Return After the Holidays

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Oct 9, 2011 03:01
It's been a while since I haven't submitted a text in English here at Lang8. Indeed, I've been quite busy in the past weeks. Going back to university after a 3-month holiday is not that easy. Classes are also much more difficult, and very boring. This semester is the more important in two years. Actually, I'm not really at university. I am, but I'm not. I'm in an engineering school based at the university. One has to study 5 years after the Baccalauréat to become engineer in France. In my school, during the two first years, classes are very general. A year is divided in two semesters. Then, after the 3rd semester, we put choices of specialities we want to do for the next three years in a list. There are some 60 different specialities, from civil engineering to food engineering, in a dozen of schools located all around France. Specialities are attributed according to the 3 first semesters' results. That's why the 3rd one is crucial.

Apart from that, I work on Saturdays in a Lidl (discount store chain) warehouse as an orders' preparator. Ten hours each Saturday, and I can work 35 per week during holidays.

Although ten hours may seem an eternity, I prefer working there over being in class. I drive a little engine (I don't even know the name in French) that can carry pallets. On a touchscreen, orders from different Lidl stores appears and the orders' preparators have to prepare those orders on pallets, so that the trucks can bring the orders to the stores. It's like a Tetris game, to build a steady pallet.

I still have the time to work on languages though! :p
I've been reading books in English, and it has been helping me a lot! Writing such a text would have taken me so much time before, but now I feel much more confident, even though I know there are lots of mistakes. ^^
I also try to listen to at least 30 minutes of Portuguese and Spanish and English every day. Plus, I learn some German vocabulary, so that I am able to start to study it when I want to. From what I've learnt so far, German vocabulary is very similar to the English one. What a chance!

I stop here because it's becoming too long, I'm not used to it!

Thanks for reading.
Shikousakugo
Thank you for your correction!
Oct 9, 2011 03:44
  • It's been a while since I haven't submitted a text in English here at Lang8.

  • It's been a while since I've submitted text in English here at Lang8.

 
  • Indeed, I've been quite busy in the past weeks.

  • Indeed, I've been quite busy these past few weeks.

 
  • Going back to university after a 3-month holiday is not that easy.

  • Going back to a college university after a three-month holiday is not that easy.

 
  • This semester is the more important in two years.

  • In the two years that I've been going, this semester is probably the most important.

 
  • Actually, I'm not really at university.

  • Actually, I'm not really at a university.

 
  • One has to study 5 years after the Baccalauréat to become engineer in France.

  • One has to study five years after obtaining their Baccalauréat to become engineer in France.

 
  • In my school, during the two first years, classes are very general.

  • In my school, during the first two years, the general classes are taken.

 
  • A year is divided in two semesters.

  • A year is divided into two semesters.

 
  • Then, after the 3rd semester, we put choices of specialities we want to do for the next three years in a list.

  • Then, after the 3rd semester, we put what we want to do for the next three years, in other words, our speciality, on a list.

 
  • Specialities are attributed according to the 3 first semesters' results.

  • Specialities are attributed according to the first three semesters' results.

 
  • That's why the 3rd one is crucial.

  • That's why the third one is so crucial.

 
  • Apart from that, I work on Saturdays in a Lidl (discount store chain) warehouse as an orders' preparator.

  • Apart from that, I work on Saturdays in a Lidl (discount store chain) warehouse as an orders preparator.

 
  • Ten hours each Saturday, and I can work 35 per week during holidays.

  • Ten hours each Saturday, and I can work 35 hours per week during holidays.

 
  • It's like a Tetris game, to build a steady pallet.

  • In that way building a steady pallet is like a Tetris game.

 
  • Plus, I learn some German vocabulary, so that I am able to start to study it when I want to.

  • Plus, I've learned some German vocabulary, so that I am able to start to study it when I want to.

 
  • From what I've learnt so far, German vocabulary is very similar to the English one.

  • From what I've learned so far, German vocabulary is very similar to the English one.

 
  • I stop here because it's becoming too long, I'm not used to it!

  • I'll stop here because it's becoming too long, and I'm not used to it!

