Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sheba]

Ok, so this may sound like a really dumb question, but in American English, is it ok to start a sentence with and, but, because and so?

eg. I like apples. And I like oranges. Becasue they are sweet. But I don't like bananas. So I don't eat them.

Practically all the students write like this, and I thought it was incorrect regardless. However, the reason I ask is because our hagwon teaches American English, and our text books have this type of text also!

After having a discussion about it with the Korean teachers, I decided to come here and find out once and for all... Im from NZ so I use British English back home and this is definately a big no-no.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[sheba]

Thanks for your replies...

For clarification, this was my example (a student didn't write it). But in ever writing exercise, they write like that. It is an easy way to teach beginners short sentences that can changed to long sentences I guess...

I teach elementary and middle school. I figured that if it is not standard American emglish then I would start teaching the higher elementary classes and the middle school classes.

So, I know it is commos use with speaking, but with teaching writing is it ok? Is it common American Eglish? Or is it only for very informal writing?

Cheers!

[babtangee]

Informal. You've never read an American essay/text book? No one's going to right like that in a formal text.

I would try not to teach it to my students. But I wouldn't worry about it too much; as long as they are using sentences, it's all good.

[Zyzyfer]

Using and, but, so, and other conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence has nothing to do with American English, and everything to do with a literal translation from Korean. It's very common for a sentence in Korean to begin with a word that translates into a conjunction in English. Just explain the rule to them.

I swear, when I edit stuff that's been translated by people who supposedly speak English and Korean and every other sentence starts with "But," I start to go loony.

[Gopher]

There are writing style books available, man. Try, for example, The Elements of Style.

Your answers depend on the context (business writing, legal writing, scholarly writing, literature, poetry)...

[cubanlord]

I teach American English (as I am American). I wrap a kids knuckles if they start a sentence with a conjunction (in my beginning writing classes). If they start a sentence with a conjunction (in a dependent clause, followed up with an independent clause), I give them an English dollar.

Depends on the level you are teaching. Just make sure you explain to them that this is only used in informal writing. Use a conjunction incorrectly in a research paper, formal essay, etc. and be prepared for your professor to wreak havoc with a red pen.

[Gopher]

[Son Deureo!]

[cubanlord]

that's true. Once you get to a certain point, as long as your don't make a terrible grammatical mistake, no one will say anything to you. But.....we are talking about beginners......non-native english speaking students (too many adjectives? lol ). I would say stick with the easy peezies first. Don't inundate (sp?) them with technicals. Get them writing first.

[keithinkorea]

[cubanlord]

OOPS....I didn't mean an "English" dollar....lol.....I give them an AMERICAN dollar (fake of course).

Thanks for the correction.