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Posts: 13
Gender:
Location: P.O.Box29 (Twenty-nine) Chiang Mai University Amphur Maung Chiang Mai 50202 Thailand
Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:50 am Post subject:
I joined a Thai web board/site entitled Book-something and I lurked all the time. I just couldn’t find anything to post. They rarely talked about books and always spent their time on some members, discussing their lives and always planning on meeting in person.
I joined Booktalk because I felt comfortable by the atmosphere of friendliness. I do not post as much as I want. One thing is language is still a barrier. English is my second language. I sometimes feel inadequate finding words to express my feelings or thoughts in Thai. Let alone in English. (Writing in Thai is more difficult than in English, though.)
Another reason is I’ve never been an active poster, due to that one and only web board I joined, so I just don’t know how to get back to where it started when the thread is long and they’re talking about things grown from the topic. Well, for example, I wanted (and still do) so much to response to the topic “Guilty Pleasures.” I planned on posting about blended cappuccino and advice column, but as I read until the later posts, what was being shared was about theatres and plays. I didn’t mind all those, I studied drama during college and enjoyed reading the plays and stuff, so that’s not the point, but I just couldn’t figure out how I could step in and say, “Well, I love blended cappuccino, which is too expensive for me, and I like reading advice column in daily newspaper.” It might sound rather silly but that’s what keeps me from responding to what I’m interested in or have opinions about. Any advice?
Anyway, I try not to lurk and response as much as I can. For a hundredth time, I like being here and this place totally makes me feel warm and comfortable.
but I just couldn’t figure out how I could step in and say, “Well, I love blended cappuccino, which is too expensive for me, and I like reading advice column in daily newspaper.” Embarassed It might sound rather silly but that’s what keeps me from responding to what I’m interested in or have opinions about. Any advice?
Just jump in! If I am responding to something much higher up in the thread, I will say so or quote from that post. The folks on BT are a pretty forgiving lot.
I joined Booktalk because I felt comfortable by the atmosphere of friendliness. I do not post as much as I want. One thing is language is still a barrier. English is my second language. I sometimes feel inadequate finding words to express my feelings or thoughts in Thai. Let alone in English.
1- Don't worry about your English. Everything you've written so far is perfect (trust a teacher on this).
Now , in your heart of hearts, you may know your English is not 100% perfect, but believe me, anybody who writes the way you do deserves to be at Booktalk.
This is an international forum. We encourage people from many different countries to join us. I may have lapsed into something un-grammatical or non-idiomatic at times but nobody's remarked on it so far, so don't fear!
We love hearing about people's experience, for example Ralph has been telling us about his life in Laos, and we were thrilled. As soon as you feel comfortable, I would love to hear about your life in Thailand (I've been writing about France and Europe in my journal. It's fun.)
2- The thing is... you're modest.
It is a virtue (I believe in fact it is too rare a quality in the West).
If this makes it difficult for you to post as much as you'd like, I recommend... regular writing practice in the relaxed environment of the (mostly) North American discussion forum.
Very soon you'll get into different habits, and your mind will work.. .just a tiny fraction differently, and it'll be easy.
“Well, I love blended cappuccino, which is too expensive for me, and I like reading advice column in daily newspaper.” Embarassed It might sound rather silly but that’s what keeps me from responding to what I’m interested in or have opinions about. Any advice?
All you need to do is use the quote system, as Saffron and I just did.
This is not compulsory though, sometimes we answer two or three people in one post, as in:
John,..................
Tim, ..........................
Martha,.........................
So especially in informal threads like this one (which is ideal to get started) you have a choice.
Posts: 13
Gender:
Location: P.O.Box29 (Twenty-nine) Chiang Mai University Amphur Maung Chiang Mai 50202 Thailand
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 3:06 am Post subject:
Ophelia and Saffron,
Thank you for the advice and encouragement.
Ophelia,
You remind me so much of my most beloved teacher in college, my dearest Ajarn Chalatip. I can never thank her enough for what she did for me. What you both have in common is that both of you “care.”
Saffron,
It’s just irresistible. Before I know, there goes 40% of my average daily income.
It’s good to know there is someone on the other side of the world enjoying the same guilty pleasure. Thank you for sharing.
Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject: my books
Hi everyone I signed up less than an hour ago, and I already made my first post. I tried to sound intelligent, but I noticed I kept typing and re-writing what I wrote. I can see spending alot of time on this
I'm going to check out other people's messages for a while.
It might sound rather silly but that’s what keeps me from responding to what I’m interested in or have opinions about. Any advice?
