Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Bad English

Bad English English, baby! Video Lesson

Date: Apr 13 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

When you are learning another language, it is difficult to blend what you learn in books with how people actually talk.

In every language, people stutter, insert extra words and use expressions that are not in the dictionary.

English, baby! members sometimes comment on the “bad English” of our cast members. For example, they say we shouldn’t be saying “like” so much. But “like” is very common in the spoken language. Of course, you would never use the expression in writing unless you were quoting someone.

Listen to Amanda and Kevin talk about bad English.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amanda

Amanda

Kevin

Kevin

Amanda:  So what’s interesting is I have a four year-old son…

Kevin:  OK.

Amanda:  ... and so we’re trying to teach him the language. The English language. But it’s very difficult to realize that, how we speak with all the slang and the poor construction using “like,” “um,” the pausing…

Kevin:  The colloquialisms.

Amanda:  Yes. Pausing, “um,” “Like, well”... It’s so difficult to curb that while you’re teaching a child because you don’t want to teach that or pass it on. It’s near impossible.

Kevin:  Well, it is but his English will eventually get good. But it does take sort of coaching, right?

Amanda:  Absolutely.

Kevin:  And, and good teaching, both from the parents as well as in school.

Amanda:  You don’t realize how much you do it yourself.

Kevin:  Mm hm.

Amanda:  You know which mistakes are mistakes and you just, that’s how you’ve taught yourself.

Kevin:  Yeah.

Amanda:  You’ve trained yourself incorrectly.

Kevin:  It’s very interesting.

Amanda:  And it’s so hard to rewind and go the right way even though you know what’s right.

Kevin:  I used to be an ESL teacher and a lot of students would write in essays the word gonna... g-o-n-n-a.

Amanda:  Oh no.

Kevin:  Which they didn’t realize was OK verbally but written, is, is not appropriate.

Amanda:  Right.

Kevin:  So it takes a lot of practice.

Amanda:  It does. I’m working on it…

Kevin:  It will come.

Amanda:  ... still!

 

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Amanda is teaching her four-year-old how to talk. It is making her realize her own poor speaking habits.

Kevin has a lot of teaching experience. He assures Amanda that her son will learn how to speak properly despite her own mistakes.

Kevin also points out that his ESL students would use colloquialisms (like “gonna”) as written language.

Do you have bad habits in your native language?

Would it be hard for someone to learn the difference between the spoken and the written in your language?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

memh

memh

Egypt

iam very bad in english

01:04 PM Jun 16 2010 |

safia abdul

Tanzania, United Republic Of

In fact an ineed of knowing a good english

10:05 AM Jun 16 2010 |

abdo_haji

abdo_haji

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

really i want to improve my listen and my conversation. how can i?????

 

05:53 AM Jun 04 2010 |

zhaojielu

zhaojielu

China

Embarassed

01:30 AM May 22 2010 |

ciccleo

ciccleo

Brazil

In portuguese we use an expression similar to 'like' all the time.

I don't think it's a problem when you're talking to friends or family, only when you're at school or work.

But the most important thing in the begining i not to care about grammar, only if you can comunicate. 

02:55 PM May 21 2010 |

bestway2go

bestway2go

Malaysia

Very useful but in the audio they speak so fast. hahaha

01:43 AM May 17 2010 |

Colibri

Colibri

Russian Federation

It is easy to pick up some bad language (actually it is not bad, it is just a version of slang – informal language, but careful – it can stick to you) like here are  examples – gonna, well, umm…especially when you learn English  by yourself using only verbal practice…I know it from my ow experience. Some people I met even noticed that the way I use language was more grammatically correct than someones whose language is English from the birth.

My husband tries to learn Russian, and it doesn't go fast and easy, but curse words are like a separate vocabulary …they magically  stick in his mind  :)))

06:32 PM Apr 24 2010 |

Adeel Anjum

Pakistan

i want to learn english

05:37 PM Apr 22 2010 |

babuswaibu

babuswaibu

Uganda

Dear, l hope your feeling well. so how is your life there? I think that, things are moving well on your side. .i would like you to become my friend in all circles if u wish. And academically have diploma in computer science, diploma in clinical medicine & Surgery.Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), Master of Science (M.Med) in Surgery,certificate in Rehabilitation Mgt and finally advanced certificate in board casting studies (Radio & TV). Hobbies/interests are listening to music, watching movies, volunteering, Museums Theater, traveling KEGS, historical novels, foreign cultures, researching & poetry. am God fearing person and am born again. But Friendship is a gift that is fair in all things. It roots from one\'s heart and involves memories that stay not for a while but for a lifetime.
When you\'re down, I\'ll be there to cheer you up. When you\'re tired, I\'ll be there to lift you up. I\'ll be your friend no matter what!
Someday you may lose your hair, your teeth, your looks, or even your memory. But there\'s something you won\'t lose. I, coz I\'ll always be your friend.
I thank the Lord for the gift of friendship where I can be myself and be accepted as I am and for finding a home in the heart of a friend. so u can contact me
May God bless you
mr babu
my no +256782110451

11:22 AM Apr 13 2010 |

الفتاة السعيدة

Qatar

its so good lesson , thank you

04:28 PM Apr 02 2010 |

Dalo3ah

Dalo3ah

Saudi Arabia

  1. yes actually I have bad habits in my native language , and I try hardly to correct these habits in order to have a good language and it's good for English learner to translate correct vocabularies.
  2. It is hard to learn the difference between the spoken and written in Arabic language which is my native language .

09:38 PM Mar 14 2010 |

lenny80a

Germany

My native language is easiest of the world, because isn't any difference between reading, writing and speaking. All three are the same. That's very good and I haven't any bed habits in my native languages….Smile

09:47 PM Mar 12 2010 |

lenny80a

Germany

Amanda and Kevin talk about bed English…I found that English language is a very complicated languages because of reading, writing and speaking are agree to disagree…Yell   I study by my self a ESL pronunciation and  actually take a lot of practice. I think the nativ speakers as AMANDA und KEVIN from this lesson found near impossible to learn correct, to curb it, to pass it on to her son who has for 4 years…

09:26 PM Mar 12 2010 |

afireinside

Colombia

I didn't understand this lesson, saying "like" is bad omg 

02:46 AM Mar 11 2010 |

alhanooty

alhanooty

Saudi Arabia

i want learn englishYell

03:57 AM Mar 08 2010 |

khaled mohamed

Egypt

hi how are you evre body

11:38 PM Mar 06 2010 |

Kris15

Kris15

Philippines

It's: I'm trying to learn english and I want someone to help me. Please. :)

10:05 AM Mar 02 2010 |

lboon

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

im trayine to learn english and iwant some one to help me pleas

09:19 PM Mar 01 2010 |

preity rai

South Korea

It is difficult to me to speak and write english but i want to learn english

09:19 PM Mar 01 2010 |

sima z

sima z

Egypt

i like the English language,i think it is the most language which everyone can communicate with others,so I'm trying to learn it.

but speaking English is harder than writing for me,every time i speak English i feel that i'm not confident…  

 

07:58 PM Feb 22 2010 |

Likes (423):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast