I vividly remember many situations where I felt really awkward. For example when I rang up to apply for a job and they asked me for my "phone number" to call me back. All I could hear was "file number" which I insisted I didn't have! Well, that was one job I wasn't meant to get!
On another occasion I was invited by an Australian family for "tea" around 6 pm at their home. This is usually the time we have a cup of tea after dinner in the country I come from. So I had dinner before I went to see them to find that they had a dinner meal prepared. I was too embarrassed to tell them I'd already eaten so I pushed down my second dinner in order to be polite and let my stomach suffer for it. I knew the hard way that 'tea' meant 'dinner' not a 'cup of tea' and that 6 pm is when people have their big meal in Australia.
Looking back, these were awkward moments at the time but I can laugh at them now. You will too!
- Have you had an embarrassing situation because of your English?
- What is the hardest thing to understand?
- What do you do when you don't quite understand and how does this make you feel?
- Do you agree that laughing at yourself is a good way to deal with embarrassment?
- Are there any idioms or expressions that you learnt the hard way?
Please share your thoughts here.
I had a similar experience too and I felt embarrassed but I just laughed. So, don't worry if you make mistakes because it's a part of the learning process.
ReplyDeleteThat's great advice.
DeleteI had a lot of embarrassing situations as a new Australian, I used to say to my classmates "me play you" but they looked at me and laughed, eventually I found someone to play with who didn't laugh at me. This was part of the reason I became an English teacher.
ReplyDeleteYou have wonderful experience and understanding to share with your students Corinne, thanks for your thoughtful comments.
DeleteThis is a very practical but hilarious blog story. I think all of us can identify with the story. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite story is about someone who was asked to 'bring a plate'. She felt sorry for the host who did not have enough plates, so she bought several new ones to give as a gift. When she arrived and saw what other guests had brought, she realized that 'bring a plate' meant to bring a plate full of food to share. I can imagine how she felt.
ReplyDeleteI understand about your situation because it happened to me before. I misunderstood about "bring a plate'. Luckily my husband told me 'bring a plate means bring food....that fixed it.
DeleteIt's a very common mistake, Supha, and can happen to anyone - an English teacher friend of my mine from the UK did exactly the same thing as Wendy described above - he took a plate with no food on it, to a friend's BBQ! Everyone certainly had a good laugh.
DeleteAh, the 'bring a plate' trap! How many migrants have made that very understandable mistake!
ReplyDeleteI had similar experiences: misunderstanding idiomatic expressions, misusing some vocabulary and feeling bad for not understanding jokes. We all can fix them up sooner or later. Cheer up!
ReplyDeleteHi Ian, thank you for the encouraging sharing and comment. Keep your good work!
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ReplyDeleteThis story is very practical and can happen to anyone.I enjoyed it a lot.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Ross! You are very lucky. It doesn't happen with everyone. I never won anything but I positive that one day I win.
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