Thanks Downers!

[The Might]

Well, I'll keep this short and simple.
We received our English and History (also in English) tests today and I got very good marks at both.
So my teacher asked me what it is that makes me speak English so well - is it what I learned before coming to Germany, is it what I learned here or something that I learned from my parents?
Personally I think it is what I learned on the Downs. By posting often and discussing with native speakers on different topics I really feel that I have improved my skills.

Sooo...
Thanks to all you Downers that have helped me!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Congratulations! But that's great! So the Downs have some practical use after all, huh?

Originally Posted by The Might

So my teacher asked me what it is that makes me speak English so well - is it what I learned before coming to Germany, is it what I learned here or something that I learned from my parents?

And so I presume you told the teacher that it was the Downs! You know, propagation is necessary!

[The Might]

Nah, he wouldn't understand I guess... not the fantasy interested type.
And indeed it seems the Downs has a practical use.

Btw, anyone else who also wishes to thank the Downs for something is of course welcome to post.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by The Might

Btw, anyone else who also wishes to thank the Downs for something is of course welcome to post.

I guess this thread would not offer enough space for everyone to speak... and a man's life is short But yes, yes, I know...

[Elmo]

I failed my degree because of it.





















(This may be a joke)

[Aganzir]

I could thank the Downs for the same thing as Might: improving my English skills. I admit my language is still rather poor but at least I can write English much more fluently now than when I first joined.

Personally I find it wonderful to talk with Tolkien fans from all over the world- especially as I catch myself quite often from judging people based on whether they like Tolkien (good) or not (bad) or maybe don't even have an opinion (uncivilized!).

I also want to thank the Downs for keeping me from studying, causing me sleep deprivation and occupying a great part of my free time.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

It's not just those who knew other tongues prior to English that have a reason to thank the Downs. I have had my own language skills improved by discussion with the many fine folk assembled here, now and in years past. Many aspects have been polished or introduced: debating, constructing arguments, proofreading, and vocabulary (interesting new words such as lycanthropy, etc. ).

To think I would once litter my posts with (sp?)......

[Cailín]

The Downs especially taught me many ways to express suspicion, and how to eloquently accuse people of the most heinous crimes.

But yes, I wholeheartedly agree with all statements above. Of course, I mostly thank the Downs for something else entirely.

[Thinlómien]

Like The Might and Aganzir, I should thank 'Downs for my English skills that are - I'm afraid - quite a lot better than those of an average Finn of my age. Of course things like that I did about half of my lower secondary studies in English and I read a lot in English have improved my English as well (and being naturally talented in languages doesn't hurt either ), but a great part of my gratitude belongs to the 'Downs. I mean, without 'Downs I would hardly use English daily or learn half as much new words or phrases as I now do.

Which brings me to another issue for which I'm even more grateful than for my improved English skills. For, without the 'Downs, I wouldn't have met a lot of lovely people nor have so many friends of different ages and from different countries. That is a thing I truly value. So thank you, 'Downs!

[Morai]

Though I've moved on to other fandoms for the most part, I must thank the Downs for getting me started on role playing and thus improving my written English skills (I'm still fluent in spoken Bad English as well as spoken English.)

Not to mention that the Downs helped turn me away from chatty abbreviations.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I just finished (or well, I am finishing, just a few words remain) a paper for the school where we are to interpretate some article in other language (English, some people chose also German ones), refer about it, and add some own opinions on it. And I remembered that I should say here that I owe the Downs for the training to quick read information in English, of course, but first and foremost I realised I should thank all you people for the Books discussions, because I have the possibility here to practice work with text, critical thinking and dialogue on such basis. And when I re-read what I wrote, I was greatly amused by the fact that the last part where I am offering my own opinion looks almost as if I responded to some Downer's post in the Books. Well, I tried to keep a more formal style, of course But as I said, I owe all of you and the most probably all the people who were around in most discussions at the time I came here: I recall names like Boro, Farael, to a lesser extent Lalwendë and to a larger extent later davem. And that's just those I remember as the ones who contributed the most.

(And by the way, though this should belong rather to the addiction thread, when I started to write the paper, I had the itching to write: Quote: "..." - So you say, professor, that...? )

[Hookbill the Goomba]

When I first began on the 'Downs I was very poor in my spelling* and my grammer was real bad not good yes. I wholeheartedly thank the people of the Downs for offering such insight into Tolkien and encouraging me to write so much.

Without this here Barrow, I don't think I'd be at university right now (Obviously not, RIGHT now, I'm actually at home RIGHT NOW, but you know what I mean). If not for Assigned to Mordor 2, I don't think I would have kept up such a constant stream of writing for a prolonged period when I would otherwise have been too lazy to write.

This is such a special place and we should all get together and go into space.

*I actually still am, but thanks to Google Toolbar, it is often hidden.

