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Christ is Risen!

If any benevolent eyes look to this post, then I want to know a matter.

How to write correctly into English about the quality of knowing the English language?

Knower of English language? English language knower? Any other phrase?

Thank you.

m+

Dear Marian,

Indeed He Is Risen!

One good way to express this is to say that one is "fluent" in the English language.


In Christ,
Dn. Robert

If it is expertise in the written form of the language, this person could be labeled a wordsmith. Such as in a declarative statement, "John is a wordsmith."

Terry

On resumes (or on CVs as they are called in Europe) which I have seen (and composed), one would write 'fluent in xxx (English, Greek, Russian, French, etc.)--so, I am in agreement with Deacon Robert.

Alice

We use the term CV in Canada as well. If it is for a CV then you would have a heading languages:
English:
Reading-excellent
Writing - poor
Speaking: basic

or what ever terms apply. It is best not to exaggerate your level of knowledge. Also include if you have passed the standard "English as a Foreign Language Test" or English as a Second Language Test" and give your score.

For example, even though I took French all through public school, high school and one year of university under languages I cite:
French:
Reading: excellent
Speaking: poor
writing: null

Brethren in Risen Christ,

I appreciate your answers. It seems that fluent is a more common term used in CVs.

Thank you, merci beaucoup, danke schoen, efxaristo poly, multumesc, grazie.

m+

Hi Marian!
And don't forget "Dyakoyu" [Ukrainian Thank You]!

I think it would be a good idea to learn a few phrases in Ukraine, since I intend to visit in a future the great monastery from Pecerskaia. I wonder if there are some resources about. The alphabet is exact the same as in Russian?

m+

X.B. C.I.X.

Marian

Alphabet is very similar but not the same. It has been 5 years since I visited Kyiv so impressions may have changed. Throughout Kyiv most would have probably been comfortable using Russian, Ukrainian could be used proficiently. The Pacheskya Lavra or Cave Monastery is unlike anywhere else we were in Kyiv. Although we asked in Ukrainian we were answered in Russian and I believe overcharged for tickets at the gate house and in purchasing candles for doing so. Other perceptions was we felt unwanted and unwelcome, always being watched with disdain especially when we crossing ourselves. The monastery is run by the Russian Orthodox called the Ukrainian Orthodox in Ukraine. In contrast the lowest compound was actually run by the Ukrainian Orthodox called uncanonical and the experience there was most welcoming. Looking across the Dnepro River I believe you can now see the new Resurrection Cathedral of the Ukrainian Catholics under construction and not far away is the chapel of Saint Nicholas they use at Askold�s grave. Save your stamina to stroll the artists and antique bazaars along Andrew Hill up to the baroque fantasy of St. Andrew�s Church. DO NOT FORGET to get your tickets at the bottom of the church�s stairway or you will have to turn around, go back down then climb up all over again. The view is fantastic, go to the church "south" side. The foundation of Monarch St. Volodymyr�s Church of the Tithe destroyed by the Golden Horde and again by Stalin is at the very top of the street. Enjoy, it is more exotic than Paris and less restrictive then the Vatican. Urals or US dollars are as good as Ukrainian hrevna, just be a smart buyer and know how to do the math.

Mykhayl

Marian,
I agree 'fluent' is a good expression to use. ("I am fluent in French" would mean I can speak French well enough to express myself and basically to hold a conversation w/someone).
However, if you'd like to express the fact that you would like to improve your English in general,you could also say "I would like to be proficient in English." However, if you are writing a resume then I would say you would refer to yourself as 'fluent' and specify reading, speaking, and writing levels as others have indicated above. ... CS

Correction. The term "fluent" means to speak a language easily and quickly, or more specifically as applied in the field of language studies: to be able to express yourself just as you do in your mother tongue--in all subject areas.

Thus if you can discuss knitting in your mother tongue but not in your second language you cannot be said to be fluent in the second language. Correspondingly, if you cannot discuss automechanics in your mother tongue, not knowing the terminology in another language does not mean you may not be fluent in that other language.

Fluency is thus a relative term. It describes only that your ability to express yourself in the other language is no less than the ability you have in your mother tongue. Thus one who is ignorant in his/her mother tongue with a very child-like vocabulary may still be fluent in other languages--the same limits of vocabulary, etc., would be equally evident.

As Miller says, it is best not to exagerate your level. If you claim fluency and it is obvious from the r�sum� (or curriculum vitae) or the interview that you are not, you will not be hired.

I've heard some say that they are not fluent in a language until they can think in that language. At that point they have built enough associations in the language so that they would not have to persistently translate in their head.

That is a high mark and people do use fluency to describe a lesser degree of competence, but I must agree with the term for the uses described here.

Terry

Christ is Risen!
I have heard that fluency in a language comes when you dream in that language.
Deacon El

Do you mean that they can think in the language if they chose to, or that they automatically think in the other language? I don't think that one ever abandons one's thoughts to any other language, no matter how fluent, other than their first language...atleast I haven't!

Alice

That's not what I mean. When they speak in the language they think in the language they're speaking. This is how it has been described to me from a Hebrew professor and another friend who was fluent in Swedish and English.

My wife's Hebrew professor was delighted when, after years of study, he had a few thoughts in Hebrew when studying or researching a passage. My Swedish friend said that he thinks in English when he speaks English and thinks in Swedish when he speaks Swedish.

I didn't mean that one would abandon thoughts in their heart language. That would be impossible.

I admire bilingual and polylingual people. It is such a talent and takes hours of hard work to be able to communicate in other languages.

Terry