 

Wow! You really have a knack for languages! ^^ Anyway, what I've corrected are mostly just making it sound more natural in English. The number corrections, just have to do with the rule that anything under ten has to be written out in roman letters. I really enjoyed your post, though, and gramatically (as grammar seems to be the hardest in all languages, as well as, the most crucial) there were few errors. Keep up the good work!

Oct 9, 2011 04:02 Jorgis
Thanks a lot! :)
Okay for the numbers. I don't know if there is a rule in French, but we tend to do the same thing.

"A year is divided into two semesters."

Why is it "into" instead of "in" here? I don't really know how to use "onto" or "into", except to say "I go onto a website", or "I go into the house". Sometimes I come across them in a text and I wonder why they are used rather than "in" or "on".

Oct 9, 2011 04:23 Shikousakugo
Oh, no problem. For that correction I think "into" sounds more fluid. As for a more logical, a reason that is more beneicial to students of English, I haven't found one yet, but I will see how it is explained in ESL classes, as well, as inform on different uses for onto and into.

Oct 9, 2011 04:26 Shikousakugo
One use for "into" is "to change form." For example, "The piece of string that the magician put into the hat turned into a rabbit."

Oct 9, 2011 04:27 Shikousakugo
Ah, found a good explanation!

Oct 9, 2011 04:27 Shikousakugo
Rsweet: "Another way to look at it is to use "into" with a movement from outside to inside: "The nurse ran into Wilcox's room." Elsewhere, use "in": "Wilcox lay quietly in his bed." I'm sure there are further elaborations and exceptions somewhere, but I can't think of any right now."

Oct 9, 2011 05:24 Jorgis
Thanks again!
I love wordreference. I always look at it when I don't understand something. I take it though that when it comes to languages, things are not "mathematical". Maybe it's better this way. I'll need to encounter these words many times to know when and how to use them.

Oct 9, 2011 05:43 Shikousakugo
You're welcome. Yeah, wordreference is great. I think that languages have both a mathematical aspect, as well as, a poetic one. Perhaps we want the langauge to sound good, so certain rules are bent to make it sound melodic.

Oct 9, 2011 16:03 Jorgis
Yes you're right. And languages have also evolved with literature, including poetry.

Oct 13, 2011 23:43 Shikousakugo
So very true. Shakespeare himself has contributed many of our phrases to the language such as "Eaten out of house and home" and "Green eyed monster." He even made the line "Et tu, Brute?" famous.

Oct 9, 2011 04:43

Salut, Jorgis ! Je peux comprendre très bien ce que tu veux dire en écrivant que tu aimes les langues étrangères. J'essaie d'étudier l'anglais, le français, l'allemand et le russe. Ce n'est pas facile, mais j'ai une forte motivation qui m'aide à ne pas abbandonner.
Pourquoi tu n'apprends pas l'italien ? C'est une langue très similaire au français ! :)

Oct 9, 2011 04:56
Si tu as envie d'apprendre l'allemand, je te suggère de visiter le site de "Deutsche Welle". Il y a une section consacrée à l'apprentissage de l'allemand qui s'appelle "Deutsch lernen".


http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,10462,00.html

Oct 9, 2011 05:09 Jorgis
Quand on est motivé, il n'y a aucun problème. ^^
J'adorerais apprendre le russe ! Ca n'a pas l'air facile, mais c'est si beau, et la culture russe, qui n'est pas très connue en Occident, a l'air très riche. Plus tard... ^^
L'italien est magnifique aussi, je l'apprendrai plus tard, une fois que je maîtriserai mieux le portugais et l'espagnol.

Il y a tellement de langues que j'aimerais apprendre, alors je suis obligé de faire des choix.

Merci beaucoup pour le lien !
connfucius
Thank you for your correction!
Oct 9, 2011 18:36
  • Return After the Holidays

  • Back After the Holidays

 
  • It's been a while since I haven't submitted a text in English here at Lang8.

  • It's been a while since I have written an article / an entry / a journal entry in English here on Lang8.

 
  • Indeed, I've been quite busy in the past weeks.

  • I've been quite busy in the past weeks.

 
  • Going back to university after a 3-month holiday is not that easy.

  • Going back to college / university* after a 3-month holiday / break / vacation is not that easy. *UK

 
  • Classes are also much more difficult, and very boring.

  • Not only have classes become much more difficult, they are all now very boring.

 
  • This semester is the more important in two years.

