Communicating Clearly

It can be frustrating when trying to communicate something and finding that there is a language barrier.  Whether what's being communicated is important or not, it's good to be understood. To clarify or make sure that you are understood one should ask questions or reiterate what you said by enunciating your words. 

Communication breakdown doesn't only happen when one is on the telephone, but also when communicating face-to-face.  Below is an example of how to handle your self in a situation where there is a communication breakdown or when you are trying to be understood.

Mary and Benjamin are at a restaurant and are placing their order for dinner.

Waiter: Monsieur et madame would you like to place your drink order now?

Mary: Yes, we are ready to place both our dinner and drink order.  Thank you.

Benjamin:  I would like the stuffed chicken.

Waiter: That is a great dish! It comes with a dinner roll and steamed vegetables. You have the option of potatoes or 'wild' rice with that. What would you like monsieur.
Benjamin: I thought all rice was 'boiled'?

Waiter: No, monsieur. That's not what I said.  I said, WILD rice not BOILED rice.

Benjamin: Ha, ha, ha! I'm so sorry. I understand. I don't like wild rice, so I will have the mashed potatoes. Thank you for clarifying.

Waiter: No problem. A Medoc wine goes great with that monsieur.

Benjamin: I don't like swine, that's why I ordered chicken.  Is that a Southern dish or something like that?

Waiter: No monsieur.  You misunderstood.  I said MERDOC WINE.  Thank is a brand of FRENCH WINE. It goes really great with chicken dishes. Do you understand?

Benjamin: I do. Great!  I will have a bottle of the Merdoc.  Thank you.

Waiter:  Madame?

Mary: He has a hearing problem.  Ha, ha, ha!  Just kidding.

Can I have the chicken penne?

Waiter: Ha, ha, ha! It's one of our most popular dishes! Garlic bread comes with that madame.

Mary: That sounds great.  I will share the Merdoc with Ben. Thank you.

Waiter.  The wine is coming right up; dinner will be about 8 to 10 minutes.  Thank you both.

Practice the dialog above with a few friends or a friend.  If there isn't enough people then one person can play two characters.

EXERCISE:

1. What were the misunderstandings in the dialog above?

Answer:  _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
2. What did the waiter do to clarify what he said?

Answer:  _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
3. Why do you think there was a breakdown in communication?

Answer:  _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.


4.  Describe an experience you've had where there was a breakdown in communication.  Explain what you did to clarify things?

Answer:  _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.

If you would like to share an experience (in question 4) with me or others, please post it in the comments below. This may be a great learning tool for others. Thank you.

Great job today!

Staying Motivated

I have had students who became discouraged in learning English because of the grammar and idioms. What should you do when you find learning a language to be a challenge? The answer is... Do what you love! There is something for everyone. 

There are many people who learn a language by picking up a hobby.  Whether that is through reading comic books, listening to music, watching movies or collecting action figures, then it's what works for you.  There are lots of great things that one can do to make learning stimulating, interesting and fun! When you learn in a way that works for you, then grammar, idioms and fixed English expressions will fall into place. 

verb-subject sentences

For many students it's easier to learn the grammar and to put/string together an English sentence than it is to speak the language.  Like everything, all you need is practice, which in turns builds confidence.  Now let's take a look a the basic English sentence.

The basic English sentence has a subject followed by a verb.  This is the common way in which they are written!  For example:  The man [subject] is tall [verb].
The president of the United States [subject] is smart [verb].

However, in some sentences the verb comes before the subject; for example:  There is [verb] a lawn mower [subject] in the street!
We are [verb] the cookie monsters [subject].