English for Wizards

Readers respond

By John Moore

11歳のピーターはコンピューターをいじるのが大好きだ

Sincere thanks to all readers who participated in our English for Wizards online survey! Actually, if you want, you can still do the survey, which we introduced four weeks ago, at st.japantimes.co.jp/engwiz-survey. But today, I want to report on the results so far.

Many survey participants seem very enthusiastic about using computers to study English. For example, "Knight" wrote, "By using computers, we can consult a dictionary very quickly, and can get English sentences of interest for free from various Web sites."

Another person, named "mayaken," wrote, "I think computers are the most useful tool to study English. You don't need dictionaries, magazines or newspapers. Computers have everything I want to see."

On the other hand, some people admitted they are kind of scared of computers or unsure what to do. Yes, it's hard. Everyone has computer trouble now and then. Just keep trying, and maybe English for Wizards can give you some helpful ideas.

"Tomomi" wrote: "I have never visited any of the Web sites mentioned, simply because I usually read Shukan ST on my way to work." Hmm. When it comes to computers, you can't really understand them just by reading about them. You have to actually use them. See you online, Tomomi!

As expected, many readers are parents tutoring kids in English or else actual teachers. Me too. I certainly have a lot of fun using computers with my son, Peter, although I have to be careful not to push him too hard. Peter mostly just plays games on the computer, but they're English games.

I keep trying to convince Peter that he's really an American boy, but he still feels more comfortable with Japanese. He told me: "With English, there are a lot of different pronunciations. It's easy to know what you're saying, because I know your pronunciation, but some people I talk to for the first time are pretty hard to understand." When I asked him if he can some day be as good at English as he is at Japanese, he said, "Not really. That's too hard."

Of course, Peter is still a kid and does not know how great he will be in the future. Most students have the same lack of confidence. But you never know what you'll learn until you learn it!

One surprising thing: Very few readers are sending in e-mail. Why not write a message for me or Peter at EnglishForWizards@yahoo.com?

Shukan ST: July 18, 2003

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