"Why can't everybody just learn to speak English??? What's wrong with the rest of the world?"
English may be the lingua-franca of most nations in the world today, but even former British colonies like Singapore and India have varying levels of English proficiency. Singapore started the "Speak Good English" movement to force people to brush up on their English skills. An article in The Straits Times today said that if the Prime Minister of India spoke in English or Hindi (the 2 languages of government in India), there would be a portion of people who would not understand a word of what he said.
Let's face it - there is no way the whole world is going to learn English in the near future. The rising powers of today's world are China and India. Most Chinese from China do not speak, much less understand, English. Granted, many of them are trying to learn, but the vast majority much prefer if the rest of the world spoke Mandarin!
Having dealt with government officials from China in past years, I've found them to be very angry if we did not speak Mandarin to them! They expected us to speak to them in Mandarin and not English.
Chinese people are found in every corner of the world today. Why is the rest of the world not waking up to this reality? I've brushed up all over again on my Mandarin, both speaking and reading. It hasn't been easy, but it's been rewarding being able to communicate freely with a Chinese person.
Let's take the step to learning a new language today!
Friday 27 July 2012
Thursday 26 July 2012
Hard work pays off
"When I was young, my mother sent me 3 times a week to learn Khmer (language). I got as far as the first line of the alphabet. That's about it." My Cambodian-American trainer was telling me his story. He was fascinated that I spoke his native language, when he couldn't.
"Well, you're smart and I'm not. So ..." This was his justification for not being able to speak Khmer despite all the lessons as a child.
"But, you have the blood and I don't!" I countered. His response was a laugh.
Honestly, learning a language takes sheer hard work and a determination to "get it". I had no choice BUT to learn to communicate in Khmer because almost nobody around me spoke good enough English to be understood!
They said they spoke English, but as in every Asian culture, they would never admit they didn't understand. So, to prevent further frustration and stress, I dug in my heels and learned Khmer. It helped that power outages were a daily occurrence. Since I couldn't work on the computer, I spent my days parroting off the alphabet and vowels and writing them over and over again till they stuck in my head.
I have no regrets. I can communicate in Khmer well, read and write. I don't get cheated, made fun of behind my back, or cursed in my face because I understand every word that is said. Those long hours of hard work are well worth every minute.
The key to learning a language? Sheer determination and hard work. There is no easy route, but the rewards are so fulfilling!
Happy language learning!
"Well, you're smart and I'm not. So ..." This was his justification for not being able to speak Khmer despite all the lessons as a child.
"But, you have the blood and I don't!" I countered. His response was a laugh.
Honestly, learning a language takes sheer hard work and a determination to "get it". I had no choice BUT to learn to communicate in Khmer because almost nobody around me spoke good enough English to be understood!
They said they spoke English, but as in every Asian culture, they would never admit they didn't understand. So, to prevent further frustration and stress, I dug in my heels and learned Khmer. It helped that power outages were a daily occurrence. Since I couldn't work on the computer, I spent my days parroting off the alphabet and vowels and writing them over and over again till they stuck in my head.
I have no regrets. I can communicate in Khmer well, read and write. I don't get cheated, made fun of behind my back, or cursed in my face because I understand every word that is said. Those long hours of hard work are well worth every minute.
The key to learning a language? Sheer determination and hard work. There is no easy route, but the rewards are so fulfilling!
Happy language learning!
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Saying sorry
Why is saying sorry so difficult? 3 short words. "I am sorry" that refuse to be said just because our pride is in the way. Let's sit back for a minute and think about what is more important - relationship or me?
The picture below says: "Saying sorry may not mean you are wrong. It just means you consider this relationship more important than your ego."
The picture below says: "Saying sorry may not mean you are wrong. It just means you consider this relationship more important than your ego."
Monday 23 July 2012
Have I been using the wrong tense?
Newspapers are useful - including teaching us the correct grammar and use of tenses!
Friday 20 July 2012
Say what you want
Richard, Paul and I went to a Burmese restaurant in Singapore for lunch. All the staff there are native Burmese. We ordered our food. Richard asked for hot water, while Paul and I had cold water to drink.
