your mom have a blog?? or a place on line where she writes?
Jane:
LOL! Your to funny to! Just kidding! :) By the way, I'm with you on the olives. Black, yes. Green, no. ;)
John:
Thanks for popping by. You are right indeed! It is always good to know one's strong points and one's weaknesses or flaws. I openly admit that I have many, many weak points...and that I'm a bit nerdy! ;)
Louann:
Hi! :) I actually wanted to write a post of some of the funny English sentences my students have written. They are so cute! :)
My mom doesn't have a blog. I know if she had one, she would never get off the computer! LOL! She does a lot of writing on paper. She's old school like that sometimes. She does, however, have Facebook! LOL!
I used to be like that. I would get irritated by spelling/grammer mistakes. I got over it after a while.