For example, I know that a lot of EFL learners have real difficulty telling the difference between the long "ee" and the short "i" sound. They often can't hear a difference between "sheep" and "ship."
Today, I began teaching Um Zahra nouns associated with a bedroom.
"Lamp," I told her, pointing to the appropriate picture.
"Lamp," she repeated.
"Bed," I said.
"I know bed," she said.
"Okay. Sheet. But Um Zahra," I said quickly. "You must be careful with this word. If you say it wrong, it's a bad word in English."
"Oh," she said. "Shit."
That really was unintentional on her part.
At least she doesn't have trouble making herself say some English words. In Arabic, the word for "think" is "fuker." Pronounced exactly like you don't want it to be.
B, I have a similar story.
ReplyDelete"Boys and girls, what is it that you need to do to keep on track with your work?"
"Fukus (Focus) Meees...we just need to Fukus."
Pronounced exactly like you don't want it to be ;)
I about died!