Poll: British English vs American English

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Daffy Duck  #426861  Thu, 04 Oct 07 05:48 AM
If you are a Teacher, would you teach British English? or American English? But, if you are a Student, would you want to learn British English? or American English?
  
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David  #426929  Thu, 04 Oct 07 10:49 AM
I really cannot see the point of this. It seems to have cropped up before. I teach English.
  
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Daffy Duck  #426940  Thu, 04 Oct 07 11:30 AM

Thanks for the reply, David.  I know, but most of our EFL students would ask us if we teach British English or American English.  As I am a teacher too,  it really doesn't  matter.  But I guess for them, it does.  We're now evaluating our curriculum so would really appreciate inputs.  Thanks again.

  
Anonymous  #428455  Mon, 08 Oct 07 09:31 AM

I guess it depends on where you are teaching, I mean you may have to consider the historical background and the practicality of the language in that place. For example, in Japan and the Philippines, American English may be preferred and in India British Engish may be preferred.

Just a personal experience:

I live in Hong Kong and Hong Kong was ruled by the British, so British English has been preferred in our education system. But in reality American English is everywhere, on TV and movies, in newspapers and magazine. So from time to time, teachers need to point out the difference between British English and American English. In a way, I think I was learning both.

When I was a student, I always thought American English sounded more 'stylish' and 'fashioable' because most TV stars and movie stars speak American English .

I am no longer a student now. I work and I find that understanding both helps my work because the people that we work with include both British and Americans. So it might have caused communication problems if I knew only either of them.

I guess HK is knid of 'international', so learning both is useful. But in some places, learning only one of them is enough.

  
Daffy Duck  #430625  Sun, 14 Oct 07 06:56 AM
 Anonymous wrote:

I guess it depends on where you are teaching, I mean you may have to consider the historical background and the practicality of the language in that place. For example, in Japan and the Philippines, American English may be preferred and in India British Engish may be preferred.

Just a personal experience:

I live in Hong Kong and Hong Kong was ruled by the British, so British English has been preferred in our education system. But in reality American English is everywhere, on TV and movies, in newspapers and magazine. So from time to time, teachers need to point out the difference between British English and American English. In a way, I think I was learning both.

When I was a student, I always thought American English sounded more 'stylish' and 'fashioable' because most TV stars and movie stars speak American English .

I am no longer a student now. I work and I find that understanding both helps my work because the people that we work with include both British and Americans. So it might have caused communication problems if I knew only either of them.

I guess HK is knid of 'international', so learning both is useful. But in some places, learning only one of them is enough.

Hi Anonymous,

Thank you. I really appreciate your inputs. Some of our Korean students would ask us if they should learn American English or British English.  Honestly, I don't know what to say.  Thanks again!

  
Titithi  #437041  Wed, 31 Oct 07 03:46 AM
I agree with you: learning both is useful. In my country,we  have learned British English and we should explain why the pronunciation of this word can pronounce in different other way or why people use "will" instead of "shall". Today , our program is changed into American English, we usually explain the difference between B.E and A.E.in pronunciation and in some cases of grammar or vocabulary.....It is not serious in lower level. Imitating is the best way to learn so we use only the CVD or Cassette with the American speakers voice while in the past we use British books and Cassette. Students often ask us some suspicious thing that they have heard on TV and on Movie, Ads.....Are they true or wrong...?
  
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Daffy Duck  #439401  Tue, 06 Nov 07 10:04 AM

 Titithi wrote:
I agree with you: learning both is useful. In my country,we  have learned British English and we should explain why the pronunciation of this word can pronounce in different other way or why people use "will" instead of "shall". Today , our program is changed into American English, we usually explain the difference between B.E and A.E.in pronunciation and in some cases of grammar or vocabulary.....It is not serious in lower level. Imitating is the best way to learn so we use only the CVD or Cassette with the American speakers voice while in the past we use British books and Cassette. Students often ask us some suspicious thing that they have heard on TV and on Movie, Ads.....Are they true or wrong...?

Thanks Titithi! Smile [:)]

  
Anonymous  #439591  Tue, 06 Nov 07 06:56 PM
Well, I have encountered this problem recently. I had been learning english for few years, then I stopped attending courses or lessons, I have been learning at home and watching American TV series and movies.. so I have picked up a lot of vocabulary. So far, so good. Then I realised, when preparing to Cambridge Exam, that I have to "forget" american words and learn british equivalents. Because now I am mixing both.. It's fine by me, as long as people can understand me. Still when passing an exam you need to be consistent, using either american or british english. It's tricky. American english surrounds us everywhere, so we're more familiar with it. On the contrary I just love british accent, even though learning british pronounciation isn't easy.
  
Mr_Dying  #440077  Thu, 08 Nov 07 04:33 AM
Most Indonesian news readers use American English. Just a few use British English. I like British English accent though.
  
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