hi, guys. I'm trying to start my first blog right now and I actually don't have a clue how to start.
I am from another country and live for a year here, in the US. I live in Iowa and am a junior in High School. And since I'm here, I learn a lot about different cultures and how people react on someone, who's definitely not native speaking. I mean, as you probably notice my English isn't too bad, but I still make mistakes in grammar and pronunciation as well.
I was for example shopping last week. I thought I wouldn't buy much, but when I was in the shop, I found a lot. So I needed a cart. But I already had stuff, so couldn't just go out and get one, so I asked on of the people, who work there, if they could get me one. My problem was that I had a cold, which means my pronunciation was even worse than normally and I didn't know the wort for cart, so i tried my luck with wagon. Bad idea. So I stood there, arm full with cloths and groceries, asking the woman, if she could go out and get my a wagon. The woman answered, after she asked me at least for times to repeat what I said, really slowly:"You can not go out, but I can get you aaa cart." Wonderful, that was all I was asking for. But just because I didn't know, how exactly to say it, it doesn't mean that i am stupid. I know it is hard for everybody to see the differnece between I-help-you and I-make-you-feel-dumb. But there is a difference. You should for example NEVER wait two seconds to say the next word. Try it, if you're alone in a romm, just try it, say :"You can not go out, but I can get you aaa cart." with 2 seconds pause after every word.
And how does it sound? Good? Or made it you fell stupid? It does I beat and i can tell you it makes the people who hear it feel stupid, too. So stop it, even if you talk to someone, who not perfect in your language, two seconds are too much. Maybe half a second is good.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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