Now Reading ...This post is mainly published because of the request from Mayank. English have become my biggest problem in blogging because it is not my primary language and not even my second and third! 
I guess everybody who speak natively using english will laugh at me, But no matter. I just believe it’s just the matter of time in learning. And I also believe, blogging will not need a “too formal” of English wording in your content. It’s about a daily conversation, just about talking each other friendly! 
I uses the following mini resources to improve my english. I have no time to travel to a night course to learn english. Jakarta is a city that famous of the traffic jam. It will wasting my valuable time in the road while I can learn it at home!
My Daily Online English Resources:
- Copyblogger
- Daily Writing Tips
- Reference.com
Offline English Resources:
- English Grammar for Dummies
- Oxford Pocket Grammar
- Movies with English Subtitles
- Online Ebooks
Audio Tutorial mp3:
Reference.com has become my daily use in creating post. It have supported many language vocab translation. If I type my Indonesian vocab into the search bar under the dictionary tab, it return me 28+ language translation!!
The thing that is not great in reference dot com is: They can’t translate a sentence! If you try to enter a sentence and click the search, reference.com will return you a “google search”. I only use reference.com for translating individual words from my language to english.
Copyblogger and Daily Writing Tips is different from reference.com. Instead of translating, they focus on how to improve your language in your post. I visit daily writing tips everyday for their tips. I found it useful for beginner like myself.
I also have several book for learning english offline. I have a great book labeled “English Grammar for Dummies“. I admit that I’m still a dummy now. But, I’m sure I will have in a different level next year!
Aside from my stuffed schedules, I still allowing myself to watch some movies. I do it only at sunday because I’m all day free on Sunday. I always choose to watch DVD that have the english subtitles so I can learn what the actor is talking and how is their conversations.
Reading ebook is also one of my favorite activities. But usually, I like to print it out for better readability. I have a bunch of them. But I haven’t have time to read it all!! That’s Second problem of mine because of the time limitation!
Well, I that’s my daily resources for developing my english. But, the idioms always right: “Practice make Perfect”. Keep practice and practice and well… we will become fluent with english eventually.
See you in the next post. Bye!
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(July 14, 2007, 3:37 am)
I do believe one of the best way in improving your English is talk to a person whose mother tongue is English.
I am sure there is an online chat program where you can find a pal who will speak English to you.
I was forced to speak English in Australia because all my room mates were from different part of Asia. We conversed in English though we were Asians.
Now that I married an American and live here in the US, I have no choice but speak English.
Though a lot of times, I don’t watch my gramma because I write fast and hit the publish or post button without proof reading :)-.
Don’t worry too much about English ! China will be the strongest nation in 50 years to come !!!
Kavin Ham is the man who own the internet and he is an Asian !
The co-founder of Youtube is an Asian.
Remember when there is a will, there is a way !!!!
Reply to jamy(July 14, 2007, 5:22 am)
Your are absolutely right, Jamy!
Something that have become my unfortunate things is:
My environment is a native indonesian who know nothing about english.
The only ways for me is to chat with online people’s who use english often. I have several friend who know how to speak english well.
I often join into their conversation, although sometimes I was left behind by their topic, I think it’s still worth a try.
Reply to Ken Xu(July 14, 2007, 3:55 am)
haha thanks
my English is not that good either and I’m entering my university this Sept 
gosh, this article was pretty encouraging, thanks again, man. Keep up the good work.
Reply to Raf(July 14, 2007, 5:31 am)
You are welcome, Raf!
Hope you will enjoy your uni-life!
I haven’t have a chance to taste what a university life is! May be you can taste it for me!
Reply to Ken Xu(July 14, 2007, 4:01 am)
One more resource is Wordsmith.org - a word a day to quench your thirst for learning new words
Reply to Shankar Ganesh(July 14, 2007, 5:43 am)
Great! I will definitely use it, Shankar!
Reply to Ken XuThanks for the reference!
