A SENSE OF ENGLISH

More about Language and Culture

Imagine the following situation: An English teacher (let’s call him John) has invited one of his students to eat with him at his mother’s house.

When the student finishes his main course, John’s mother offers him/her another helping, and the simple question and answer go like this:

“Would you like some more?”

“No.”

This monthly column is essentially about developing what I call ‘A Sense of English’, and I’ve written a book of that title. There is no sense of English at all in the student’s reply in the above situation.

This exact situation is one I have encountered many times with students from the Far East.

When offered something, replying with just “no” is, in fact, quite rude in English. We have to convey some sense of gratitude for the offer, and the most obvious and common way to do this is to simply say “No, thank you.”

This is not dependent on the situation. I am not talking about a response that is appropriate only when we don’t know someone well. I am talking about something that is linguistically essential in English.

If I go to my mum’s house to eat and this situation arises (and naturally it always does), then I need to show my gratitude for her offer as much as I would if it were, for example, one of my mother’s friends.

It is so important to think about and understand these kinds of differences between languages. Wrong impressions can so easily be conveyed unintentionally.

I know that the simple “no” in response to an offer is normal in some languages, and therefore that no rudeness is intended at all on the part of the student.

However, I’m an English teacher with experience of typical student mistakes. I also have knowledge of other languages and cultures, and this gives me more of an open mind about nuances of communication.

The average English person ‘on the street’ though, with whom you will rub shoulders in your daily life here, will not have this experience and awareness.

There will be occasions, therefore, like in our simple example here of an offer to have some more to eat, where your lack of a ‘sense of English’ may lend itself to a negative interpretation.

Misunderstandings like this can easily lead to the formation of prejudices and generalizations. This is an inescapable reality.

It is not an exaggeration to say that many of the problems in the world today are rooted in a lack of understanding or tolerance of other people.

And this lack of understanding relates to either language or culture or to both. And this brings me back to my favourite message – Cultivate a ‘Sense of English’!

The only way to do this is by creating a social life surrounded by native English speakers.

‘A Sense of English’ is my message for one simple reason: it is the difference between struggling to make yourself understood and communicating smoothly.

It’s hands-on stuff – ‘a sense of English’ is not developed through the use of a textbook. You’ve got to get out of the classroom and into the street!

There are no magic wands for the serious student of any language. It’s hard graft and will take a long time.

I’ve been teaching English for more than 15 years, and in that time I have met literally thousands of students. Next month I’m going to tell you about one who sticks in my mind for very positive reasons.

His name is Hee-Seung and he is Korean. He remains my good friend. Remember the name – his story comes next time.