As we ate lunch, the very-efficient waiters came regularly to refill our glasses with cold water. Richard wanted hot water, not cold. So, he covered his glass with his hand each time the waiter came with the jug of cold water. This is what ensued:
Richard to waiter: "Hot water." Waiter smiles and walks away. Next round of refills, Richard covers his glass and says the same thing, "Hot water." Waiter leaves. Still no hot water.
After 3 repeats of this situation, I said to Richard, "You need to say: 'May I have some hot water, please?' instead of only saying 'hot water'. He doesn't know what you want." Richard gave me a dirty look, as if to say that I was criticising his command of English.
When the waiter came, Richard said to him, "May I have some hot water, please?" The waiter replied, "Yes, of course." He refilled Paul's and my glass with cold water, then went to get the jug of hot water and filled Richard's glass.
I couldn't help but say to Richard, "See, I told you! He's (the waiter) is Burmese. You need to speak simple English to him."
State in simple English what you want. Nuances don't work unless you know each other very well.
As we ate lunch, the very-efficient waiters came regularly to refill our glasses with cold water. Richard wanted hot water, not cold. So, he covered his glass with his hand each time the waiter came with the jug of cold water. This is what ensued:
Richard to waiter: "Hot water." Waiter smiles and walks away. Next round of refills, Richard covers his glass and says the same thing, "Hot water." Waiter leaves. Still no hot water.
After 3 repeats of this situation, I said to Richard, "You need to say: 'May I have some hot water, please?' instead of only saying 'hot water'. He doesn't know what you want." Richard gave me a dirty look, as if to say that I was criticising his command of English.
When the waiter came, Richard said to him, "May I have some hot water, please?" The waiter replied, "Yes, of course." He refilled Paul's and my glass with cold water, then went to get the jug of hot water and filled Richard's glass.
I couldn't help but say to Richard, "See, I told you! He's (the waiter) is Burmese. You need to speak simple English to him."
State in simple English what you want. Nuances don't work unless you know each other very well.
Thursday 19 July 2012
Wednesday 18 July 2012
Yes and No
"Yes" doesn't always mean "yes" in some languages and cultures. Very often, we're too embarrassed to say we don't understand what was said, or were not paying attention. Sometimes, "yes" is just another word for "uh huh" i.e. an acknowledgement that "I heard you" or "I'm listening" even though our eyes are on something else - like a cellphone.
In most of Asia, saying "no" is considered rude. So, we say "yes" instead, just to be polite or to hide our true feelings. "Yes, yes" actually means "Yes, I heard you". It does not mean "Yes, I understood you" or "Yes, I agree with you". Far from it!
The western person assumes "yes, yes" means the Asian person fully understood, agreed and would carry out the said sentence. The end result would be complete frustration, due to a lack of understanding of Asian culture.
Solution: don't ever ask "Do you understand?" The answer will always be "yes" regardless of the truth. Instead say, "Please tell me what I just said." The listener is forced to process the instruction and explain it in his own words, thus showing whether he really understood or was just trying to be polite.
Ask open-ended questions that require some thought to the answer instead of questions requiring a "yes" or "no" answer.
In most of Asia, saying "no" is considered rude. So, we say "yes" instead, just to be polite or to hide our true feelings. "Yes, yes" actually means "Yes, I heard you". It does not mean "Yes, I understood you" or "Yes, I agree with you". Far from it!
The western person assumes "yes, yes" means the Asian person fully understood, agreed and would carry out the said sentence. The end result would be complete frustration, due to a lack of understanding of Asian culture.
Solution: don't ever ask "Do you understand?" The answer will always be "yes" regardless of the truth. Instead say, "Please tell me what I just said." The listener is forced to process the instruction and explain it in his own words, thus showing whether he really understood or was just trying to be polite.
Ask open-ended questions that require some thought to the answer instead of questions requiring a "yes" or "no" answer.
Tuesday 17 July 2012
#1 FAQ Worldwide
The most Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) worldwide is: "Where is the toilet?"
Surprised? It's a basic human need we all have regardless of race, language or religion. Problem is, we need to know the word for "toilet" in the language of whichever place we are going. Either that, or run around in discomfort until you find it.
Here's some variations of the same place:
Toilet
Washroom
Restroom
Comfort Room
WC (Water Closet)
测所
បន្ទប់ទឹក
ห้องน้ำ
And when all else fails, look for this sign:
Have fun in another country!
