Can you always Communicate with other people well in English ??
By easy888
@easy888 (10405)
Australia
June 2, 2007 6:57am CST
'I just went out with my friend today and she introduced a guy to me, he was from Italy who speak english as his second language,he wanted to be my good friend so that i can help him to improve his english.
He told me it was not really easy to understand what i said at times,I was not sure whether it was my accent,slangs or speed when i was speaking that made him hard to understand.I thought that the difference in cultrue was also a factor because there might not be translation in different languages.
Do you have good command of vocabularies? Do you always use simple words or sentences?Honestly,english is my first language but i always tend to use very simple words when speaking and writing.I notice that some members here can write brilliantly,may be much better than me:P,why do you think so??
Do you like to use slangs? People from different countries will have different slangs,sometimes,i think we should not use slangs when talking with foreign people??
Do you correct the mistakes or proniciations they have in speaking? Is it rude?
Do you think it is hard to communicate because of difference in cultures??Do you have any problems when listening to people with foreign accents or those speak quickly?
Can you always understand what other people are saying?? If you cannot,will you say sorry for few times or pretend to understand so that they will not be frustrated?
Do you guys have any good ideas on how to improve english quickly so that i can suggest to my friend:)
I do not care whether other people speak good english to me or not as I am monolingual anyway.I am happy to talk to anyone and I may even learn other languages from them,i will listen to others by my heart and try my best to understand them:)
25 people like this
100 responses
@dons626 (404)
• Philippines
2 Jun 07
English is a universal language. In every country there are different accents thats why sometimes its hard to understand. Learning english language depends on the educational attainment of a person. Like here in our country lower class people knows how to speak basic english though not that fluent. I dont correct other peoples mistakes, (i have to consider their feelings, i dont want to offend them) i dont mind as long as i understand what they want to say. Even Americans whose primary language is english do make mistakes. But who cares? as long as we are all comfortable at the language that we use :)
3 people like this
@mexshyl (878)
• China
2 Jun 07
Hi, dons626.
I think you've a good command of English. You did a good response.
I agree with you. Everyone may make mistakes no matter where she/he is from. As long as we can communicate with each other, who cares?
However, sometimes I'll correct them in a polite way.
Glad to share your opinions.
Have a nice day! :)
2 people like this
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
2 Jun 07
I am fluent in both English and SPanish. English is my first language. There are different dialects and accents which makes it harder for people learning a language to pick it up. My husband is Cuban, his first language is Spanish. Although he speaks English, he does have problems understanding people with accents. Like people with British accents, australian accents or even here in the US, the Southern accents. I have always been good with accents and have very little trouble understanding people when they speak to me. I do correct mispronunciations, etc but never rudely. I just try to help them so that they may learn the correct way of speaking. Your friend can try watching television programs in English and basically just emerge himself in places where English is spoken. There is no better way to learn anything, than to use it in a practical way.
2 people like this
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
2 Jun 07
Nope, George Bush is from the South, from Texas. They can have a long drawl that makes it difficult to understand. I learned Spanish in school, with friends, with my husband. All of those. My hubby learned English with me,our kids, at work. He became pretty fluent in about 2 years time. He still has an accent, but he speaks very well.
2 people like this
@aidonia (4209)
• Greece
2 Jun 07
I faced these problem many times and specially when I travel to Egypt every year.many time from the accent,the grammar but the more important as I see all these years is the most of us before we speak we are thinking what we gonna say at our language and after we translate it at English.Each one language have him way so if you translate exactly as you thought can hear very different at the end plus the accent and some grammar mistakes...
But I just try understand or make the other understand me using sometimes different words ,sentences.I never correct anyone ,after all I'm not perfect speaking person too and I know that the other try him best.
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
2 Jun 07
Aidonia,I think you may not be able to translate some words onto english from your first language because those words simply do not exist in english,may be it is the time when you are struggling as it is not easy to find a simple word to replace what you want to say in the first place.
You like to go to Eypgt??
2 people like this
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
5 Jun 07
Any way English is my "third" language and my command of English is generally weak especially proper usage of vocabularies and prepesitions. I find difficulties in listening to dialogs of forigners or in movies. I don't agree with using slangs when speaking or writing as it's hard for me to catch the acture meaning correctly.
For me I think if I can do more reading on those good pieces like yours and others and to do more writing at mylot I'm definitely sure that I can improve my English in time to come.:D
2 people like this
@samson1967 (7414)
• India
2 Jun 07
English is my second language and I think, I dont have 100% command over english. But I can manage any accents or slangs and make sure that I convey the message to other person that I want to express.
