The video and transcription

Hello world!!! I did not want to post my video here, because as I've mentioned before I am completely overweight and I do not like to look at myself. But I did not have choice, so... Just for you Mary!!!

Transcription

Peter: Can you tell me Renata What is (what’s) the thing you like the most about Canada?

Renata: In Canada I am feel (I’m feel) safe (I feel safe). It is different from my home country. Even though I know there is no ah perfect country in the world. All countries have their own problems (all countries have problems). So Canada has problems, but it is (it’s) not so many problems as Brazil has (But has not as many problems as Brazil has). So I like to drive at night knowing that I am going to (gonna) (go back) home safely. I know to walk in the street (if I walk on the streets and need to take a bus) and take the bus and not worry if someone stops the bus to steal (I do not be worried if the bus with be stolen or not). So that’s it. I think this is the most important. (I think that is very important to feel safe where you live)

Peter: And what’s the thing you miss the most about Brazil?

Renata: I think I miss my family... I think no, I am sure I miss my family and also some food (I also miss the Brazilian food). Because it is (it’s) difficult to find the food we have in Brazil here in Canada. But I cook something, you know (but at least I know how to cook some dishes).

Peter: Make what?

Renata: Like black beans (such as “feijoada”, which is made with black beans). Black beans they call “feijoada”. (Another example it would be fish with dende oil called moqueca) Like a fish with oil from Africa that’s called “dendê”, so it is “moqueca”. It is from Brazil, from my city.

Peter: Which city are you from?

Renata: I am from Salvador. It is north of Brazil. It is northeast of Brazil.

Peter: What is the most popular soccer team in Salvador?

Renata: Victoria.

Peter: Are they good?

Renata: No. They are very bad.

Peter: Oh yep?

Renata: yep

Peter: But they play with the other like Sao Paulo?

Renata: Yes. They play, yes.

Peter: Do you like that team?

Renata: I like it. But they are very bad.

Peter: Do you go to the stadium often?

Renata: No.

Peter: Is it very dangerous to go to the stadium?

Renata: In some areas, in some cities, yes.

Notes

Sound issues: I believe people can understand what I wanted to say even though I did many mistakes.

Word stress issues: There is no

                                Have their own problems

Message unit issues: there are not so many problems as Brazil has

                                  I like to drive at night and know that I am going to home safely.

Strong and weak forms issues: to steal

                                                  To take

                                                   To find

                                                   The food

Native vs. Non-native speaker differences: difficult

                                                                      With

                                                                       of

Weight and English

Today my English instructor asked to the class a video of each student talking about something for two minutes. It had to be a video, not just our voices, so I panic!!! Why??? You have no idea how fat I am!!! Oh my gosh!!! I could not imagine to watch myself speaking English in a video. And worse, the instructor also asked me to post the video here in my blog!!!! no way!!!! It is too much for me!!!! :):):)

I recorded my video and while I was watching my mind was talking to me: Renata, now you see how much you need to lose weight??? 

And I answered  to myself: yes, it is time to take a position.

But my fat was not the main problem in the video. After watch the video slowly to make a transcription I have come to the conclusion that my English is worse than I thought :(

No, I am not exaggerating!!! I am serious!!! When I am talking I really believe that I am speaking more correct than incorrect, but the transcription showed me that even though people can understand what I am saying, most of my sentences structures are incorrect. 

It is complicated when your mind translates your language to English, because often it would be wrong. The ideal would be think in English before open the mouth; however, if your are in this level I am sure you are speaking better than me.

The goal now is to improve conversation recording more videos and making more transcriptions.
I hope to lose weight for the next recordings :)

My first post

Hi, my name is Renata. I am from Brazil and currently living in Canada. After years trying to speak English fluently I have come to the frightening conclusion that I will never talk as an English speaker... oh, boy!!!

My accent still very strong and I always talk something wrong... even when I know that it is wrong.

Do you know when you are saying a sentence and in your mind you catch a mistake??? Yes, this is always happens with me and I hate it!!! But I know it is part of the learning process.

Another thing that in my opinion is frustrating is ending a sentence in a small talk and someone looks at me and says: Excuse me.

It is like hearing "I did not understand anything you've said".

However, it is important not to give up... okay, I confess that sometimes I lose patience, but then I remember that I choose to live in Canada and to learn English is not an option it is a need. :)