Non-native English speakers... what about our English?

by **grooveboy** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:28 pm

I'm satisfied with my English. The only thing I would like to improve is my vocabulary. I had great English teachers both in primary and high school and I have to give a credit to UKMIX too, since this is mainly the only place where I communicate in English 8-)

by **biscuits** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:56 am

I'm an English teacher for non-native English speakers, so this thread is delightful and really interesting! I've just read the first page and will read through the rest later.

by **johnnyboy** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:42 pm

Irishguy28 has quite good English for an Irishman.

by **johnnyboy** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:45 pm

Biscuits - so you're a TEFL/TESOL teacher? Teaching abroad or to foreigners at home?

Let's be honest, the only reason people teach English to foreigners is to get the chance to live abroad. It's a Mickey Mouse job otherwise, IMO.

by **jpguy** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:34 pm

I've always wondered why do British singers sing with an "American accent", specially with the "R", and words that would sound totally different when speaking:

- I LET IT FALL, MY HEART, in British english it would sound like "I lettit fol, my hat" or something... lol, but when singing it, it does sound american... with the whole americanized "ar, er, ir, or" sounds.. you know whta I mean?

by **Serby** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:50 pm

jpguy wrote:I've always wondered why do British singers sing with an "American accent", specially with the "R", and words that would sound totally different when speaking:

- I LET IT FALL, MY HEART, in British english it would sound like "I lettit fol, my hat" or something... lol, but when singing it, it does sound american... with the whole americanized "ar, er, ir, or" sounds.. you know whta I mean?

I always wondered the same

Only few British singers sing in British.

by **Crazy4Brit** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 5:55 pm

"You broke my heart"

British: "U brouk my haatt"

American: "Hiu brho*k my harrhht"

Or something like that :lol:

by **jio** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:05 pm

serbia95riri wrote:
jpguy wrote:I've always wondered why do British singers sing with an "American accent", specially with the "R", and words that would sound totally different when speaking:

- I LET IT FALL, MY HEART, in British english it would sound like "I lettit fol, my hat" or something... lol, but when singing it, it does sound american... with the whole americanized "ar, er, ir, or" sounds.. you know whta I mean?
I always wondered the same
Only few British singers sing in British.

I think partly because on the back of their heads they are hoping for a hit across the ocean and partly because the UK in general seems to be so obsessed with the States it is so bizarre, especially for continental Europeans who we seem to be so proud of our countries, even if there are few things to be really proud of lol

by **jpguy** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:10 pm

What singers sing in "Brtish"??? I havent come across anyone

serbia95riri wrote:
jpguy wrote:I've always wondered why do British singers sing with an "American accent", specially with the "R", and words that would sound totally different when speaking:

- I LET IT FALL, MY HEART, in British english it would sound like "I lettit fol, my hat" or something... lol, but when singing it, it does sound american... with the whole americanized "ar, er, ir, or" sounds.. you know whta I mean?
I always wondered the same
Only few British singers sing in British.

by **naughty** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:49 pm

I think basically because British is too strong for the ears while American is easy and light.

I always think Sophie Ellis-Bexter have a british accent when she sings, you just you can tell she's british.

by **lemsey** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:57 am

It's not that people sing in an American accent, it's just you naturally use your accent when you sing. I think the common singing accent is probably closer to Australian than anything else to be honest. Not rhotic, yet spoken from the same part of the mouth as American if that makes sense :lol:

And I guess the vowels and stuff aren't strong like you get in accents. Like the 'o' sound isn't as 'ahh' as in America, and not as 'uhh' as in the UK/Aus. I'm making zero sense :lol:

by **Serby** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:12 pm

jpguy wrote:What singers sing in "Brtish"??? I havent come across anyone

Lily Allen, Kate Nash, idk

by **biscuits** » Wed May 02, 2012 1:34 pm

johnnyboy wrote:Biscuits - so you're a TEFL/TESOL teacher? Teaching abroad or to foreigners at home?

Let's be honest, the only reason people teach English to foreigners is to get the chance to live abroad. It's a Mickey Mouse job otherwise, IMO.

Yeah, I know a lot of people think this is an easy job and an excuse to teach abroad. But I have a degree in English Language and I am currently doing my Masters in TESOL, so this is something I really want to do. It's frustrating that there are people who do it just because they're at a crossroads in their life or want a holiday.

by **marcsi** » Wed May 02, 2012 2:55 pm

jpguy wrote:What singers sing in "Brtish"??? I havent come across anyone

you need to check out some urban artists then. like grime rappers... Mike Skinner, Lady Sov, Devlin, Lowkey...

The Streets

Lowkey

Lady Sov

Devz

cockney? ... its like a whole different language :lol:

by **Haribo** » Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:16 am

I loved to read this topic!

and I now feel better knowing I am not the only one with some.. "English troubles, disorders" :wink:

by **nekoo3372** » Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:37 am

I should be more careful about pronunciation of "slot" ... somehow it sounds like sl*t, which is not good at 4* hotel

by **ANH** » Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:39 am

irishguy28 wrote:"Baywatch" is the name of a TV show. It's not the name of a job.

You are a lifeguard, not a Baywatch.

by **Rihab95** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 12:26 am

ANH wrote:
irishguy28 wrote:"Baywatch" is the name of a TV show. It's not the name of a job.

You are a lifeguard, not a Baywatch.

Oops..

by **Marius** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 1:39 pm

through_the_ra wrote:Some time ago I took CAE (C1) and Trinity (12th level, C2) exams. The latter should have no "expiry" date, shouldn't?

Neither should the former, I took it in 1999 and seems to still be valid. I was told it never expires when I took it anyway.

by **marcsi** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:38 pm

I dont always change the word order in questions. often just ask questions with the same word order as in a declarative sentence. even though I know what would be the correct word order, somehow I just cant be bothered to change it. it annoys me sometimes, and I still cant be bothered to do it right. :oops:

by **arab** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:26 pm

nekoo3372 wrote:
Matti88 wrote:
Czech is very similair to Polish
I understand a lot ... its very similar

Yes, it's very similar, but there are lots of words that sound very funny in polish :lol:

For example:
Polish - Czech
sklep(shop) - piwnica(basement)
posladek(buttock) - zadek(a$$)
policjant kryminalny(police officer) - kryminalista(criminal)
swiezy(fresh) - ?erstvý(stale)
terminator - elektronicky mordulec(electrical murderer)
Mam pomysl(I have an idea) - Mam napad(I have an attack)
wiewiorka(squirrel) - drevni kocur(wooden cat)

...and many more

:lol:

by **stevyy** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:32 pm

i still startles me how many similarities there are between english and german..

i always giggle when somebody says doppelganger (Doppelgänger) on Vampire Diaries.

by **PosziMC2** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 8:28 pm

hmm... mine is still bad :lol:

by **Graham76man** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 12:00 am

stevyy wrote:i still startles me how many similarities there are between english and german..

i always giggle when somebody says doppelganger (Doppelgänger) on Vampire Diaries.

That's because Old English has it's roots in German. It came over with the Saxons.

by **JSparksFan** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 1:00 am

I always find it hilarious when non-native English speakers speak better English than their native English speaking counterparts. :lol:

And that happens more often than you'd think too.