Well, I'll try to stay, but use as simple language is possible. "Из зыс мит ме-е-е?" "No, Sir, this meat is mu-u-u" :)

please, do stay:))) your English is a pleasure to read

Everything seems more or less normal over here!
Please carry on.
I will see you in three weeks time.
Bye!

(murmuring)
...Though there's one engine gone we can still carry on,
Coming in on a wing and a prayer...
Mila - have a safe and wonderful trip and come back in one piece. Don't try lo land the plane yourself even if you have a filght sim experience :))

Snafu

(murmuring)
...Though there's one engine gone we can still carry on,
Coming in on a wing and a prayer...
=========
There, there....(giving a hug);))))))

how come you speak English so well? (in a honeyed voice) will you shed some light on you your life? how long have you been living abroad?:)

New cruise ship naming contest, winner gets nice prize:



http://content.usatoday.com/Co ...

Hi Inna,
It's not a rocket science, just a matter of setting up the right goals. You don't need to learn English, you need to forget Russian. You should be able to flip a switch in your brain and start _thinking_ in English, not just translate your Russian thougths and phrases. It took me 1.2 years to pick up this concept and another couple of years to work it out.
Another thing is: people never speak classic English from the book. They make mistakes - by purpose, to make their speach colourful and original. That's true for all languages - if you say "Слушай сюда" on your Russian test you'll definitely fail it, but people use this idiom all the time. And the goal is to pick up the proper level of deviation and use it in accordance with the situation.
To make long story short - "You live and learn or you don't live long. But never underestimate the power of human stupidity" (Lasarus Long)

Thank you very much indeed, Snafu:)
And again, it's not just your grammar, vocabulary or spelling which are perfect (so far), it's about the way you put your thoughts together :) Your personality shines through the typed words.It can only be achieved when you use the language creatively, in a playful manner.
But let me add something - the major factor that contributed to your well- mastered English was life in an English-speaking country

Well, this /censored/ filter blocked my message again. I'll try to send it piece by piece. Joe "The Troubleshooter" Patroni started his evening shift...

Inna, thanks for your compliments. It's too much for an old poor redneck who can't count to twenty without taking his shoes off :)

You are right - I'm here (I mean in the US) for a long while, 10 years or so. But it's not the case. You may live on Brighton Beach for 20 years and don't understand a word in English. Or you may have Russian-speaking friends and family, work for Russian-owned company - and your English would be very poor for years. The "deep dive" technique is the only way to start feeling the language, not just learning it. There was a period when I didn't get a chance to say a word in Russian for 3 or 4 months - and my English skills raised like a rocket.

Books and classes gives you the basics - and then you need to do your homework. Watch news and movies, read books, newspapers and web sites, write in blogs and forums - and talk to people, talk all the time. It's also a good idea to take some classes - not English classes, but classes _in_ English, whatever you like - from cooking and photography to scubadiving and private pilot school.
Here is the game I played with my daughter - try to say "yes" and "no" at least ten different ways. Would you like to try? :)

Well, it failed on the word "a b s o l u t e l y". What's wrong with that?
Just wondering if it's possible to switch this filter off for English - even dirty English words would be useful for training purposes, especially for Level IV :)

try to say "yes" and "no" at least ten different ways.
------------------------------------------------------
Ok, let's try...

Yes:
indeed, of course, affirm, sure, truly, positively, really, Ok, all right, accept

No:
Negative, no way, deny, reject, refuse, disagree, nothing of the kind, objection, protest, unacceptable

Anyone else? C'mon, guys :)
"Yes" - yeah, yup, exactly, definitely, a b s o l u t e l y, true, affirmative, okey-dokey, aye-aye, roger, wilco...
"No" - nope, sorry, never, not a chance, are you crazy?, f@ck off :))

not for all the tea in China:)

how do you find my idiom, guys?:)

ok, sorry for the literal translation of "как вы находите..."))))))

Inna, you are the best! I didn't know this idiom. Your answer is on the top of the rating (so far :)

I really am:)
on top? ermmmmm, not my favourite though!

Shame on me, Inna, I didn't mean _that_ (Hm-m-m... Should I claim it as a sexual harrasment? I need to talk to my attorney) :)))
Sorry, duty calls. Going to the meeting (not the one with red flags, red wine and red faces on the Red Square). See you soon. Have fun, guys, I'll be back.

Should I claim it as a sexual harrasment?
----------
c'mon, it's a matter of perception;)

Ok... It's getting REALLY hot here! :-)

don't jump to conclusions, MSL!

OMG filter blocks all the words that could help to cool me down! %-/

Hi guys! I'm back. What's wrong happened since my last visit? :)
Thanks God it's Friday. Any plans for the weekend?
(Lady Astor was giving a costume ball and Winston Churchill asked her what disguise she would recommend for him. She replied: "Why don't you come sober, Mr. Prime Minister?")

Snafu

Hi guys! I'm back. What's wrong happened since my last visit? :)
=============\
nothing to write home about:)

Is it our Васья or a different one?
Hi, everybody.

ain't nobody's Vasja.

I'm Inna12 in disguise:)
nighty night, guys

Wow! Nice to see you sober! :-)

Inna12
not for all the tea in China:)

how do you find my idiom, guys?:)
-----------------------------
It depends on the initial proposal ;-)

proposal??!!!

Now you're talking!

Speaking of English...

http://miumau.livejournal.com/ ...

Inna12
What surprises you? Of course my reaction depends on what exactly you wouldn't do for all the tea in China...

well, it ain't surprised at all. good for you, you're saying the right thing))))
I'm playing with the word "proposal"

it ain't surprise, sorry

Oh, I see, It was just your Freudian slip ;-)

...whsh is my constant accompaniment)

too many mispelled words for tonight, I'm off to bed:)

Sweet dreams!

Yesterday's quote of the day:
"You have the right to remain sober. If you give up that right, please join us at Sweetwater Tavern at 7PM."

Inna, wake up! Good morning and happy hangover :)

Hi guys,
Let me put some skin in the game :)
There is a nice dictionary: http://www.urbandictionary.com/
I hope it will be of help in your linguistic studies.
May Lady Luck smile on you!

Dear Snafu, I'm t-total!!!!!!
;))))))

Well, you may try a buttermilk or tomato juice. Maybe light beer - pale lager or pilsner (dark styles like ale, dark lager, porter or stout dose not work well in this case). Speaking from experience :)

There is a nice dictionary: http://www.urbandictionary.com/
-----------------------------------------------------
It does not have my favorite "There is more than one way to slice a cat" :)

The best cure for hangover is something way much better than your tomato juice )) I won't name it, though. we are all grown up people here, you probably know what I mean)

To slice a cat!! A nice one, I don't like cats! My favorite is ' there isn't enough room to swing a cat' ;)

Sure I do :) But it's a public forum and there may be some youngsters here, so let's keep this secret for you and me. You know that I know that you know :))
Speaking of swinging a cat - nice idiom, didn't know that. Adding to my portfolio (idiom, not a cat :)

Btw, Former Tolmach, I always wanted to tell you that your sense of humor is perfect ;)