Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pedants' corner
Original poster

hi, i want to improve my english, please help me

39 replies

questionmaster · 03/06/2008 22:58

Hi, I left school at 16 with no qualifications

im not stupid, just lack english skills

i want to learn, so i can help me lovely dd when shes older

if i can improve my spellings and grammar
i can then improve my overall education

i hate not being able to spell, dont want dd to feel this way when shes older

im 30 so i have 35 years left to work!

my 1st question is whats a colon ?and a semi colon

OP posts:
kama · 04/06/2008 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

eenybeeny · 04/06/2008 22:15

I am not the best person to learn from other people on this thread have given you great information - I just wanted to say well done to you! I think its wonderful you want to improve an aspect of yourself and especially for your child. You must love her very much!

Original poster
questionmaster · 06/06/2008 20:18

thank you, for every single message of help
I have ordered that ladybird book
and I am hoping to retake my GCSEs, although im not sure I am destined for academic greatness, I enjoy being a florist and I think im more suited to and would enjoy a creative job more.
however I am still determined to get my GCSEs and maybe consider a levels.
More than anything though, my main aim is to be able to help dd, and if she ever asks me what a semi colon, or whatever is, I will be able to explain it to her.
I am sure I can achive this.
thanks again.

OP posts:
Fanella · 06/06/2008 20:29

Hi questionmaster.

I work for Learndirect - you can go to a Learndirect centre to get an assessment of your skills and then free courses towards a national test in English equivalent to GCSE.

The courses are all online and you can work at your own pace (if you're nervous about having to join a class)..

You can find your nearest centre from their website.

Also, the BBC Skillswise website is really helpful and I recommend www.move-on.org.uk

Original poster
questionmaster · 06/06/2008 21:50

Hi Fanella.

thanks for the great advice, I will do that, do I have to go into the learn direct center for the assesment? or can i do it online?

thank you for the tip about the moveon site.
I will also try that.

OP posts:
Fanella · 07/06/2008 07:46

Morning questionmaster

The amount of time you go in to the centre/work from home really depends on the centre, they all run differently.

We enrol people and let them do it online at home, but other centres may insist you go in. Strictly speaking you aren't supposed to do the assessment on your own in case you cheat (as if you would - what would be the point?!)

You will have to go in to sit the final tests.

The move-on website has a short skills check which will give you a rough idea of the level you're working at now.

whereabouts are you? Would be fab if I could get you enrolled through our centre - we could do it all online and you'd just have to come in for the test. Won't work if you're miles away of course...

Fanella · 07/06/2008 07:50

you can also try here. If there isn't a Learndirect Centre near you. They do more computer skills training, but they also do some maths and English work.

BR0NZE · 07/06/2008 11:48

I used to come on mumsnet a long time ago and revisted recently though I can't remember my old login. The other day I had great fun reading this section so I came back on just now to ask a similar question as the OP. Of course I found she had already done it which I am thankful for as I was nervous of the reception. I feel incredibly let down by my school as I think the only things they ever taught me were onomatopoeia and alliteration. I do have loads of questions but of course now I've written all this I can't remember a single one. I'll be back later when I do.

Bronze · 07/06/2008 12:00

After all that I've discovered who I am. I also worked out why it said someone was already called bronze.

bellabelly · 07/06/2008 12:06

This is a great book - really recommend it! Am an English teacher and loads of parents have said they found it very helpful for improving their own grammar, punctuation etc.

Original poster
questionmaster · 07/06/2008 21:12

Hi, fanella, I am in barnet, atm, but may be moving to northampton as its cheaper, alot cheaper.

bellabelly, i am about to order that book, do you think i should also order the english
the essential terms as i don't even know what a homophone, connective is?

Hi, Bronze.
hope you find this thread as helpful as i do

OP posts:
Uriel · 07/06/2008 21:33

questionmaster - what a refreshing attitude you have!

Just to help -

I'm, not Im
she's, not shes (when she's older)

English, not english

centre, not center (American spelling)

Original poster
questionmaster · 07/06/2008 21:40

Hi Uriel, thank you very much.

OP posts:
bellabelly · 09/06/2008 17:49

QM, I haven't seen the Essential Terms book - from memory the ones you mention would be covered in the other book anyway so you might not need both.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page