Though the video is a comic situation, it envinces that many times non-native speakers of English have a hard time trying to talk to natives speakers and the other way round. Have you had any experience?
Yes, of course. I have studied many times how to give directions in English, but once I come across anyone asking me (in English) how could they go anywhere, I just say a few words and forget most of the theory. Eventually, they understand me.
I had a problem regarding this issue when I followed an English course in England a few years ago. I stayed with an English family and sometimes it was a headache to follow what they were saying to each other at dinner time. I just kept nodding and smiling. I see it as a funny situation now, after all.
This situation reminds me of Joshua...what a nightmare! I think he was 10 years old when I met him. I spent 4 weeks in his house with two Spanish friends of mine, but none of us was able to understand him, so he used to get annoyed frequently. Fortunately, his mother, who was very kind with us, used to explain what he meant.
When I thought I was the best in English, real life situations made me realize that I had no clue (I would try to put my skills to test and talk to an English speaking person, she wouldn't understand me or anything I was saying. She kept asking what I meant, I kept trying harder just to end up frustrated) some years later this friend and I would talk fluently about the good old times hehe. There was a lot of practice and quest in between though. The vid was nice...
I've only had a few experiences when talking to foreigners in English but my sensation is that I get stuck a lot trying to find the right way to express myself. However, I'm kind of glad I haven't had embarrassing moments, yet!
I remember a funny situation. I was in Holland with some friends and we went to a McDonald's for lunch. The cashier asked him what he wanted and he said "McKitchen" instead of "McChicken". She looked at him surprised because she didn't understand what he wanted
Fortunately, I haven't had any situation similar to this one yet but I can recall some problems I used to have to understand some Irish friends. They wouldn't use the sound /ʌ/ for words like bus or but, they used a kind of "o" instead. At first, it was shocking and I had to stop and think a little bit to follow the conversation, but once I got used to it, there was no problem at all.
In my case I have not experienced any embarrassing situation talking foreigners, but if it were the case I would be very nervous and my mind go blank. Later, I would try to speak again more slowly, more clearly and using gestures!
In my case I lived a very embarrased situation. I was in New York on holydays and it was my first day there. I was with my mother and my sister and my mother was so tedious because he only said: come on Bea, start talking! Start talking English! But I didn't want. I was so shy that I didn't want to do it. So she told me: please, ask those polices where we can have dinner tonight. And I said: ok. They were a man and a woman, the man was older than her, and the dialogue was something like that:
- I'm sorry sir - Are you sorry? What's curious name! -What???????????
And then, he started laughing. I was so embarrassed that I turned back to my mother and I said to her: tonight, we are not going to have dinner.
(Obviously, we had dinner but without forgetting the situation!)
This video is quite funny and actually represents a situation that I was involved in, while working in London. I had some American tourists who asked me what was the language spoken in England, since they did not understand many of the words uttered by people. I was also told that I had a Dutch accent and that I ought to be from somewhere around there. So it proves that not only is there confusion between natives and foreigners, but that linguistic chaos may also occur among natives of different varieties of English.
In my case, in one of my trips to New York I followed an English course, there were many Korean students in my class and it was very difficult to understand them (not always). One of the Korean girls got angry with me when I asked her for the price of her DC shoes:
-How much did you spend in those shoes?
-Fifty dollars, in New York you can get cheap things…
-Fifty? That’s not cheap!
-Not cheap? Do you think you can get shoes for 10 dollars or less? -I don’t think so, but I can get them for twenty or thirty bucks.
-That’s so expensive!
-What are you talking about? You said you paid Fifty dollars!
I haven't had any situation similar to this one yet because I have not had contact with natives, but maybe one day I will live any experience and maybe I will be nervous.
yes, I had some problems to communicate with native speakers, and when I get nervous I try to speak with them making sign, because I can forget everything that I already know.
Unfortunately yes, and it happens to me when a native speaker of English asks me how to go to a place. I don’t know how to give these directions, in spite of the fact that I know the theory, I don’t know how to explain myself and I became stuck without saying anything.
Yes, of course. I have studied many times how to give directions in English, but once I come across anyone asking me (in English) how could they go anywhere, I just say a few words and forget most of the theory. Eventually, they understand me.
ResponderEliminarPS The video is very funny. Thank you.
Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
ResponderEliminarI had a problem regarding this issue when I followed an English course in England a few years ago. I stayed with an English family and sometimes it was a headache to follow what they were saying to each other at dinner time. I just kept nodding and smiling. I see it as a funny situation now, after all.
