got some questions

haha. I find it funny that all 'I won. Goodbye.' can say about alex's question is his spelling.
Which is pretty damn racist because it sounds like his first language isn't english.

How is that racist?

well no english aint my first language but i been living in US since i was 5 and i would spell better if u guys had an edit button on thos forum....

anyway, so if the earth isnt round than that means it dont spin...so how do we have gravity....or an atmosphere....whats keeping the suns rays from cooking us alive?

well no english aint my first language but i been living in US since i was 5 and i would spell better if u guys had an edit button on thos forum....

anyway, so if the earth isnt round than that means it dont spin...so how do we have gravity....or an atmosphere....whats keeping the suns rays from cooking us alive?

We have an edit button.

On a round earth, the spinning of the global actually works against gravity and the atmosphere.  The spinning globe also has nothign to do with sun rays cooking us alive.

Gravitation is caused by acceleration of the earth upwards at a rate of 1g.   The atmosphere is held in by the icewall and gravity.  Sun rays don't cook us alive for the same reason they don't on a round earth.

Gravitation is caused by acceleration of the earth upwards at a rate of 1g.   The atmosphere is held in by the icewall and gravity.

Eh, I thought the flat Earth has no gravity.

You know what I mean gravitation

well no english aint my first language but i been living in US since i was 5 and i would spell better if u guys had an edit button on thos forum....

You've spent 11 years in the US school system and this is how you spell?  Holy crap.

first of all can u all stop making fun of my spelling
second, US schools suck u get credit just for trying and they pass you

and heres another question: wtf is an icewall, is that a term u guys use for the north/south poles???

wtf is an icewall, is that a term u guys use for the north/south poles???

The word "ice wall" means "a wall with ice". In the FE theory, the Ice Wall is actually a compilation of mountain ranges; it just happens to be covered in ice and snow.

first of all can u all stop making fun of my spelling
second, US schools suck u get credit just for trying and they pass you

So, you've basically learned all of your spelling and grammar in the USA, and you blame it on the school system that you suck?  Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA - you just aren't an achiever, I guess.

Quote from: alex00 on November 13, 2007, 06:52:44 PM

first of all can u all stop making fun of my spelling
second, US schools suck u get credit just for trying and they pass you

So, you've basically learned all of your spelling and grammar in the USA, and you blame it on the school system that you suck?  Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA - you just aren't an achiever, I guess.

ok guy i can spell so y dont u stfu and get of that shit already, ur telling me ur so perfect that u never made a keyboard mistake...i do it all the time exept b4 i couldnt find the edit button......

k another question.....u guys do belive in the fact that we rotate around the sun right?

Quote from: alex00 on November 13, 2007, 06:52:44 PM

first of all can u all stop making fun of my spelling
second, US schools suck u get credit just for trying and they pass you

So, you've basically learned all of your spelling and grammar in the USA, and you blame it on the school system that you suck?  Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA - you just aren't an achiever, I guess.

I'm sick of this BS.  Stop picking on the kid's spelling and grammar.

"...And you blame it on the school system that you suck?"
Awkward usage.  Better sentence would be: "...And you blame the fact that you suck on the school system?"

"Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA..."
Do you realize that you wrote not only "Sorry, but there are many intelligent people in the USA," but also "Sorry, but there are very many let alone able to spell people in the USA"?  Why don't you write instead, "Sorry, but there are many intelligent people in the USA, let alone those who are able to spell..."



Before you pick on someone else's grammar and spelling, check your own! 

Besides, most 5 year olds go to school knowing basic English.  He's basically 5 years behind the rest of his class.  Aside from that, the US school system is notorious for turning out sub-par students.  Grammar isn't taught (at least, not in California).  Students don't even get introduced to pre-algebra until 9th or 10th grade at times.  Learning history is a joke.  Science classes are, as well (In 9th and 10th grade, you begin learning about the Water Cycle and what Photosynthesis is). 

So, lay off the kid!  Is this how you feel better about yourselves, by picking on a 16 year old when he's coming here to learn?

I was taught algebra in the 8th grade.  And that was a long time ago.