(July 14, 2007, 4:38 am)
Great post ken! The resources are really good and were worth a mention. Copyblogger (Brian) is a real cool blogger and he knows what is he doing
@ Aunt Jamy : Well, I’ve to say that your English is certainly better than many of us.
Reply to ReviewSaurus(July 14, 2007, 5:47 am)
Thanks, Mayank!! Mind you share me your Resources too?
Thanks to shankar, I got another good site for english practicing!
You are right, Aunty Jamy often correcting my blog post and notify a the wrong grammar. I’m really appreciate on her help to my blog post, Thanks Jamy!
Reply to Ken Xu(July 14, 2007, 1:41 pm)
One of the resources I love and use often is Mariam Wester Online Dictionary, it is very interatvie and I love it.
Reply to jamytanhttp://www.m-w.com/
Also, you guys probably have known that there are a lot of differences in British’s English and American’s English.
We probably is the only country left that does not use Metric system and drive on the right side of the road and our drive is on the left side.
British : biscuit ; American : cookies
British : Neighbour ; American : Neighbor
Cheers !
Have a good day !
(July 15, 2007, 12:02 am)
Ohh… British and American? I usually Mess it together become “Ameritish”!
Reply to Ken XuI seldom aware of it. This is a great lesson. Thanks for the resources, Jamy!
(July 14, 2007, 1:51 pm)
Me too, Ken. English is not my primary language. But I used to visit the links you mentioned here and another site where I visit is englishforums.com. This is the right place to learn English. I mean not only grammar but also writing tips. And also you can get the good resource and information for English language test like TOEFL or IELTS. There are a lot of active members in that forum.
And you can also get some grammar resources from longman.
It is legal and free.
http://www.longman.com/totalenglish/resources/downloads/
Another site you might be interested. It is English grammar blog.
http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/
And also remember that blogging can also improve your writing skill and vocabulary.
Cheer! Ken
Best wishes,
Myo Kyaw Htun
Reply to Myo Kyaw Htun(July 15, 2007, 12:09 am)
Wow! Another resources! Thanks Htun! I have ever to tried the TOEFL test. I got only 350 2 years ago!
Reply to Ken Xuvery-very back score. I don’t know how is my improvement until now.
I used to study at our local night course called “longman
too! So they also have a website? Haha great!
Thanks for commenting and your great encouragement!
(July 14, 2007, 3:32 pm)
Kopi,
“Practice Makes Perfect” - it is very true indeed.
Reply to kuanhoongNot bad for someone that is learning English and blogging at the same time.
(July 15, 2007, 12:15 am)
Haha. Avoid call me kopi(coffee), hoong! Or I will call you susu(milk)!
Reply to Ken XuYup! Thanks for your encouragement. I hope I can improve a lot with both of them, english & Blogging!
(July 15, 2007, 12:01 am)
Kuanhoong, why u so terok one ? Kopi is reserve for me to use lah :)-
Reply to jamy(July 15, 2007, 12:16 am)
It’s Aunty’s Brand of One, anyway! hahaha
Reply to Ken Xu(July 15, 2007, 12:25 am)
Hey Ken I think it’s fantastic that you take the time to perfect your English and have compiled a list of links you use to help with that effort.
I’m wondering, since English not your first language, do you also blog in your first language?
Reply to bret(July 15, 2007, 2:25 am)
Hi bret!
Reply to Ken XuMy primary Language is Indonesian. Unfortunately, I’m not making any blog that using Bahasa Indonesia. Since I’m targeting to be a international Problogger, I thought english language will be the best kick start for me!
Of course, when I have freed from my 9-5 schedule, I will make a blog that using my own language.
(July 15, 2007, 2:33 am)
this is such an informative post Ken.. English is not my first lang either
and those resources are really great. But do not worry too much about English.. you are doing great as it is.
And like Jamy says, add us all in your daily resources also - to chat with each of us daily.. we will all benefit
Reply to pearl(July 15, 2007, 3:35 am)
Thanks for the encouragement, Pearl!
Chatting with you guys is very fun and mental developing! 
Reply to Ken Xu