ResponderEliminarThis situation reminds me of Joshua...what a nightmare! I think he was 10 years old when I met him. I spent 4 weeks in his house with two Spanish friends of mine, but none of us was able to understand him, so he used to get annoyed frequently. Fortunately, his mother, who was very kind with us, used to explain what he meant.
EliminarWhen I thought I was the best in English, real life situations made me realize that I had no clue (I would try to put my skills to test and talk to an English speaking person, she wouldn't understand me or anything I was saying. She kept asking what I meant, I kept trying harder just to end up frustrated) some years later this friend and I would talk fluently about the good old times hehe. There was a lot of practice and quest in between though.
ResponderEliminarThe vid was nice...
I've only had a few experiences when talking to foreigners in English but my sensation is that I get stuck a lot trying to find the right way to express myself. However, I'm kind of glad I haven't had embarrassing moments, yet!
ResponderEliminarEste comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
ResponderEliminarI remember a funny situation. I was in Holland with some friends and we went to a McDonald's for lunch. The cashier asked him what he wanted and he said "McKitchen" instead of "McChicken". She looked at him surprised because she didn't understand what he wanted
ResponderEliminarHehehe, I'm picturing the scene:
Eliminar- Hello?
- Yes, a McKitchen, please.
- Furnished or unfurnished?
- Pardon?
ji,ji,ji :)
EliminarFortunately, I haven't had any situation similar to this one yet but I can recall some problems I used to have to understand some Irish friends. They wouldn't use the sound /ʌ/ for words like bus or but, they used a kind of "o" instead. At first, it was shocking and I had to stop and think a little bit to follow the conversation, but once I got used to it, there was no problem at all.
ResponderEliminarIn my case I have not experienced any embarrassing situation talking foreigners, but if it were the case I would be very nervous and my mind go blank. Later, I would try to speak again more slowly, more clearly and using gestures!
ResponderEliminarIn my case I lived a very embarrased situation. I was in New York on holydays and it was my first day there. I was with my mother and my sister and my mother was so tedious because he only said: come on Bea, start talking! Start talking English! But I didn't want. I was so shy that I didn't want to do it. So she told me: please, ask those polices where we can have dinner tonight. And I said: ok. They were a man and a woman, the man was older than her, and the dialogue was something like that:
ResponderEliminar- I'm sorry sir
- Are you sorry? What's curious name!
-What???????????
And then, he started laughing. I was so embarrassed that I turned back to my mother and I said to her: tonight, we are not going to have dinner.
(Obviously, we had dinner but without forgetting the situation!)
Pulling your leg that policemen :)
ResponderEliminarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=YSkgWYXJxJU
ResponderEliminarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=0tyzG_ZKVfU
ResponderEliminarThis video is quite funny and actually represents a situation that I was involved in, while working in London. I had some American tourists who asked me what was the language spoken in England, since they did not understand many of the words uttered by people. I was also told that I had a Dutch accent and that I ought to be from somewhere around there. So it proves that not only is there confusion between natives and foreigners, but that linguistic chaos may also occur among natives of different varieties of English.
excellent video! so funny!!!!
ResponderEliminarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlzNGCBp1TE
Ji,ji,ji, funny indeed! thanks
ResponderEliminarIn my case, in one of my trips to New York I followed an English course, there were many Korean students in my class and it was very difficult to understand them (not always). One of the Korean girls got angry with me when I asked her for the price of her DC shoes:
ResponderEliminar-How much did you spend in those shoes?
-Fifty dollars, in New York you can get cheap things…
-Fifty? That’s not cheap!
-Not cheap? Do you think you can get shoes for 10 dollars or less?
-I don’t think so, but I can get them for twenty or thirty bucks.
-That’s so expensive!
-What are you talking about? You said you paid Fifty dollars!
-Yeah, what’s wrong?
-Fifty is more than thirty!
-No! One and five, fifteen! (with emphasis)
-Hahahaha you said fifty before!
-No! I didn’t say that…
-Yes, you did.
-… I’m out.
It was so funny!
I haven't had any situation similar to this one yet because I have not had contact with natives, but maybe one day I will live any experience and maybe I will be nervous.
ResponderEliminaryes, I had some problems to communicate with native speakers, and when I get nervous I try to speak with them making sign, because I can forget everything that I already know.
ResponderEliminarUnfortunately yes, and it happens to me when a native speaker of English asks me how to go to a place. I don’t know how to give these directions, in spite of the fact that I know the theory, I don’t know how to explain myself and I became stuck without saying anything.
ResponderEliminarPS: The video is so funny!!