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Q: Is it confusing to a chinese student to learn both American and British English?
SInce there are a few differences in American English and British English do students ever get confused. I know some words are spelled differently and I was wondering if that sort of stuff would ever confuse a student. Some go to college in America and some go to school in England but if a student were to spell a certain word the British way it could be considered wrong by some teachers/schools in America and vice versa.
12 years 17 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Not that many words are spelled differently, and the ones that are usually follow some kind of pattern (color, labor). Pronounciation-wise the vowels are pretty different but vowels aren't usually "cool" enough for Chinese students anyway, so good luck teaching that. And vocabulary isn't that big a deal because most Brits are somewhat familiar with American English and vice versa.
IMO, based on my own language-learning experience, it's best to become familiar with as many accents as possible, because when you actually go abroad you're bound to deal with a few, even if you just stay in one city.
kchur:
By the by, I have no pity for Chinese who think language learning is "too difficurt too confuse pray more game." Learning a language is confusing and difficult, which is also why it's rewarding. If learning a language was a matter of throwing on some sunglasses, leaning back in your chair and praying game for a month or two, everyone would speak a hundred languages.
TedDBayer:
yes teach them the East Indian, Cockney, Scotish and some East coaster accents. I can't understand some of them.
Kchur's answer is good... I'd like to add that I don't know any teacher who would slap ya on the knuckles for using the British/American spelling of a word. Most Eng teachers are clever enough, know enough about the language to be able to distinguish between colour and color and koler.
