Learning someone’s language is one of the best compliments you can give them. It shows you value their culture enough to invest a lot of time and effort in order to connect with them on a deeper level. It’s basically like saying, “Your world matters to me,” but with actions, which makes the sentiment even more powerful. So if you make a few mistakes, nobody will mind. In fact, sometimes those oopsies can lead to hilarious moments, as seen in a recent Reddit thread where native English speakers shared some of the funniest and most inventive uses of the language by foreigners.
Continue scrolling to check out their entries, and don’t miss our chat with English teacher Georgie W., who has thousands of hours of experience helping people communicate with Anglophones—you’ll find it between the stories.
CheeryBottom , Estudio Gourmet Report
KFlaps , Edward Eyer Report
“English can be difficult to learn for a number of reasons,” she told Bored Panda. “The letters ‘ough’ can be pronounced in nine different ways, which can understandably cause confusion! Additionally, English grammar often has exceptions to its rules, making it tricky.”
“Phrasal verbs and idioms are also widespread, and their meanings aren’t always clear from the words themselves, which can add to the challenge.”
activated , Shannon Report
fahhgedaboutit , KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA Report
animalwitch , cottonbro studio Report
“Unlike languages such as Thai and Vietnamese, English doesn’t rely on tones, and nouns aren’t gendered as they are in languages like French or Spanish,” she explained.
“Learners also don’t need to navigate non-phonetic scripts, like those used in Mandarin or Japanese.”
littleIdiotUK , RDNE Stock project Report
apeliott , Vadim Lu Report
ninja-wharrier , Lisa Fotios Report
However, according to Ben Knight, the director of ELT Research at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, who manages a team of researchers developing its courses and materials, motivated adults typically need between 100 and 200 hours of guided learning to progress from one CEFR level to the next.
As you move up the levels, more hours are required to advance: progressing from A1 to A2 typically requires 100-150 hours of guided learning, but moving from B1 to B2 can take 180-260 hours.
NasalSexx , RDNE Stock project Report
augustlove112 , Vidal Balielo Jr. Report
Onepen99 , Orion Pictures Report
“Another difficulty is understanding native speakers in casual conversation, where features like glottal stops and connected speech make it hard to follow natural speech patterns.”
krypto-pscyho-chimp , Yan Krukau Report
RPG_Rob , SONIC Report
purplefriiday , RDNE Stock project Report
“Listening to podcasts, watching English TV shows, and making the most of any opportunity to communicate with native speakers all help. With one-on-one online lessons and group classes widely available, it’s more convenient than ever to get plenty of practice and boost your confidence.”
softersong , Helena Lopes Report
secretchuWOWa1 , Liza Summer Report
PamVanDam , Brandi Alexandra Report
At the same time, “be careful not to get caught in the trap of focusing too much on perfecting grammar, as this can hinder your progress. Instead, focus on fluency. Aim for small, gradual improvements, like getting 1% better every week. The key is to set realistic goals.”
ZookeepergameHead145 , Harshal S. Hirve Report
Verochio , Helena Lopes Report
balrob , Boryslav Shoot Report
While it’s good to challenge yourself, doing more than you can handle leads to frustration and failure, casting a shadow over the entire learning process. “Instead, keep it simple and consider using techniques like the Pomodoro method—short, focused study sessions,” the teacher suggested.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all method for learning English, but the most important thing is to find a way that you enjoy and will stick with. Consistency is key, and remember to be patient with yourself along the way and focus on what you do know. As Henry Ford said, ‘Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.’”
Ginevra_F , Askar Abayev Report
Woozlie , Savannah Dematteo Report
DorisWildthyme , Walt Disney Pictures Report
RedEastW , Klaus Nielsen Report
PsychologicalDrone , Quadraro Report
inspectorgadget9999 , Peter Plashkin Report
JukeboxTears , Gordon Joly Report
BeardedBaldMan , Max Andrey Report
MuchMenu2417 , Clem Onojeghuo Report
GeorgiePorgie2319 , Tim Mossholder Report
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