Surprised? It's a basic human need we all have regardless of race, language or religion. Problem is, we need to know the word for "toilet" in the language of whichever place we are going. Either that, or run around in discomfort until you find it.
Here's some variations of the same place:
Toilet
Washroom
Restroom
Comfort Room
WC (Water Closet)
测所
បន្ទប់ទឹក
ห้องน้ำ
And when all else fails, look for this sign:
Have fun in another country!
Monday 16 July 2012
Chinese character play
This is such a creative play on the Chinese language! All 5 characters put together tell you the theme of the concert season. The blue characters are characters with meaning, which is translated in blue below. I am so fascinated!
Thursday 12 July 2012
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Pronunciation makes all the difference
"I say 'to-MAR-to' you say 'to-MAY-to' ..." so the song goes. Does pronunciation and accent really make a difference in communication?
"Paper" and "pepper" - 2 entirely different things. Yet, if pronounced poorly, you will end up with something you didn't ask for.
The average foreigner's complaint about Singlish (short for Singapore English, or English as it is mangled by Singaporeans) is the poor pronunciation and phrases that don't exist in proper English. Here's an example:
Mr Tan (Singaporean): "Sir, wat you tink about gahment policy on wages ah?"
Mr Smith (white foreigner): "Well, to be a seamstress would be considered semi-skilled labour, so an increase in wages for this group would be appropriate, I think."
Mr Tan: "Eh, I not talking about clothing, leh. I asked you about gahmet policy."
Problem: Mr Tan speaks Singlish. "Gahment" = "government". Poor pronunciation = miscommunication.
You don't have to speak Queen's English, but you should speak clearly and simply.
"Paper" and "pepper" - 2 entirely different things. Yet, if pronounced poorly, you will end up with something you didn't ask for.
The average foreigner's complaint about Singlish (short for Singapore English, or English as it is mangled by Singaporeans) is the poor pronunciation and phrases that don't exist in proper English. Here's an example:
Mr Tan (Singaporean): "Sir, wat you tink about gahment policy on wages ah?"
Mr Smith (white foreigner): "Well, to be a seamstress would be considered semi-skilled labour, so an increase in wages for this group would be appropriate, I think."
Mr Tan: "Eh, I not talking about clothing, leh. I asked you about gahmet policy."
Problem: Mr Tan speaks Singlish. "Gahment" = "government". Poor pronunciation = miscommunication.
You don't have to speak Queen's English, but you should speak clearly and simply.
Tuesday 10 July 2012
Soup or sugar?
“阿姨，我要汤” "Aunty, I want soup." - this is what the Indian exchange student from Singapore thought she said to the cook at her campus in China.
What she actually said was: "阿姨，我要糖“ "Aunty, I want sugar."
So, the cook took out a huge jar of sugar and placed it on the counter in front of her.
The student said, "不，我要那个可以喝的。“ "No, I want the kind that can be drunk."
Confused, the cook thought the student wanted liquid sugar!
What was the problem? The student thought she had got the Mandarin tone correct, but she hadn't.
汤or soup is pronounced "tang1" - in the 1st tone. But, 唐or sugar is pronounced "tang2", 2nd tone.
Small difference in tone, but what a world of difference in meaning!
How can I overcome this and get it right??? Good, old-fashioned drills. Say it over and over again in the presence of a native speaker so that you can get corrected immediately. Record his/her pronunciation and play it over and over again to yourself so that you get used to hearing the correct tone. Very soon, you'll be saying the right words and making yourself understood!
Happy pronunciation!
What she actually said was: "阿姨，我要糖“ "Aunty, I want sugar."
So, the cook took out a huge jar of sugar and placed it on the counter in front of her.
The student said, "不，我要那个可以喝的。“ "No, I want the kind that can be drunk."
Confused, the cook thought the student wanted liquid sugar!
What was the problem? The student thought she had got the Mandarin tone correct, but she hadn't.
汤or soup is pronounced "tang1" - in the 1st tone. But, 唐or sugar is pronounced "tang2", 2nd tone.
Small difference in tone, but what a world of difference in meaning!
How can I overcome this and get it right??? Good, old-fashioned drills. Say it over and over again in the presence of a native speaker so that you can get corrected immediately. Record his/her pronunciation and play it over and over again to yourself so that you get used to hearing the correct tone. Very soon, you'll be saying the right words and making yourself understood!
