How the World has changed!

[GLCQuantum]

to = two....?

or could... to = too ....?

One of the many (possibly) unanswered questions to lose sleep over.

[Chas]

Having taught English for many years, at many levels and in several different countries, I must admit to never having had a pupil incapable of dealing with the really minor differences between American and British usage. It is a lesson that can be mastered by the most simple minded in half an hour and summarized on a single page. I used to spend about ten minutes on it with my beginning level Thai students.

IMHO it is a total waste of time to argue the "merits" of either system.

English is English.

I have also noticed that the only people who seem to get their knickers in a twist about it are British folks. . . .who tend to go on and on about it at the drop of a hat. For example, I met a British couple just a few months ago who started in on the way Americans have ruined "their" language within five minutes of our being introduced. (Because my accent is not immediately identifiable as American, they were very free in their condemnation.)

[Vital Spark]

I agree with you Chas, I've never had a problem either. If I'm teaching from an American coursebook, I'll give the English equivalent of certain nouns: apartment/flat, toilet/bathroom, etc. (pants can be quite amusing!). If I'm using a British book, I'll give them the American equivalent.

The one tiny litttle thing that does niggle me slightly is the fact that Americans don't use adverbs. 'I had a real good time...'. I suppose I've just got to accept that the English language is changing (too rapidly as far as I'm concerned). I spoke to my nephew (in England) today and when I asked how he was he said 'I'm good'. It was a long distance call and I didn't want to waste money by asking him what he was good at...

VS

[caller]

It is a lesson that can be mastered by the most simple minded in half an hour and summarized on a single page.

Why waste 30 minutes when one word will suffice?!

[PeteC]

My 4 year old is in a British curriculum and we've had a few moments. The first was when we were doing the alphabet and I was saying Zee for Z and she was saying Zed. That was easy to get over.

Not so easy was 'knickers'. She's still confused about that one and a difficult word for a little one if not familiar from home speech/meaning experience. Mum instead of Mom is giving her fits also. Kipper as a first name in her reading books has her eyes rolling asking, "people really don't have Kipper as a name do they..." This is caused as she loves kippers and scrambled eggs which we get at a restaurant here. Pete

[loverboy44]

Some years ago someone asked ne: Got toime?
And one asked me: You lect tem?
Both British and they asked: What's the time and do you collect them.

[Chas]

Of course accents are a whole nother ballgame . .as are colloquialisms from the world of rap and such language "worlds" as Cockney.

"I'm good" seems to be catching on everywhere . .perhaps a short way of saying,"I'm good to go." Just as "See you later" is shortened in some circles to "Later." ( I have heard "I'm good" used to indicate that a person does not want something being offered.)

When I first came to Thailand, I worked with a "teacher" from some part of England ( I am not up on British accents but I think north, perhaps Liverpool) who we nicknamed "Mai kao jai Steve" because nobody could understand a word he said. We all got very used to just nodding and smiling when he spoke. No idea what the Thai students thought of him.

But regional differences exist in every language. I remember when I studied German there was a lot of attention paid to the vast regional variations in that language. My family spoke French and were forever comparing Quebecois French to Parisian French . .in much the same way as we are doing with British and American English.

I am bilingual in Spanish and having learned it in Mexico I am always challenged when I speak with someone from Spain or Puerto Rico. Same language? Yes. Different accents, vocabularies colloquial expressions. . .of course. Would I teach it from a textbook printed in Madrid? Not if I could help it . .but in any event, I would do the same as I would with English and just point out the chief differences.

[bapak]

This is caused as she loves kippers and scrambled eggs which we get at a restaurant here. Pete

In HH... Where may I ask?

[richard]

BBs

[dtaai-maai]

I think all English teachers in Thailand should have a collective agreement to teach ANY response to "How are you?" other than "I'm fie, thank you, an' you?"

[Arcadian]

Even at the "top" standards of English have changed. Gordon Brown wrote a letter of condolance to the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan. Not only did he get her name wrong but the letter is illegible in parts and is littered with basic spelling mistakes. The man is a disgrace.

[Jim]

I think all English teachers in Thailand should have a collective agreement to teach ANY response to "How are you?" other than "I'm fie, thank you, an' you?"

Hmmmm. I have always found that "sabai dii kop khun krup" is the expected response to "sabai dii mai?". It appears to be a nicety that extends into every language that one should always lie about one's otherwise miserable existance.

[hhfarang]

I think all English teachers in Thailand should have a collective agreement to teach ANY response to "How are you?" other than "I'm fie, thank you, an' you?"

Hmmmm. I have always found that "sabai dii kop khun krup" is the expected response to "sabai dii mai?". It appears to be a nicety that extends into every language that one should always lie about one's otherwise miserable existance.

I don't think there should be a "programmed" response to that question in any language. One should just tell the truth. If some asks me how I'm doing and I feel like crap, I tell them that!

[Super Joe]

I don't think there should be a "programmed" response to that question in any language. One should just tell the truth. If some asks me how I'm doing and I feel like crap, I tell them that!

Krap Mak Mak Krup

SJ

[HuntingTigers]

I do agree with you Hunting Tigers. (Well - not with you actually hunting tigers of course, but on the issue of correct spelling.) But isn't it true that even schools in England these days aren't too fussy about correct spelling? It seems to have been the policy for teachers to accept spelling errors providing that the student can demonstrate understanding of a subject.

Texting of course has made the situ wrse.

It would seem that you are correct in saying margaretcarnes that some English schools aren't too fussy about correct spelling. However, the situation is so bad that it has been reported in the press that some universities are having to provide remedial classes in English for English undergraduates.

Even at the "top" standards of English have changed. Gordon Brown wrote a letter of condolance to the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan. Not only did he get her name wrong but the letter is illegible in parts and is littered with basic spelling mistakes. The man is a disgrace.

In all fairness to Gordon Brown Arcadian it was probably a minion from one of those "top" standard schools that wrote the letter for him. The fact that it is illegible in parts and is littered with basic spelling mistakes only indicates Brown never read it in the first place, [or maybe he is illiterate as well?!]. Whatever, he is still a disgrace.

With regard to the topic in question, I think our covert policy of linguistic colonization is proceeding quite apace. The territories where we've had, I suggest, outstanding success are, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. Canada is well advanced apart from that irritant French mob in Quebec with their 'patois', and of course Indiah which, goodness gracious me, now has its acclaimed English speaking civil service.

Finally, it is heartening to observe that even non English foreigners are queing up to learn English in Thailand as well as some of the more educated indigenous population. World domination surely can't be far away now!

Must dash, lots to do, orf out now
HuntingTigers