2 people like this
@tigertang (1749)
• Singapore
17 Jun 07
I think quite a few people can understand English or at least use it on a basic level. However, I think alot of us who use English as a second language lose out when it comes to understanding the subtlties and cultural ways in which we use words. For example, I speak English with Americans, Brits and Singaporeans and in all cases I find that communication in the same language can be quite a challenge to understand cultural expressions and so on.
@laurencekyut (53)
• Philippines
5 Jun 07
Hi... good day! in our country we have to kinds of languages to learn or else they will brand you as a slow learner or dumb... anyways! i speak english normally & even my wife who works in a call center speaks normal tone.
1 person likes this
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
2 Jun 07
English is a national language in India and I think people there have good command of english.I think it may not be possible for two native speakers to understand each other 100%,for example,americans may use different slangs with the aussies.
1 person likes this
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
5 Jun 07
English is my second language and I love to make friends with native speaker so as to improve my spoken English. I think it's quite hard to understand them sometimes too because different places have different slangs and accents. Because I am willing to learn, if I first come across things I don't understand, I would try to guess from the context, but if I wish to make sure my guess is right or I really don't get what they're saying, I would ask them nicely and usually they are happy to teach me. I have to admit I don't have a whole lot of vocabularies, I try to make things simple and neat. It's no use if you have a lot of vocabularies and you don't use them ever in life, and we will forget them eventually.
2 people like this
@lpetges (3036)
• United States
2 Jun 07
i only speak english. so, thats all i know. There are so many spanish speaking people in the usa that i feel i can kind of understand them. i try to anyway. I also think that sometimes they know how to speak english, but they pretend not to. And i hate it when i get my nails done and the asian people talk in their language to eachother, like they are talking about you, and you cant understand them. Their prices are good, but they are rude!
@gharinder (2044)
• India
3 Jun 07
well english too is my second language, i dont say i am expert at english but i am pretty good still, i sometimes have problem probably due to accent, otherwise its not a big deal for me to understand as to what the person is saying. i dont think it would be rude on your part if you try to correct the pronunciation of your friend as it is equally important. english indeed is a tough language, i dont think their is a short cut to it, only by patience and practice your friend will improve.
2 people like this
@Gwapako_28 (2140)
• Philippines
5 Jun 07
I was never good in english especially communicating anyone in person. Its kinda i understand but i cant speak and communicate what i wanted to say. I keep saying "yes" yeah" really" no". Thats all. Until last 2004, i meet a man online and then, we became close, and then very close and he calls me everyday on the phone.
It was really fun the first time he call me in the phone and we have our conversation, i keep yelling and say "yes,really,no " same words over and over. But he is really cool because he is the one who teach to communicate well and enhance my english speaking in a simple way.
Everytime he call me, he tried to ask me and let me talk and explain everything and he assure me that no matter how i say/convey it, he wont laugh as long as he understand me and he teach me too day by day.
Imagine, its been a year too. Now, i can communicate and understand well. Though not perfect but i know i really learn alot and improve alot compare before.
It is just a matter of practice.
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
2 Jun 07
i can converse easily in english. no problem with that. my parents used to speak a mixed language of english and the vernacular at home. then in school, all communications are delivered and received in english except for subjects on other languages.
all of us will find some difficutlty if we will be talking with foreigners. they speak english differently and they may be referring to something else when they say some words which we normally take on a different context. however, after a few hours of exposure to them, we will be more or less, talking on a more friendly plane.
@thefuture (1749)
• Nigeria
2 Jun 07
Well friend I am from a country which was colonized by English. My country is speaking english as a second language. Therefore, I learnt english when I was in school. I don't know how to speak any other language. Thanks
2 people like this
@xcjune (162)
• China
2 Jun 07
I have encountered the situation what you said,I can't come up with their speaking speed,because I had to translate English sentence into my language.I think the problem will be resolved probably in English circumstance.I will appreciate if you could help me to correct pronuciatoin!
2 people like this
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
2 Jun 07
May be ask them to slow down if you cannot really catch up with their conversations.
I think prounication in english is easier than Chinese because I have tried to prounounce some words before,but i can never catch the right pronunciations.:P
1 person likes this
@bkneerajrk (773)
• India
5 Jun 07
Well, if I am conversing something technical with someone the words flow very easily but if I am engaged in a casual talks the flow of words doesn't seem to be so smooth. I use simple words while speaking but while writing I do use some words which may catch the viewers' attention. As far as correcting someone's mistake is concerned I think its not necessary if the idea is correctly put across by them. But, yes, sometimes it becomes difficult to grasp the idea behind the discussion due to not so good usage of words.
