Something I don't like about Germans

**Kirsten** · 07-13-2009, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by K9karen

Kirsten, and Barbara and other Europeans, I have to say..your
English is wonderful! Did you learn it in school? I mean, you use our idioms and everything.

Thank you, Karen!

Yes, I learnt it at school, I think it must have been 8 years in total, but like Barbara has said, I too didn't start using idioms before I got some practice on the internet. We learnt the British English at school, so it's been somewhat different.

But even before there was the internet, I tried not to get completely out of touch with the English language, 'cause I didn't want to forget what I have learnt in all those years. Couldn't tell you much these days about any grammar rules and the correct use of tenses though... LOL

Kirsten

**kokopup** · 07-13-2009, 02:54 PM

Kirsten , Barbara

Your English skill background is given away by your use of one word.
Learnt is the English version for the American word Learned.

All of our European PT friends do amazingly well with their post. If i had to post in German, French, Flemish, Spanish or Swedish I would be lost. I refer to various language dictionaries from time to time and am able to construct maybe a simple phrase if it doesn't contain more than 2 or 3 words.

I envy people that are Multlingual. When I lived in the Netherlands about 70% of the population spoke English. I went to Dutch lessons for a while but every time I spoke to someone in Dutch, when they heard my accent, they switched to listening in English. If I told them I am going to try to speak Dutch they would undestand me then. The only time I found an audience was when i spoke Dutch to someone that didn't speak English. I finally gave up because everyone I had dealings with spoke excellent English. Most of them thought they spoke Queens English but because they watched so many American movies it had taken on more of an American flavor.

**Kirsten** · 07-13-2009, 03:03 PM

Learnt is the English version for the American word Learned.

See, this must be one of the remnants of what we have learned in school.

I will try to keep that in mind! LOL

The Dutch, as far as I know, speak an excellent English, like the Danes, or people from the other Scandinavian countries. Much better than the Germans do, btw. I guess it's because they - unlike the Germans - see American or English movies or tv shows in undubbed versions.

Kirsten

**Randi** · 07-13-2009, 03:49 PM

It's annoying that on some boards people are very arrogant, but then, if you want help with something, you have to put up with it. Luckily, I'm not particularly interested in posting anywhere, but PT.

Speaking of learning other languages, I had English in school from I was 11 years old, and when I left, I took an evening class during two winters. I really wanted to learn English so I could read the pop magazines I bought (Fabulous and Rave I think they were called). I also wanted to understand the text in the songs I liked - so that was an incentive too.

I met John in 79, but he already spoke Danish fluently, so we kept speaking Danish. He told me he started to go a Bar where lots of foreigners came (Pilegården), just to keep his English fluent - of course, there were other reasons for going there too. LOL! It was a fun place, run by a Canadian ice hockey player, a Japanese guy and a crazy Czecholovakian (yes, I had to look that up!) Even some funny Americans were part of the crowd!

**K9karen** · 07-13-2009, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by Kirsten

Thank you, Karen!

Yes, I learnt it at school, I think it must have been 8 years in total, but like Barbara has said, I too didn't start using idioms before I got some practice on the internet. We learnt the British English at school, so it's been somewhat different.

But even before there was the internet, I tried not to get completely out of touch with the English language, 'cause I didn't want to forget what I have learnt in all those years. Couldn't tell you much these days about any grammar rules and the correct use of tenses though... LOL

Kirsten

Guess I'll have to start watching Telemundo more often.
I had a young landscaper from Nicaragua who learned his PERFECT English by watching American TV!

All I have to say is you all are amazing! I think some people have an "ear" for other languages. There was a girl at my high school reunion, who lived in Europe for over 40 years, travelling from country to country for work and she speak 5 languages fluently!! Picks it up like "that" (*snaps fingers*) One of my bosses took Russian during her summer vacation from college and spoke it fluently. Once a cabdriver tried to get one over on her (he was on the phone speaking Russian) and BOY! did she surprise him when she left the cab! We rolled over laughing!

**kokopup** · 07-13-2009, 11:18 PM

I think with any language the younger you are the better. When i went to the Netherlands to work there were 5 other families there with children. We had engineers there from 4 different countries other than the USA. None of these kids spoke English as a native language. When we had been there about 6 months we had a party and all the families brought their kids. It was amazing because they were all running around talking a blue streak in Dutch. Dutch had become their common language in just 6 months.