“Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.”
It’s raining still.
A friend called this morning and wanted a grammar question answered because I am considered an expert of sorts. Senior year in college I actually had a full semester grammar course. It was among the hardest I’d taken. It was right up there with dummy physics and freshmen math.
In Ghana, I taught English as a second language. Grammar was big in Ghana, and every lesson had a grammar section. I remember teaching the contrary to fact subjunctive. One of my students raised her hand and asked how I knew if I didn’t go. That was such a Ghanaian question, and I loved it. I tried to explain, and I failed. Finally, I resorted to sing song and rote. My students would chime in rhythm, “if + present + future,” and we’d move on from there. After all of that, though, I don’t doubt they still wondered how I knew, but they would never ask. My students were unfailingly polite.
I know enough vocabulary to travel, and I can point. That’s all I’ve ever needed. In the Francophone countries of Africa, I got bus tickets, directions, food at restaurants and goods from the grand marchés, all in pidgin French. I even bargained in French. I just needed numbers and no.
During my South American trip, I traveled from Venezuela to Brazil. I got where what I wanted and where I needed to be, all in Spanish. My friend, with whom I traveled, knew no Spanish at all. I taught her cerveza, and she was happy.
I do wish I could speak a language other than English, but then again, lots of native English speakers can’t really speak it all. I hear them all the time struggling with I and me and hopefully.
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
April 17, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I myself am a former grammar-nut of many years. And yes, lots of native English speakers can’t speak, read or write at a level that any literate person would call literate. That’s been, in my own opinion, the result of the dumbing-down of our schools and our society.
April 17, 2010 at 6:32 pm
braonthree,
I correct the TV all the time. Luckily, it never talks back so my sanity isn’t in question.
Having taught in a local high school, I know grammar is taught mostly in context, not as a separate entity as it was when I was in school. Maybe we need to go back to that.
April 17, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I was a proofreader/copy editor for several years. I can be faulted for many things, but I have a hard time not showing my (usually private) disdain for folks who have struggled and passed through our public school system who still cannot read, write or speak. Unless they are actually handicapped in some way, there is no excuse for this situation. And people who are college graduates have (if possible) a less-than-zero reason for that being true.
April 17, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Rick,
Standardized testing in most states requires a specific level of knowledge and no students can graduate without passing, but that hasn’t seemed to solve the problem. Kids today text; the language gets reduced to its smallest units, and the flow of words into sentences then paragraphs is lost. It won’t get better.
April 17, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I am a bit of a snob when it comes to swedish 🙂 but if You said to me, in swedish, what You wrote here in english “contrary to fact subjunctive” I would most probably look stupid 🙂 🙂 I´ve never learned what those things are called, I just know how to talk, write and spell 🙂 🙂
I’m pretty good in English for not being English speaking and never having been in an English speaking country (well if one doesn´t count that I was in Brittain when I was one year old and have landed twice on Heathrow aeroport 🙂 🙂 ), but I do have troubles spelling sometimes and I usually writes and speaks English the way I would do it in swdish. For instance, I write:”I and my dogs took a walk” but when reading english blogs I can often read “Me and my dogs”. What´s right?
When travelling in Europe most people understands english but doesn´t speak it and as You say, pointing works great too 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
April 17, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Christer,
Your ability to write and speak in English always amazes me. English is not an easy language.
Translating literally from a native tongue to English is common, and I love those translations. They personalize English.
My dogs and I is correct. The best way to check is to use just the pronoun. I took a walk or me took a walk? Right away you know I is correct.
April 17, 2010 at 6:50 pm
You is correct? You is the teacher …
Cheers
April 17, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Minicapt,
That would, of course, not follow for second person pronouns, always plural in form.
April 17, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Youse the teacher?
Cheers
April 17, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Youse are the teacher?
Cheers
April 17, 2010 at 4:25 pm
I try…people are VERY generous
April 17, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Yes, they are, my dear Hedley, and they usually smile.
April 17, 2010 at 4:37 pm
My daughter taught Forms 4 English while serving with the Peace Corps in Zimbabwe for two years. She was amazed at how the British school programs far exceed those she had while both in High School here and in College. This was a leg up for her and one of the reasons she pursued her Masters at Medill. For someone who struggled just to get into that school of journalism she graduated #4 out of 33 students finishing up that year. Needless to say how proud we are of her and her participation with PC. But the PC experience helped her get good grades and that was a bonus. She still gets letters from her students who have gone on to travel the world, many now living in London.
April 17, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Z&Me,
It was in Africa where I really learned the most grammar. Having to teach it made me learn it well.
I was not in a secondary school as your daughter was but at a training college. I taught second years. My students were training to become teachers. I found Ghanaian schools a watered imitation of the British system. Ghanaians were often rote learners so standards were much lower. For example, the literature book I was given was Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare. It was awful. Students didn’t get it. I fought for and finally convinced the principal to buy books from the African Writer Series. They were great for stimulating discussions of the characters, the settings and the plot devices, all higher level learning skills.
My students probably never left Ghana. Unlike secondary school students, they didn’t have access to form six or university. Most probably taught close to home.
April 17, 2010 at 7:25 pm
That’s interesting. I’m copying this over to Rebecca in case she wants to jump in. Thanks.
April 17, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Z&Me,
I’d love her to jump in as we did have such a similar experiences\.
April 17, 2010 at 11:06 pm
“Can her and me have some of your ice cream?” Kat said hopefully.
I think it’s a great opening for the great American novel!
April 18, 2010 at 12:34 am
Erin,
Grrrrrrrrr!!!!
April 18, 2010 at 5:00 am
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December 3, 2011 at 7:09 pm
of course like your web-site however you have to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality however I will definitely come back again.
December 3, 2011 at 7:49 pm
I have no idea what you are talking about. I backtracked 12 entires and the spell checker took exception with cabanas (plural for cabana), Odetta, hole in the shoe (spell check wanted whole) and more of the same ilk. Maybe you aren’t sure the correct spelling of the words.