Quote from: Mr. Ireland on November 13, 2007, 07:06:34 PM

Quote from: alex00 on November 13, 2007, 06:52:44 PM

first of all can u all stop making fun of my spelling
second, US schools suck u get credit just for trying and they pass you

So, you've basically learned all of your spelling and grammar in the USA, and you blame it on the school system that you suck?  Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA - you just aren't an achiever, I guess.

ok guy i can spell so y dont u stfu and get of that shit already, ur telling me ur so perfect that u never made a keyboard mistake...i do it all the time exept b4 i couldnt find the edit button......

I'm not telling you I'm so perfect and that I've never made a keyboard mistake.

I'm prefect and have never mayde a kyeboard misstake.

Quote from: Mr. Ireland on November 13, 2007, 07:06:34 PM

Quote from: alex00 on November 13, 2007, 06:52:44 PM

first of all can u all stop making fun of my spelling
second, US schools suck u get credit just for trying and they pass you

So, you've basically learned all of your spelling and grammar in the USA, and you blame it on the school system that you suck?  Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA - you just aren't an achiever, I guess.

I'm sick of this BS.  Stop picking on the kid's spelling and grammar.

"...And you blame it on the school system that you suck?"
Awkward usage.  Better sentence would be: "...And you blame the fact that you suck on the school system?"

"Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA..."
Do you realize that you wrote not only "Sorry, but there are many intelligent people in the USA," but also "Sorry, but there are very many let alone able to spell people in the USA"?  Why don't you write instead, "Sorry, but there are many intelligent people in the USA, let alone those who are able to spell..."



Before you pick on someone else's grammar and spelling, check your own! 

Besides, most 5 year olds go to school knowing basic English.  He's basically 5 years behind the rest of his class.  Aside from that, the US school system is notorious for turning out sub-par students.  Grammar isn't taught (at least, not in California).  Students don't even get introduced to pre-algebra until 9th or 10th grade at times.  Learning history is a joke.  Science classes are, as well (In 9th and 10th grade, you begin learning about the Water Cycle and what Photosynthesis is). 

So, lay off the kid!  Is this how you feel better about yourselves, by picking on a 16 year old when he's coming here to learn?

So you're going to tell me that it took him as long as someone who knew no language to learn the english language? lol  Someone doesn't understand this site/the internet

Edit:  Wth, I didn't even hate on this guys grammar.  As for my spelling, I'm pretty sure it's doing alright.  So, I guess you've just joined us on the big hate trip of laughing at people ON THE INTERNET (<--capital words right there are key) for silly reasons.

Feel better about myself? This is the internet, sweetie

I guess Canada is different; I learned algebra in grade 8, and I was years ahead of kids in English.

I still wouldn't blame it on the school system though, because in the end you're the one processing and utilizing the information that you receive, or seek out on your own.

ok guys heres another question: where do u guys get all ur facts from(example: penguins were made in the 60's by russians, the ice wall gaurded by a couple hundred troops to keep it secret....etc)

and mr ireland i can spell, but im trying to say that i made a keyboard error because i was in a hurry when i was typing that........

ok guys heres another question: where do u guys get all ur facts from(example: penguins were made in the 60's by russians, the ice wall gaurded by a couple hundred troops to keep it secret....etc)

They're not facts, they're ideas. They can be influenced or inspired by many things.

and mr ireland i can spell, but im trying to say that i made a keyboard error because i was in a hurry when i was typing that........

Don't know where that 'a' in government came from...  But, oh well, no need to go taking it all serious.  Bad spelling = instant laugh

Quote from: questions on November 13, 2007, 10:36:46 PM

Quote from: Mr. Ireland on November 13, 2007, 07:06:34 PM

Quote from: alex00 on November 13, 2007, 06:52:44 PM

first of all can u all stop making fun of my spelling
second, US schools suck u get credit just for trying and they pass you

So, you've basically learned all of your spelling and grammar in the USA, and you blame it on the school system that you suck?  Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA - you just aren't an achiever, I guess.

I'm sick of this BS.  Stop picking on the kid's spelling and grammar.

