ELISA ENGLISH's Blog 英語園地

Why do I blog?

The reason changes from time to time. 

In March 2008, I accidentally stumbled upon a Taiwanese Q&A forum.  Shocked by the enormous amount of incorrect answers floating in that forum, I started blogging, hoping to steer people to learn the right English usage and to write better English.  I was extremely passionate about what I did.  I see that the problem results from the entire English teaching and learning system in Taiwan.  Sometimes the wrong concept gets passed down from generation to generation, creating close-mindedness resulting from deeply ingrained concept.  Very few Taiwanese in Taiwan can escape the fate of committing language interference errors which is a common phenomenon in Taiwan or any non-English speaking country in the world.  Language interference errors are chiefly due to differences between the two languages, structurally and phonologically and occur primarily due to the Taiwanese lacking sufficient knowledge of English grammar rules and word usage and reverting to using the rules of Chinese to express something in English.  

Over the years, I grew tired and my passion dampened.  My blog diverted from topics on English grammar and usage to poems and reflection of what I see and read.  My motive on blogging changed from the sole purpose of illustrating the Taiwanese people the right English usage to just pure pleasure of writing.  Though I still answer English grammar and usage questions on my blog, I lost that drive to write just to educate and even felt demoralized to answer any question.  Anyway, as I always say, I am never a Saint and I don't claim to be one.  I change my mind all the time.  Now I find blogging for my own sake and for the sake of my children rewarding and fun.  From my writing, my kids get to know the other side of their mom, outside of being just their mom.    It is yet another thing that I can share with them.