[THE Ka]

I'll have to agree with Hookbill in this thanks, or a part of it, my spelling was absolutely horrible, and I did not do my english any justice by trying to learn two languages on my own at once during that time... I actually found out it is possible to loose the means for words, even if it is your mother tongue.
I imagine I probably came off rather horrible myself during that early period.
Also, so many conversations here have indeed helped with critical thinking and writing skills, that I am very indebt to.

Another thanks o'course, to those lovely Downers who parle francais aussi. Oro, tgwbs, and many others, if it wasn't for you I don't think I would have kept up with my french study and probably would have embarassed my mother even more than I already have.
Merci mes ami!
As for czech or polish, that is my own battle to try and reclaim. Plus all the other languages I try to study at once, I just can't decide half the time.

Yet another thanks to all of the Downers who have taken the time and sanity to become my friends, without which I probably would not be intelligent and kind enough without.

Originally Posted by Hookbill

I actually still am, but thanks to Google Toolbar, it is often hidden.

Heh, guilty here too, at times.

Though, you have to admire at how stuctured, yet strange the english language is. You can take a word from another language or even make it up, tinker with it a bit, make a few more people use it, give it some experience in the writing field and somehow it finds its way into the OED along with its 5,000 other meanings.


~ Ka

[satansaloser2005]

Originally Posted by Morai

Not to mention that the Downs helped turn me away from chatty abbreviations.

I second that. I'd gotten used to using so much text/chatspeak that my brain doesn't like to process actual words anymore. It's refreshing to see people post (gasp!) actual words! (ungasp) whilst playing mafia/WW, as opposed to other sites I play on where an acceptable accusation is "your the mafia i no u r."

And to those of you that aren't native English speakers, kudos! To be honest, you speak (or at least type) a lot better English than some of the people I know in college. I congratulate you!

[Gwathagor]

Thanks Downers for making me feel stupid because you all speak five languages and I only one. Thanks for every day reminding of the fact that I am an inferior life-form and a dullard. It means so much to me.


EDIT: Wow. Someone must have hacked my account, because this doesn't sound like something I would say at ALL.

[Kitanna]

Originally Posted by Cailín

The Downs especially taught me many ways to express suspicion, and how to eloquently accuse people of the most heinous crimes.

Ha, seconded. My critical thinking skills greatly improved through WW games. I learned to read between the lines and interpret various things differently. And that has helped me write a fair amount of English term papers over the years.

The Downs has also provided a great place to discuss the books I love and not be called a "super nerd" for it. And it's where I can work on my writing skills through RPGs and even WW to a lesser extent.

Thanks Downs!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Gwathagor, if the above post was not written by you, you have the option of deleting it to avoid perpretrating a misunderstanding. If it remains, then it is by your choice and must be considered as having your approval.

[Gwathagor]

I jest, I jest. It was extended sarcasm.

[THE Ka]

Originally Posted by sal2005

"your the mafia i no u r."

Seconded. I guess I was lucky enough to have a head on my shoulders and let curiousity lead me to the Downs before I actually developed some understanding of it. Now when I see it, I have to re-read it several times because my brain twitches. Another thanks to Downers, for the gift of nagging and perpetual proper english.

~ Hmm Ka

[satansaloser2005]

Originally Posted by THE Ka

Seconded. I guess I was lucky enough to have a head on my shoulders and let curiousity lead me to the Downs before I actually developed some understanding of it. Now when I see it, I have to re-read it several times because my brain twitches. Another thanks to Downers, for the gift of nagging and perpetual proper english.

~ Hmm Ka

Indeed. The Downs has resurrected the English major in me, and for that I am greatful. And besides, all you guys (or at least the ones I know) are fantastic. It's been great fun playing WW with you all!

~~Sally~~

[Galadriel55]

The Downs has helped me with essay writing more than four years of school did. I get a lot of practice while RPing or just arguing my point in a Books' discussion. It also helps to learn grammar propper from speakers non-English. Also, after I started visiting about every day, I learned how to type twice as fast as I used to.

On the less practical side, I want to thank the Downers for being Downers and mking the Downs such a great place! ...And, for bearing with me through all my nonesense posts. :-)

[Galadriel55]

I'm kind of repeating myself here, but I feel I should do this anyways...

I recently wrote my Eglish exam, where I had to do a lot of on-the-spot analysis and essay writing in a relatively short time period. I think that I managed to finish it in time only because I had so much practice arguing one point or another and/or analyzing stuff here on the Downs. It got me into the habbit of reading something and replying coherently right away, without spending time on planning the post out.

A coupe weeks ago my English teacher made a comment about some of my creative writing assignments that they could serve as the beginning of short stories or even novels. I would like to blame the Downs for that.

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

A coupe weeks ago my English teacher made a comment about some of my creative writing assignments that they could serve as the beginning of short stories or even novels. I would like to blame the Downs for that.

Did they start with "It was a dark, stormy night?"

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Did they start with "It was a dark, stormy night?"

No. *goes to get book*

"There were no sea gulls on the masts."

Come on, the Downs may be scary for hobbits, but we're WIGHTS!