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

[Graham76man]

I always find it hilarious when non-native English speakers speak better English than their native English speaking counterparts. And that happens more often than you'd think too.

Heh up love! I'd dunno wat tha means?

[stteezy]

For me English is my 3rd language but I speak it more fluently than my 2 other languages, to be honest when I talk to people from england I have noticed their grammar and spelling is off yass, even Americans

For example

Your instead of you are
I love you to instead of too, etc

I speak Afrikaans and Shona, I must say, english is easy, no rules, no words that pertain to one gender etc, in Afrikaans we use what we call S(v1)tomp(v2)i for every sentence

S=subject like me you, the dog; (v1) = first verb; T = time word like today tomorrow; O = object word like a car; M = manner word like quickly; P = place like under the tree; (v2) = second verb; I = infinitve "om te"

So in Afrikaans I'd say
Ek wil môre in 'n voortuig vinning skool toe gang om meer te leer

If you translate that word for word it says
I want tomorrow in a car quickly school to more learn,

So that's where the problem arises for others who didn't have school like mine, trying to put it in a wordorder that makes sense

[biscuits]

Yes, the spelling and grammar of native English speakers in England is shockingly bad.

[Plym]

Yes, the spelling and grammar of native English speakers in England is shockingly bad.

It's no different in Scotland...

[biscuits]

I think it's the same for all native speakers. My elementary students probably speak/write better English than some of my friends.

[Crazy4Brit]

I think it's the same for all native speakers. My elementary students probably speak/write better English than some of my friends.

You're an elementary teacher? That's cool

[biscuits]

I think it's the same for all native speakers. My elementary students probably speak/write better English than some of my friends.

You're an elementary teacher? That's cool

Thanks.

People sometimes think elementary means I must teach children. But I actually teach adults whose English is at elementary level (and adults from others levels too).

That's why I like this thread - it's very relevant to my job.

[Crazy4Brit]

"People sometimes think elementary means I must teach children."

That's exactly what i thought

[NoAngels]

I think it's the same for all native speakers. My elementary students probably speak/write better English than some of my friends.

You're an elementary teacher? That's cool

Thanks.

People sometimes think elementary means I must teach children. But I actually teach adults whose English is at elementary level (and adults from others levels too).

That's why I like this thread - it's very relevant to my job.

It's really cool how you can actually put up with teaching. I can teach as well (I've graduated from the English department) I can give private courses as well to any subject I studied (My major is phonetics), but I actually can't stand explaining lessons multiple times, I just can't put up with that.

My friend is like me, but he is now teaching at university (Theortical Lingustics, Grammar and Conversation) he says that he LOVES it, and I'm really shocked at how he's capable of teaching this many subjects.

[abi]

Question, how to pronounce "direction" correctly?

I always thought it was "dee-rection"/"duh-rection" (Google Translate also agrees) but then I heard Jordin Sparks' new song and she pronounced it as "die-rection"?

[stteezy]

Question, how to pronounce "direction" correctly?

I always thought it was "dee-rection"/"duh-rection" (Google Translate also agrees) but then I heard Jordin Sparks' new song and she pronounced it as "die-rection"?

Yeah its die-rek-shin

[CrazyCrazy]

I'm reading through the thread! Bless you guys! Things which are so natural and easy for me, you find confusing and stressful!

No but seriously keep it up guys, you are all doing so well, I'm here if anyone wants advice.

[NoAngels]

Question, how to pronounce "direction" correctly?

I always thought it was "dee-rection"/"duh-rection" (Google Translate also agrees) but then I heard Jordin Sparks' new song and she pronounced it as "die-rection"?

Both are correct.

[Virgostar]

Question, how to pronounce "direction" correctly?

I always thought it was "dee-rection"/"duh-rection" (Google Translate also agrees) but then I heard Jordin Sparks' new song and she pronounced it as "die-rection"?

Both are correct.

I personally pronounce it "duh-rection", but that could just be my accent.

[biscuits]

Question, how to pronounce "direction" correctly?

I always thought it was "dee-rection"/"duh-rection" (Google Translate also agrees) but then I heard Jordin Sparks' new song and she pronounced it as "die-rection"?

I pronounce it as 'die-rection' too. It just depends on accent.

'duh-rection' sounds a little strange though. There's no 'u' in the word so I don't think it should be pronounced like that.

[DaBoi]

I think it's the same for all native speakers. My elementary students probably speak/write better English than some of my friends.

You're an elementary teacher? That's cool

That really is cool! UKMix is the place to be!

[Crazy4Brit]

I'm reading through the thread! Bless you guys! Things which are so natural and easy for me, you find confusing and stressful!

I didn't know there was a Cambridge teacher on UKMix

[CrazyCrazy]

I'm reading through the thread! Bless you guys! Things which are so natural and easy for me, you find confusing and stressful!

I didn't know there was a Cambridge teacher on UKMix

[Virgostar]

Question, how to pronounce "direction" correctly?

I always thought it was "dee-rection"/"duh-rection" (Google Translate also agrees) but then I heard Jordin Sparks' new song and she pronounced it as "die-rection"?

Both are correct.

I personally pronounce it "duh-rection", but that could just be my accent.

Actually, I just thought...I pronounce it both ways methinks. Again, depends on the accent.

[CrazyCrazy]

die-rek-shhn

[abi]

Oh OK thank you guys, but I'd rather stick to 'duh-rection' since it sounds easier.

[CrazyCrazy]

'die-rection' since it sounds easier.

[emilhot]

I have never heard about duh-rection. It's sounds so weird to me, when i say it to myself like that If you pronounce it as die-rection, it's clearly right, and i don't think other pronunciations can be considered completely right, but it might be, because i might not quite get how you would actually pronounce it in real life I'm not a native English speaker though, so my advice is not a fact!

[HBIC jamesssxD]

The correct pronunciation is die-rection, but sometimes here it's duh-rection because of the accent.

[biscuits]

I'm reading through the thread! Bless you guys! Things which are so natural and easy for me, you find confusing and stressful!

I didn't know there was a Cambridge teacher on UKMix

I'm Cambridge qualified.