i don't claim to be a good english wiriter. (my spell & grammer sucks. ^^ ) but i think my writings are functional in a sense that i can express any thoughts of mine without agonizing how to express them. i took ESL writing classes but they are only good for composing a school report or an article. Expressing one's emotion in writing is somewhat different from discussing fluctations in oil price after the cold war. i think e-mail correspondance with a friend in english is a good idea. just reading a book doesn't carry you anywhere. Should spent time on actually writing something instead of reading Clinton sex scandal.