"...And you blame it on the school system that you suck?"
Awkward usage.  Better sentence would be: "...And you blame the fact that you suck on the school system?"

"Sorry, but there are many intelligent (let alone able to spell) people in the USA..."
Do you realize that you wrote not only "Sorry, but there are many intelligent people in the USA," but also "Sorry, but there are very many let alone able to spell people in the USA"?  Why don't you write instead, "Sorry, but there are many intelligent people in the USA, let alone those who are able to spell..."



Before you pick on someone else's grammar and spelling, check your own! 

Besides, most 5 year olds go to school knowing basic English.  He's basically 5 years behind the rest of his class.  Aside from that, the US school system is notorious for turning out sub-par students.  Grammar isn't taught (at least, not in California).  Students don't even get introduced to pre-algebra until 9th or 10th grade at times.  Learning history is a joke.  Science classes are, as well (In 9th and 10th grade, you begin learning about the Water Cycle and what Photosynthesis is). 

So, lay off the kid!  Is this how you feel better about yourselves, by picking on a 16 year old when he's coming here to learn?

So you're going to tell me that it took him as long as someone who knew no language to learn the english language? lol  Someone doesn't understand this site/the internet

Edit:  Wth, I didn't even hate on this guys grammar.  As for my spelling, I'm pretty sure it's doing alright.  So, I guess you've just joined us on the big hate trip of laughing at people ON THE INTERNET (<--capital words right there are key) for silly reasons.

1) See bold/underlined sections.  You DID "hate on this guys grammar." 

2) From http://www.language-learning-advisor.com/age-and-language-learning.html#olderlanguagelearner

Researchers also caution against withdrawing home language support too soon and suggest that although oral communication skills in a second language may be acquired within 2 or 3 years, it may take 4 to 6 years to acquire the level of proficiency needed for understanding the language in its academic uses (Collier, 1989; Cummins, 1981).

Some teachers assume that children who can converse comfortably in English are in full control of the language. Yet for school-aged children, proficiency in face-to-face communication does not imply proficiency in the more complex academic language needed to engage in many classroom activities. Cummins (1980) cites evidence from a study of 1,210 immigrant children in Canada who required much longer (approximately 5 to 7 years) to master the disembedded cognitive language required for the regular English curriculum than to master oral communicative skills.

Educators need to be cautious in exiting children from programs where they have the support of their home language. If children who are not ready for the all-English classroom are mainstreamed, their academic success may be hindered. Teachers should realize that mainstreaming children on the basis of oral language assessment is inappropriate.

All teachers need to be aware that children who are learning in a second language may have language problems in reading and writing that are not apparent if their oral abilities are used to gauge their English proficiency. These problems in academic reading and writing at the middle and high school levels may stem from limitations in vocabulary and syntactic knowledge. Even children who are skilled orally can have such gaps.

REFERENCES

Collier, V. (1989). How long: A synthesis of research on academic achievement in a second language. "TESOL Quarterly, 23," 509-531.

Cummins, J. (1980). The cross-lingual dimensions of language proficiency: Implications for bilingual education and the optimal age issue. "TESOL Quarterly, 14," 175-187.

Cummins, J. (1981). The role of primary language development in promoting educational success for language minority students. In "Schooling and language minority students: A theoretical framework." Los Angeles: California State University; Evaluation, Dissemination, and Assessment Center.

So, yes, I AM saying that it takes someone at 5 years old with no knowledge of English as long to learn English to an extent that it is functional AS LONG AS a national.  If you want to look up more sources, be my guest.  I don't have time to argue further with people who don't research before making stupid, ineffective arguments.

I was taught algebra in the 8th grade.  And that was a long time ago.

I was taught pre-lgebra in 6th grade and algebra in 7th, but I went to private school.  That's not the point.

The point is that PRE-algebra is available to 9th and 10th grade students in California.  You only have to pass algebra some time before senior year (at least, as of 8 years ago when I graduated).  Which is sad, but true.  There's a reason that, at the time, California ranked number 49 out of the top 50 states (ranked according to quality of education).  Can't cite the year, but I remember that paper.  Only state lower was Alabama.

