How Did You Learn Your English?
By almightybong
@almightybong (186)
Philippines
August 4, 2012 12:57am CST
This topic is actually quite easy for many a myLotters as English might just be their primary language. However, seeing that myLot is global, there are many people in here that have other languages as their primary ones. Also, when I read many posts, I can tell too, that there are many who slip here and there occasionally (I might have too).
It's quite ironic that here in the Philippines, there are so many grammar nazis. When I went to the UK, if you went off on grammar for a bit, it's not a big deal: they correct you, you correct yourself, you move on as if nothing happened. However, here in the Philippines (where English isn't primary anyways), grammar errors are often laughed at and most of the times topic for popular jokes. I'm not going to state examples here, but if you guys can come up with funny ones, that's fine too. However, having noticed that many have the right tongue for the language, it would be nice if this discussion be a ground for sharing how you've learned to speak or write English, apart from it being a regular part of your school curriculum.
For me, it was quite easy, and I believe that it is the best English teacher: the Movies. Early on in my life, I have already loved watching English movies. As such, I pretty much early on forced myself to understand the language so I can understand what it is that I watch. Not only that though, it helped me with intonation and common expressions that would just fly over the heads of those that don't know the language so well. In a way, it also taught me to learn the language by ear, meaning that by merely listening to a passage, I can tell whether something is off or not. Movies though, would not be a very good teacher for syntax, since mostly, you will get conversational English.
I think the language is fun and really handy for when you go to English speaking countries. I, myself, feel proud that whenever I am watching movies with my nieces and nephews, they turn to me for clarification. I think that it gave me advantage for job-hunting as well.
How about you? Are you English-eloquent? Share with us your tips!
4 responses
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
4 Aug 12
I learn my English in school, however, I always get a low grades when grammar is the issue. I have a blog that is written in English. My wife told me that there are many errors when it comes to my grammar. Because of that, I used to correct my entries. I used to read them several times and when I noticed something that is not good to hear, I changed it. Having an English blog really help me develop my English. Furthermore, like what you said, watching English movies can also help you improve your English.
You are also correct with your observation, here in the Philippines, when you used to have erratic English, they will laugh at you. I am somewhat guilty about this but I don't correct the person, I just keep it to myself because I know the reason why they are like that. Some does not fisnished their schools.
For me, as long as I can understand what they want to tell me, it is okay that their English are not grammatically correct.
Reading English articles can also help you improve your English.
@almightybong (186)
• Philippines
4 Aug 12
Well, I have to say that sometimes, I am guilty of making fun of grammar errors, but only when it's the topic. However, when we were in the UK with my sister, while we were making fun around, speaking like we don't know English and then laughing about, we noticed that some of the locals are getting offended. Since then, we realized that we shouldn't really be making fun out of it, especially around those who primarily speak English.
As for us here, I think that it will be more constructive if we guide those that don't speak the language all too well, rather than laugh at them. I believe that since most Filipinos find it funny, it's becoming the trend, purposefully making the grammar wrong because it's funny. I'm not trying to be that uptight about this but if we see an opportunity to teach the language properly, then maybe we can promote a better English-speaking community.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
4 Aug 12
I belive in your opinion, instead of makingthem ashame of the way they speak english, we should teach them how to speak it up.
even English speaking countries commits grammar error. It does not mean that they reside in english country, they are fluent in english.
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
5 Aug 12
I remember when I was attending my primary school, the school would penalized you if you caught speaking in your native language. You have to speak in English whenever you have to talk. That was one kind of training that we had in order to learn to speak English. This way also, the teachers would not find it hard to stop the student from making so much noise.
But of course reading can help a lot and I think I still have to do more reading, lol.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
4 Aug 12
I learned my English because I read English books, which were available in my house before I went to school. School helped in terms of grammar and other types of rules governing the language. But I was already communicating in English in my head. I agree that many Filipinos are so hung up on ‘correct English’ (because I am sometimes one of them). As my professor pointed out, we are kinda proud because we pick English easily as it is a primary language in our early school years. But in today’s education, this pride is already tarnished.
I am quite in agreement that some people who laugh at other people’s mistakes in English are quite elitist. But there is also the expectation that the majority of us understood and can communicate using English. By the end of the day, our proficiency in English is not absolute, even if we surpass other native speakers.
In the end, English (like any other language) is a tool and it is up to us what standards we adopt. Some will be stellar, others will be not. For me, it’s stupid to make it a competition and erode the primary use of a language - to communicate.
