请客观地说一下，美国呆多久才能把英语说得和中文一样溜？

southnorth

有人说在美国生活2-5年，英语可以说得和美国人一样流利。很多人说我的英语不错，学校同意免掉托福成绩，即使这样，当和人沟通的时候还是免不了chiglish，时不时需要停顿下，从脑中上上下下翻出个词汇完成造句。很难想象到底需要多少年才能把英语说得和美国人一样标准，标准的英语用词，标准的发音，标准的表达方式。碰到几个在美国生活了十年的朋友，他们的英语似乎不咋样。口音还挺重，用词相对美国人而言过分简单，也多少带着chinglish的影子。难道华人到美国就不能成为高级销售员工了？请大家客观地谈谈看法。

arnoldg

中文能说标准的中国人有多少？

southnorth

arnoldg Thank you for your reply.  You are absolutely right about the accents in USA.  I clearify my point is made at fluent conversation as a native english speaker.  Chinglish alwasy affects me whatever topic I am trying to address.  

Today, I was on the phone with a supplier.  When I got off phone, trying to repeat the message, obviously I was nowhere.  I didn't send the message in the correct way so that other staff was in air.  How soon can I set myself free communicating from such embrassing breakdown?

richardxia

看是什么年龄了,越小越容易去掉口音

stanleylu

看是什么年龄了,越小越容易去掉口音

-- by 会员 richardxia (2010/1/7 2:37:11)

I don't think he's talking about accents or pronunciation.

southnorth

stanleylu is correct.  I care more about how to express myself properly.  It just drives me crazy.  I feel like someone who lost ones voice. I pretty much enjoy massive chat everyday in Chinese.  In English, I am not able to address any point.  They cannot understand what I said owing to my accent or improper grammer/ vocabulary.

DL88

One teacher of my son's in US mentioned a study which shows that immigrants, living and using English in daily life, take 7 years on average to speak it in a way native speakers cannot differentiate.

Remember a lot of people can never speak a fluent english even though they live 20 years. You have to use English and interact with native speakers.

southnorth

Thank you DL88.  7 years is plausible but too long to wait.  Luckily, I am able to make another 7 years to make a quality conversation in English.  

Has anyone experience language breakdown during work?

kakafu88

Anyway, too much worry never help, right?

doucevoyage

Well....if you limit your exposure to Chinese (people and culture), and are forced to use English day-in day-out, then it'll be much easier. I think the key is to drop all the exposure to Chinese songs, TV, news, books etc, and truly embrace the culture you're currently living in. But that'll be a bit harsh, and not everyone can do that.

If you find yourself watching sitcom, talk shows etc, and truly get those humor, then that'll be a good sign that you start to really think like a native.

my 2 cents.