I think one good and ever-lasting method to improve one's english vocabulary is to read whatever you get handy. A newspaper is such a common thing which gives us many different and variety of usages of words in different contexts. I even read interesting novels along with newspapers.
Understanding people with a different accent becomes difficult sometimes though but later we get used to that accent. Once I was chatting with an American, and for a few minutes I could not grasp what he was saying. But later, I started communicating well and the session lasted so many hours..!!!!!!!!!
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
2 Jun 07
Hi Easy, English is my first language and while I try not to use slang words when I speak, sometimes they escape me. And being from Texas, we have oodles of slang to use.
As of the past year I have been around people more that speak English as their second language and Spanish as their first language. I tend to speak slowly, loudly and with smaller words in hopes that they understand me, most times they don't and they just node with a smile, guess that is understandable from the parents of your boyfriend :) Myself, I will not correct someone when they are speaking, perhaps thinking that it would be rude of me, but would rather them finish what they are saying and then me, just try to figure out what they are saying, perhaps asking someone next to me.
1 person likes this
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
2 Jun 07
We do tend to drawl our words, but we also run our words together, such as saying "everybody" we would say "ya'all" and instead of saying "getting ready to" we say "fixin to" and the best one is "We enjoyed your company and can't wait to see you again" would be "Ya'all come back now real soon!"
;)
1 person likes this
@smoke_gun (1243)
• Malaysia
2 Jun 07
im not fluent in english spoken,so im always use the simple understanding sentencess in communication to avoid misunderstanding.the most difficult part for non english spoken peoples to learn english is pronunciation,sometimes even they understand a meaning of word,but they didnt speak the word in correct vowels and diphthongs make confuse in conversation.so,i think for who start learning english,they have to start with english pronunciation lesson,and dictionary is the best teacher.
1 person likes this
@smoke_gun (1243)
• Malaysia
2 Jun 07
yeah,there are different pronounce in chinese like hokkian,hakka,hainan,cantonese,shanghai,tiaochou and mandarin.mandarin pronounce main use for chinese all around the world,than cantonese pronounce use in hongkong.my viral is hainan,so i know chinese pronounce in mandarin,cantonese and hainan.
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
2 Jun 07
Hi easy. This may sound weird to you. I was born and raise in the Philippines. Supposedly, Tagalog (ta-ga-log) should be my first language. But I was not a Filipino but of mixed nationality. I speak Chinese with my parents and English with my sibling and friends. I can understand and speak little Tagalog only.
Although, I'm not known to be loquacious with people but can converse in fluent English. I don't use slangs either. Whenever I'm engaged in a casual conversation with a foreigner, I tend to use more complex words for the other party to comprehend better.
I was able to travel to several countries and the language barrier is always a major problem. I literally needed to ask the other person to repeat what they're saying.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
3 Jun 07
As you know we in India have many regional languages. Though Hindi is considered a link language most people use English for the purpose. I can speek English with some fluency, but must admit that it is harder to follow the accent of the Americans. I like English very much. I have only basic academic qualifications, but developed my skills in English by self training. I very much like to converse with original English speaking people. It is a fantastic language. Please do not hesitate to comment over my English.
Thank you easy.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
3 Jun 07
Seldom do I watch TV. Many American and British channels are available here like the CNN, The BBC, The CNBC, The Star World, The Discovery, HBO, Hall mark and many. Now and then, especially when there are some important world news I tune BBC.
Thank you easy.
1 person likes this
@spik_manoda (193)
• Sri Lanka
2 Jun 07
im realy gud at my english and im realy proud of dat.we al knw dat english is the universal language so i think its essential to knw hw to speak & work from the language...
@spik_manoda (193)
• Sri Lanka
2 Jun 07
actually i've bin using english as my 2nd language form the days i cn remember... in our school they thought it as a language since 1st grade... nw we have to do all our work in english... so i've become more and more used to the language...
1 person likes this
@mercurys (6)
• Italy
3 Jun 07
Dear easy888
I come from Italy but i speak english very well..but when i listen to an english guy..if he/she speaks very fast i don't understand what he/she say...and thanks to this site MyLot i can learn much more this beautiful language..it's important to me to speak english !!! it's my second favourite speaking language!! Thanks!!
1 person likes this