  • This semester is the most important in my two-year program.

 
  • Actually, I'm not really at university.

  • Actually, I'm not really at a university. / Actually, I'm not enrolled in a real degree program at a university.

 
  • One has to study 5 years after the Baccalauréat to become engineer in France.

  • A five-year program is required after the Baccalauréat in order to become an engineer in France. / ...in order to qualify as an engineer in France.

 
  • In my school, during the two first years, classes are very general.

  • In my school, the first two years consist of general education.

 
  • A year is divided in two semesters.

  • The academic year is divided into* two semesters. *into, see #6: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/into?show=0&t=1318151748

 
  • Then, after the 3rd semester, we put choices of specialities we want to do for the next three years in a list.

  • Then, after the third semester, we list a few of our choice majors / specialties that would be the focus of our studies for the next three years.

 
  • There are some 60 different specialities, from civil engineering to food engineering, in a dozen of schools located all around France.

  • There are about 60 different specialties, from civil engineering to food engineering, in a dozen schools located all around France.

 
  • Specialities are attributed according to the 3 first semesters' results.

  • Specialities are attributed according to the first three semesters' results. / ...according to the results from the first three semesters. second option normally better, especially in speech, since we cannot hear the possessive plural in semesters'

 
  • That's why the 3rd one is crucial.

  • That's why / This is why the third semester is crucial.

 
  • Apart from that, I work on Saturdays in a Lidl (discount store chain) warehouse as an orders' preparator.

  • Apart from school, I work every Saturday at a Lidl (a discount store chain) warehouse to prepare orders / to manage the inventory. there is not a common word in English I know of for this, would it be a "préparateur" ? an assistant?

 
  • Ten hours each Saturday, and I can work 35 per week during holidays.

  • I work there for ten hours every* / each Saturday, and I can work 35 per week during holidays. *more common, because you are talking about all Saturdays. "each" is slightly more specific, as if each of the Saturdays you are doing something different

 
  • Although ten hours may seem an eternity, I prefer working there over being in class.

  • Although ten hours may seem like an eternity, I prefer working there than being in class.

 
  • I drive a little engine (I don't even know the name in French) that can carry pallets.

  • I operate a little pallet driver, and... I didn't know either until I looked it up ^^

 
  • On a touchscreen, orders from different Lidl stores appears and the orders' preparators have to prepare those orders on pallets, so that the trucks can bring the orders to the stores.

  • ...on a touchscreen, orders from different Lidl stores appear and everyone responsible for managing the orders has to prepare those orders on the pallets / on each pallet, so that the trucks can bring the orders to the stores.

 
  • It's like a Tetris game, to build a steady pallet.

  • It feels like playing Tetris, to be able to build a steady pallet.

 
  • Writing such a text would have taken me so much time before, but now I feel much more confident, even though I know there are lots of mistakes.

  • Writing such a long entry would have taken me so much time before, but now I feel much more confident, even though I know there are lots of mistakes.

 
  • I also try to listen to at least 30 minutes of Portuguese and Spanish and English every day.

  • I also try to listen to at least 30 minutes / at least half an hour of Portuguese, Spanish and English every day.

 
  • Plus, I learn some German vocabulary, so that I am able to start to study it when I want to.

  • Plus, I've learned / learnt* some German vocabulary, so I'll be ready to start studying it whenever I want to. *UK

 
  • From what I've learnt so far, German vocabulary is very similar to the English one.

  • From what I've learnt so far, German vocabulary is very similar to English (vocabulary).

 
  • What a chance!

  • What a relief!

 
  • I stop here because it's becoming too long, I'm not used to it!

  • I stop here because it's becoming too long, and I'm not used to it!

 

Great job, Jorgis! You are working very hard and making lots of progress. I'm glad you are enjoying your live Tetris game, you can develop your own strategy. ^^

Oct 9, 2011 21:51 Jorgis
Thanks for your correction, your explanations and the link!

In French it's called "préparateur de commandes". Not very common either.

For the time being I'm a beginner at the live Tetris Game, so my strategy isn't the most effective. ^^

Oct 10, 2011 01:14 connfucius
No problem. : )

Perhaps you could say "order clerk".

Oct 10, 2011 01:15 connfucius
or "inventory clerk"
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