Happy pronunciation!
Friday 6 July 2012
What's in a name?
"Leo" is a very good name for a male because it means "lion". A man named Leo would be expected to show bravery, courage, and probably carry the majestic air associated with the king of the beasts.
In the Khmer language, លីអ៊ (pronounced "lee-o") means "underwear"! So, my dear Filipino dentist friend named Dr Leo ended up being the laughing stock of a class of Cambodians coming to learn about community health development! Of course, being somewhat new to the country and language, Dr Leo had no clue what was wrong! Poor man.
My Thai friend, Manop, was also the laughing stock in Sarawak, East Malaysia, when he stood up to introduce himself at the church service. The local congregation were practically rolling around in their seats in uncontrollable laughter. Manop stepped off the stage to ask the local pastor of the church what was wrong. (After all, Manop had only said his name and nothing else.) "In our language, "manop" means "chicken."" Ahhhh, mystery solved. No wonder they were laughing. They did eventually calm down to listen to Pastor "Chicken" deliver the sermon that morning.
A name with rich meaning in one language doesn't necessarily have the same connotations in another. We should all take the approach of a student when going cross-cultural. Better keep our comments to ourselves or risk making an enemy for life.
In the Khmer language, លីអ៊ (pronounced "lee-o") means "underwear"! So, my dear Filipino dentist friend named Dr Leo ended up being the laughing stock of a class of Cambodians coming to learn about community health development! Of course, being somewhat new to the country and language, Dr Leo had no clue what was wrong! Poor man.
My Thai friend, Manop, was also the laughing stock in Sarawak, East Malaysia, when he stood up to introduce himself at the church service. The local congregation were practically rolling around in their seats in uncontrollable laughter. Manop stepped off the stage to ask the local pastor of the church what was wrong. (After all, Manop had only said his name and nothing else.) "In our language, "manop" means "chicken."" Ahhhh, mystery solved. No wonder they were laughing. They did eventually calm down to listen to Pastor "Chicken" deliver the sermon that morning.
A name with rich meaning in one language doesn't necessarily have the same connotations in another. We should all take the approach of a student when going cross-cultural. Better keep our comments to ourselves or risk making an enemy for life.
Thursday 5 July 2012
How should I greet him/her?
Shake hands. Hug. Kiss on the cheek - one, two or three. Bow as low as you can go. Cross your left arm in front of you and hold the inside of your right elbow, then use your right hand to shake hands. Put your two hands together as if in prayer, with your fingertips about nose level.
All the above are ways to greet someone in different countries and cultures. Which one is right? Did I make a social gaffe/boo boo? How do I know what to do?
"Ask Google" or YouTube! Well, yes, you can, but it's so much better to ask a native of that culture, or someone who has been there for a long time. In some cultures, one social gaffe can cause you a lifetime of relationship-building. Some cultures are just not forgiving. Once offended, he will hate you for life. Doesn't make for a friendly culture or potential foreign investment, but that's the way they are. We can't change that overnight.
So before you step into another culture, find out as much as you can about it. If you can't find any material (sometimes even Wikipedia draws a blank), then "play the student". Ask questions. Show genuine curiosity and a desire to learn about who these people really are. You may win a friend for life, and maybe even long-term business in a foreign land.
Happy learning!
All the above are ways to greet someone in different countries and cultures. Which one is right? Did I make a social gaffe/boo boo? How do I know what to do?
"Ask Google" or YouTube! Well, yes, you can, but it's so much better to ask a native of that culture, or someone who has been there for a long time. In some cultures, one social gaffe can cause you a lifetime of relationship-building. Some cultures are just not forgiving. Once offended, he will hate you for life. Doesn't make for a friendly culture or potential foreign investment, but that's the way they are. We can't change that overnight.
So before you step into another culture, find out as much as you can about it. If you can't find any material (sometimes even Wikipedia draws a blank), then "play the student". Ask questions. Show genuine curiosity and a desire to learn about who these people really are. You may win a friend for life, and maybe even long-term business in a foreign land.
Happy learning!
