TEFL-ing it up in a hideously embarrassing manner
Saw The Streets a week or so ago. That’s right, you know them; the guys who are actually from Birmingham but sing in Estuary English as if they are just writing songs when they’re not on set for Eastenders. They were performing at St Gallen Open Air, the probably better organised, more efficient version of Glastonbury. No less wet.
If you’re a fan of The Streets, I imagine you understand the lyrics. Otherwise it would sound like some stoned English man droning on about something you don’t understand. Mike Skinner failed to realise this while performing in front of the predominantly linguistically talented Swiss audience. Apart from the fact he almost had everyone doing a Nazi salute and shouting ‘ja’ (I think he was just too stupid to realise this was what he was doing and I honestly don’t think it was his intention), he spoke to the audience as if they were in beginner’s English class, beginner’s English class for the kids with special needs. Like no ears. Or no mouth. Those kind of special needs.
He wanted to find out if the crowd were happy that it had finally stopped pissing it down and that the sun had finally got its hat on and come out to play. Which was a bit of a stupid question to ask. So he shouts into his microphone (we all know shouting helps understanding in a foreign tongue), he makes a smile shape with his hands, he shouts “Are you H-A-P-P-Y (another smile gesture), now (pointing to floor with both hands; you know the drill) the rain (you know where this is going; rain hands) has stopped (cut the air to indicate stopping)? And, even more cringe-worthy was that he didn’t think they had understood the first time, so he repeated the question, TEFL-ing it up even more the second time.
It was truly hideously embarrassing. I thought it was just the old who were rubbish at communicating with foreigners; it appears that most Brits just don’t get it. He’s from Birmingham too, so he should be used to it! Brits who are allowed to leave the country to represent the UK in some way should be given a quick lesson on intercultural communication, and perhaps taught that just because you’re a foreigner, you’re not special needs!!!
Saw The Streets a week or so ago. That’s right, you know them; the guys who are actually from Birmingham but sing in Estuary English as if they are just writing songs when they’re not on set for Eastenders. They were performing at St Gallen Open Air, the probably better organised, more efficient version of Glastonbury. No less wet.
If you’re a fan of The Streets, I imagine you understand the lyrics. Otherwise it would sound like some stoned English man droning on about something you don’t understand. Mike Skinner failed to realise this while performing in front of the predominantly linguistically talented Swiss audience. Apart from the fact he almost had everyone doing a Nazi salute and shouting ‘ja’ (I think he was just too stupid to realise this was what he was doing and I honestly don’t think it was his intention), he spoke to the audience as if they were in beginner’s English class, beginner’s English class for the kids with special needs. Like no ears. Or no mouth. Those kind of special needs.
He wanted to find out if the crowd were happy that it had finally stopped pissing it down and that the sun had finally got its hat on and come out to play. Which was a bit of a stupid question to ask. So he shouts into his microphone (we all know shouting helps understanding in a foreign tongue), he makes a smile shape with his hands, he shouts “Are you H-A-P-P-Y (another smile gesture), now (pointing to floor with both hands; you know the drill) the rain (you know where this is going; rain hands) has stopped (cut the air to indicate stopping)? And, even more cringe-worthy was that he didn’t think they had understood the first time, so he repeated the question, TEFL-ing it up even more the second time.
It was truly hideously embarrassing. I thought it was just the old who were rubbish at communicating with foreigners; it appears that most Brits just don’t get it. He’s from Birmingham too, so he should be used to it! Brits who are allowed to leave the country to represent the UK in some way should be given a quick lesson on intercultural communication, and perhaps taught that just because you’re a foreigner, you’re not special needs!!!
1 comment:
I believe the politically correct term is no longer "special needs" but "person with learning difficulties".
Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells
(perhaps it is appropriate here seeing as the people have a big "difficulty" in learning - their "teacher"!)
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