Thread: How many books should you read to become fluent in a second language?
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Old 06-07-2012, 08:03 AM   #56
mbovenka
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kumabjorn View Post
They couldn't tell you the first thing about the language and how its grammar is structured, to give just one example.
Neither can most native speakers, in my experience .

They can tell you something is right or wrong, but why it is? I am Dutch, and was taught grammar in both primary and secondary school, but I remember very little of it. A wrong sentences grates, but I couldn't for the life of me tell you what grammar rule it violates. It's just 'wrong'.

Same with English. I am C2 level certified (Cambridge Proficiency) and I can tell you whether a sentence is correct English or not. But don't ask me to explain why; I probably won't be able to tell you. It just 'feels' right or wrong.
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