Arthur B. Funky 29 Report post Posted June 22 Without being all hoity-toity, the English language is peculiar.Ā I think we can all agree. What are the language oddities that make you smile, wind you up, generally confound or confuse people? Niche (French of course) to nitch (American pronounciation); it's nicheĀ Americans, learn it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Devon Malcolm 5,850 Report post Posted June 22 Arthur B. Postinginthewrongforum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arthur B. Funky 29 Report post Posted June 22 Yup! Half an eye on what I'm watching on the telly ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arthur B. Funky 29 Report post Posted June 22 If the mods can move it, I would be very grateful ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Fight Site 405 Report post Posted June 22 6 hours ago, Arthur B. Funky said: If the mods can move it, I would be very grateful ... I donāt think the UKFF has a binā¦ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The King Of Swing 460 Report post Posted June 22 1 hour ago, Your Fight Site said: I donāt think the UKFF has a binā¦ That's the vegan thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpiritOfTheForest 92 Report post Posted June 22 Not being a snidey wanker about it like a previous poster, as an English language teacher I feel this all the time. Phrasal verbs are the worst for this - so often students will be compelled to get right down to the nitty-gritty and establish WHY something happens (which is annoying because in English, most of the time there is no real set reason). It's led me to tell my adult students straight up when they ask me "Why is X like like this..." "Because English is a shit". NotĀ many of us really appreciate how fortunate we are to have English as our mother tongue. It's a constantly confusing language. Languages are absolutely fascinating though. The fact that the same very similar word can exist across an entire continent for the same object never fails to blow my brain.Ā Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IANdrewDiceClay 5,069 Report post Posted June 22 Seeing the thread title in On Topic, I thought it was a discussion about some stern warning given to messers Golga and Kurrgan about a vulgar outburst in the supermarket queue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tommy! 1,269 Report post Posted June 23 The ukffs own mudslide didn't speak during the oddities run did he? Was that just to try and hide the fact it's clearly him? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brewster McCloud 136 Report post Posted June 23 8 hours ago, SpiritOfTheForest said: Not being a snidey wanker about it like a previous poster, as an English language teacher I feel this all the time. Phrasal verbs are the worst for this - so often students will be compelled to get right down to the nitty-gritty and establish WHY something happens (which is annoying because in English, most of the time there is no real set reason). It's led me to tell my adult students straight up when they ask me "Why is X like like this..." "Because English is a shit". NotĀ many of us really appreciate how fortunate we are to have English as our mother tongue. It's a constantly confusing language. Languages are absolutely fascinating though. The fact that the same very similar word can exist across an entire continent for the same object never fails to blow my brain.Ā Yes, let's not be snide wankers and talk about the topic in hand. What I've enjoyed most about teaching English is idioms - they're a great way of helping people understand how English actually functions, but they are nonsensical and that can be a stumbling block. You start with "It's raining cats and dogs" and go from there, though, and ask them to explain idioms that exist in their native language.Ā I always try to avoid saying "because English" when a difficult question comes up, and attempt to get into the nuts and bolts of the language in my own rather cackhanded manner if that's what's warranted in the class at the time. I see the tenses in English, for example, rather like a mathematical formula, but it's more helpful to students, I find, to give real life examples rather than just writing it up on the board and saying "that's what you must do!" Are you familiar with the teach-this website? Phrasal verbs become a lot more fun when you're playing Jeopardy with the class! Where do you work out of interest? I've been teaching English in Indonesia for 9 years and I think I'm finally getting a bit good at it.Ā Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tommy! 1,269 Report post Posted June 23 2 minutes ago, Brewster McCloud said: Whatļ»æ I've enjoyed most aboutļ»æ teaching English You teach! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brewster McCloud 136 Report post Posted June 23 (edited) I do! And I'm not a cunt in real life - imagine that! Edited June 23 by Brewster McCloud Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tommy! 1,269 Report post Posted June 23 1 hour ago, Brewster McCloud said: Ā I'm not a cunt in real life - imagine that! Ā Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brewster McCloud 136 Report post Posted June 23 I know, I know... I do my best to be nice to my wife, children and students, though. Being nasty to strangersĀ on the Internet isn't something I really want to go along with, but if you do, have at it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