I don't disagree in the least that the current system for teaching math and science to students is a disgrace.  Only requiring algebra for students leaving the 12th grade is setting the bar rather low.  However, I am a firm believer in personal responsibility.  In the end, whose fault is it that the students have only learned algebra? 

I have personal experience in this, as I was unfortunate enough to find a math teacher in high school that was a hippy pushover.  He once told me that he would never give anyone an F because it lowered their self esteem.  I took and barely passed algebra I in the 9th grade, and took the hippy for geometry and algebra II.  His tests consisted of multiple choice with the choices so obvious that it was easy to guess the answer:
2x+7=11
x=?
a)5678
b)-456
c)2
d)Horse

I went to college and could barely test out of basic math.  I had to work my way up from basic algebra all the way to calc III, diff eq, etc.  In the end, it was my fault.  I have no one to blame besides myself.

Totally agreed, Engy.  Totally and completely.

The reason education came up is because, in conjunction with learning English at an older age, the OP was at an educational disadvantage from the start.  I just hate arrogant, pompous assholes who gang up on kids over stupid things that really aren't their fault.  Seriously, I could pick apart grammar and spelling on 3 out of 4 posts I read here--sometimes more.  That doesn't make me superior.  I got a good education at a good school.  I could just as easily have been in a public school where grammar wasn't taught.

How do you agree with him and still say it's not their fault?

Are you seriously saying that grammar isn't taught in the US? I find that very hard to believe.

Grammar is not taught in California. 

Grammar as I know it meant studying the layout of sentences, prepositions, verbs, adverbs...

Ask any public-school-taught Californian high schooler, "What is a preposition?" and you won't get any sort of valid response, I assure you.

I'll take one from the FE playbook: Prove to me that California schools DO teach grammar!   



And I believe firmly in personal responsibility.  But do you honestly think that a kid who starts out with a 5 year disadvantage is going to have the same potential for learning as someone without it? 

Look at it this way:

Learning Spanish
Learning English
Learning at a level of English with which one can fully comprehend the subject matter

Average American student:
0-----5-----10-----15-16

ESL Student:
0-----5-----10-----15-16

Let's say that, by age 10, the ESL student has a firm grasp on English.  Well, what about all that learning the American student did while the ESL student was learning the language?  (Yes, yes, I know he would also be studying other subjects in his native language; Let's focus on English for the time being.)  The ESL student isn't going to magically learn English vocabulary and/or "grammar" (blegh) at twice the rate of the American student.  While the ESL student is learning how to use English verbs and nouns, the American student is learning new vocab words. 

There's no way an ambitious ESL student could live up to the bar set by an ambitious American student (given relatively equal inherent intelligence).  You can't get more information into your brain than you can study by sheer willpower.

Grammar is not taught in California. 

Grammar as I know it meant studying the layout of sentences, prepositions, verbs, adverbs...

So, Americans take English courses, right? And nowhere is the aspect of rules discussed? You'd have to learn about verbs, nouns, word order, etc...

Ask any public-school-taught Californian high schooler, "What is a preposition?" and you won't get any sort of valid response, I assure you.

That would essentially be the same anywhere.

And I believe firmly in personal responsibility.  But do you honestly think that a kid who starts out with a 5 year disadvantage is going to have the same potential for learning as someone without it? 

Everyone is different. I've known several exchange students who were far more intelligible about the language than several others in the class.

And I believe firmly in personal responsibility.  But do you honestly think that a kid who starts out with a 5 year disadvantage is going to have the same potential for learning as someone without it? 

Everyone is different. I've known several exchange students who were far more intelligible about the language than several others in the class.
[/quote]

Same.  They have generally been Japanese, in my own experience. 

...

However, the reason they were so well advised of the English language and its properties is because English is taught in many  (if not most) Japanese schools.

Same.  They have generally been Japanese, in my own experience. 

Same, although I also encountered one from South America (forget the country, Brazil I think), and another that was German.

At any rate, I think we can agree that it's stupid to pick on a kid whose first language isn't English for his grammar.   

In fact, it isn't stupid. It could be considered stupid though.