I can't speak fluent English anymore. I can WRITE fluently in English, because I can take time to think about the words and fix the ones that are wrong*. But speaking? I suck at speaking right now. I didn't even realize how much I sucked at speaking until my friend Renee had a friend visitor from America, and he was super cute and we were having a nice conversation during which I said about 10 times, "I can't remember how to say it in English." Charming. No really, catch me a year ago, I knew how to talk about complicated things then, I swear! Oh well. (I also never noticed how many straight-up Chinese words I use now even when speaking English, until I was speaking to someone who doesn't know them.)
When I do speak English, I'm speaking to my students or to other volunteers who also right now suck at speaking English, and we don't notice that we are using 'Special English' English-- that is, English without complicated words. But speaking to a native speaker? Forget it. I sound like one of the characters on Sesame Street. And not one of the human ones. I had to laugh the other day because I was having a conversation about oldest and youngest children and I said something about taking-charge being "a tribute of oldest children." And neither of us noticed immediately that I said anything wrong.
So I'll go on calling lacquer 'liquor' and attributes 'tributes' and my teapot a 'hot water maker.' And when I'm back home and I accidentally say something to you in Chinese, just nod and smile. I'll get over it soon enough.
*I hope I catch them all.
Oh NO, you are turning into one of your students!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI am sure it will take some time when you get back home, but it is quite humorous to us.
I for one think it's charming :)
ReplyDeleteCome to Miami! You'll be saying things like, "Me no like white wine, me like red." :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'll have you speaking Spanglish in no time!
I hope I'm around to hear your Chinglish before it wears off. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know this only adds to your cuteness factor, yes? :-D
ReplyDeleteThats not funny, but it is understandable...if nothing else, for the first year you are back - you can keep reminding folks of where you most recently spent you time so that they get it. Once you are back - it will come back too..especially emersed in American culture again...watch, you'll see..
ReplyDeleteBest cure for Chinese-ese? Arkansas!! English SMACKDOWN!!! You survived one - I'm sure you'' survive the other! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Author www.beccaplaying.com !
ReplyDeleteIt is a pity, that now I can not express - there is no free time. But I will return - I will necessarily write that I think.
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
ReplyDeleteAnd you et an account on Twitter?