Hello Vinci!
This is Albert, and I have been invited to join this forum and to write to you and I hope we can get to know each other. I have read the things that you wrote to Michaela so I know a little bit about your life from those messages.
Maybe your teacher has told you that I would be writing to you?
You might be wondering about me? I will tell you a bit about myself. You can also ask questions if you wish.
I am in the same university class as Michaela, and we are studying about how to teach new English Language Learners how to write in English. Does that sound interesting?
I can see that you actually do quite well with English, from reading your messages. By comparison my Chinese is very very small, almost non existent. Sorry for that. I can say "Nee how ma". I am sure you know what that means, right?! But, I need to learn more Chinese.
Only one problem, I cannot read Chinese! For me that would be sooooo hard! [bad grammar, but sometimes we do that to try to emphasize an idea].
My writing style tends to me somewhat casual, or, you could say, conversational, you know, the way people talk. I enjoy writing, it's one of my favorite things.
A few more things about me you should know…….I am a much older student than all the other students. Yes, a lot older, I am actually a grandfather already! But I still go to this university class. I do not mind being with younger students, it is interesting. It is a very good thing to keep on learning even when we are older.
Please do not worry about my age, I try to have a young heart. Our bodies get older, we cannot stop that, but our hearts can stay young. What do you think?
Something else about me, I am still working even though I am old enough to be retired. Do you know what it means to be retired? That means that when you get to be about 65 years old, you stop going to work for a job, and do other things. I work for a Chinese lady who has a big estate. It's a very nice property and a really beautiful house and I have to do the work on the property. Another time I can tell you more about that. Okay?
I know that I should learn Chinese, and I would like to, and when I have more time I think that I will start. I think Chinese is also a very important language, but its very hard for me.
Do you think English is hard?
My first language was German until I was five years old. Then I learned English. And 8 years ago I started learning Spanish and now I can speak some Spanish, not so well, but still enough to talk to people. So, you see, even older people can still learn things :))
Have you heard the saying [proverb]: You cannot teach an old dog new tricks? Do you know what that means? Tell me if you think you know!
I know this is the year of the dog in China, right? So we need to be very very nice to all dogs this year?
Do you have a dog? I have three dogs to take care of for the Chinese lady every day. Another time I will tell you more about that too.
Now I will wait to hear from you.
Bye for now!
~Albert~