Wednesday 4 July 2012
Thick skin - key to learning a language
"I don't care if I'm right or wrong. I just speak out. Somebody will come and correct me." This was the very good advice one of my Khmer Customer Service students gave me on learning a new language. In her few years working at the Front Desk of a 4-star business hotel, she managed to learn several languages and communicate with the international guests. Her "thick skin" also landed her a Malaysian husband.
In contrast, my Filipina roommate's attitude was: "What's wrong with them? Why can't they try to understand my Khmer? I hate it when they laugh at me! I can speak their language!" 8 years of living and working in Cambodia, and a stubborn refusal to learn the language. She ended up adopting a Cambodian baby boy and brought him home to the Philippines. The now-teenage boy remembers his home country but nothing of his language.
Asians tend to laugh when they're happy, embarrassed, fearful (sometimes), don't know what emotion to show ... When a foreigner speaks my language, I laugh! Not because I think he's funny, but because it's completely unexpected. No offense intended. The laughter didn't bother me one bit. I just rattled on, correct or not. I can speak the language - hard work and thick skin. Many thanks to all my "teachers' along the way - students, colleagues, teachers, market folks, taxi drivers, ...
I still do the same with learning Indonesian. I just rattle on, and lots of people correct me along the way. They've stopped laughing, knowing that I want to learn. Anyone and everyone can be my teacher, if I will allow them to teach me. Thank you. I am learning every day.
Have fun learning a language!
Fun Language Tools
Tuesday 3 July 2012
Sentence drills - getting the right grammar
"Teacher, where do you go?"
"Teacher, where you go?"
"Teacher, go where?"
If you have been teaching basic English or been a teacher in an English school in Asia, you will have heard these questions too often. I have, and they grate on my ears! Why can't they get the grammar right? What's wrong with these kids? Is English so hard?
The answer is: they think in their native language, then translate the question/sentence word for word into English. The spoken sentence is in the same order as the native language. Tada! I can speak English! Right. The real answer is "No, you can only speak words in English, not make yourself understood."
The problem with Asians learning English is the lack of tenses and the verb "to be" in our native languages. How are we going to solve this problem? Good old-fashioned sentence drills. They are so boring and repetitious - repeating the same sentence over and over again, replacing the subject (He, She, It, I, You) each time. But, they make the correct grammar stick in your head for life!
I learned Khmer grammar using sentence drills. I may not always get the word order right, but my brain automatically gets the sentence structure correct because of those hours spent repeating drills.
Some things work for a long, long time. Don't dismiss your granny's teaching method. It still works.
"Teacher, where you go?"
"Teacher, go where?"
If you have been teaching basic English or been a teacher in an English school in Asia, you will have heard these questions too often. I have, and they grate on my ears! Why can't they get the grammar right? What's wrong with these kids? Is English so hard?
The answer is: they think in their native language, then translate the question/sentence word for word into English. The spoken sentence is in the same order as the native language. Tada! I can speak English! Right. The real answer is "No, you can only speak words in English, not make yourself understood."
The problem with Asians learning English is the lack of tenses and the verb "to be" in our native languages. How are we going to solve this problem? Good old-fashioned sentence drills. They are so boring and repetitious - repeating the same sentence over and over again, replacing the subject (He, She, It, I, You) each time. But, they make the correct grammar stick in your head for life!
I learned Khmer grammar using sentence drills. I may not always get the word order right, but my brain automatically gets the sentence structure correct because of those hours spent repeating drills.
Some things work for a long, long time. Don't dismiss your granny's teaching method. It still works.
Monday 2 July 2012
"Help! I don't know that word!"
The couple got as far as telling the shop lady they needed a "rack". The smiling shop lady then asked, "What kind of rack do you need? Is it for shoes or plates?" Suddenly, the white lady and her husband looked at each other blankly. The shop lady repeated the question 2 more times, still patient and smiling. The couple was dumbfounded! Apparently, their limited vocabulary didn't include the words "shoes" and "plates".
I had to pass them to get where I was going. I decided to be a kind soul and help them out. I repeated the shop lady's question in English for the white couple, as I walked past them. Suddenly, both their faces lit up in bright smiles! "Thank you!" the husband said to me.
I didn't stay to find out if the sale was completed, but what a difference vocabulary makes when learning a language! Communication isn't complete until both sides have understood each other. It's hard work, whether we use a spoken language or body language. But when we understand what the other is trying to say, a whole world opens up before us.
Have fun!
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