tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15277405.post113762787261807785..comments2023-08-18T11:13:29.996+02:00Comments on JeweledConcrete: I Need Some MinutesMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11235271473700970297noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15277405.post-1137821886676311802006-01-21T06:38:00.000+01:002006-01-21T06:38:00.000+01:00I do the same thing - picking up the broken Englis...I do the same thing - picking up the broken English I get back from the natives here in return for my broken German ... that mixed with a heavy dose of two-year-old speak ... "Papa go bed now."Berlinboundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07923336754703543803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15277405.post-1137789057814236842006-01-20T21:30:00.000+01:002006-01-20T21:30:00.000+01:00Just wait until you start going on "holiday" inste...Just wait until you start going on "holiday" instead of "vacation" and giving temperatures in centigrade instead of fahrenheit...Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06076964401233678093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15277405.post-1137765651244312592006-01-20T15:00:00.000+01:002006-01-20T15:00:00.000+01:00Wow, a european accent on top of a New England acc...Wow, a european accent on top of a New England accent on top of a southern accent on top of a Philadelphia accent!<BR/><BR/>That's gotta sound sweeeeet! Hee hee.lobstahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03781753673725251637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15277405.post-1137759535985367852006-01-20T13:18:00.000+01:002006-01-20T13:18:00.000+01:00At least you're still speaking in your native tong...At least you're still speaking in your native tongue. It is really important that you 'break' your english down to the basics. The key is effective communication and idioms don't fit into that.<BR/><BR/>Coming over here I learned to speak in 'international english' and cut out all the slang, idioms, pop culture references and jokes. And I felt the same way at first, how could I be myself if I couldn't be myself? But you adapt and find other ways to express your personality in a way everyone will understand.<BR/><BR/>You're ahead of the game: Some people work abroad for years and never figure this out, unaware that often their colleagues go to other native speakers for 'decoding' advice about what they just heard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15277405.post-1137688373476878392006-01-19T17:32:00.000+01:002006-01-19T17:32:00.000+01:00Rebecca has some great points. Everyone told me t...Rebecca has some great points. Everyone told me that I have a European accent after a while in Switzerland. I completely slowed down my talking speed because yes that is the problem. And also I found I started forgetting how to say things in English. And as well, I started saying things differently and wrong.<BR/><BR/>My funniest phrase was "oh my gosh". Don't worry, all languages have funny phrases too...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09455800980666388178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15277405.post-1137654778583370212006-01-19T08:12:00.000+01:002006-01-19T08:12:00.000+01:00Don't sweat it.... learning some German is certain...Don't sweat it.... learning some German is certainly worthwhile to help communication and show that you will put in a little effort, too. <BR/><BR/>But, in English, the thing is, people DO understand you better when you speak a little awkwardly- for one thing, it slows you down (speed is usually a problem) and for another, it takes out the sayings and phrases that you usually put in (always a problem for communication). I have learned to pronounce all of the sylables in a word (not easy with a Pittsburghese background) and slow down. Yes, you feel like you are loosing a little of your personality, but think of how you colleagues must feel, speaking in a foreign language all the time.<BR/><BR/>You will going to get there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com