Thread: American Spelling. It is the future.

This past week I have been training as a TEFL teacher and naturally when some of the big wigs in TEFL heard that old Sensible was in the college they all mosied on over to meet me.
Well, I got to talking with a few of them and it surprised me how one topic kept on coming up.

American English. Naturally I argued that American spelling was a poor second to real English spelling. Mind you, I had to be careful not to offend the seppo's.

Anyway, later when I engaged an English born DOS in the same discussion I was told that it was just something that I will have to get used too coz American spelling will be the accepted spelling of the future.
I suppose it makes sense in an evolutionary way of thinking but I for one will have difficulty adjusting.

While I realize that it wont bother folks like the dog in the slightest coz he cant spell anyway, I do imagine that some of you Anglophiles that fancy yourselves as experts in English will be up in arms about this.

I guess you will just have to get used to it.

Have a nice day y'all.

It's definitely less hassle using the American spelling -

as a matter of interest - does Australian , New Zealand and South African spelling all using the British version?

I take it Canadians use the U.S version.

Ireland - I'm sure they use the British version.



CMN will be happy this thread as it's bordering on teaching -

Originally Posted by mad_dog

Originally Posted by Captain Sensible

This past week I have been training as a TEFL teacher .

You have been here years ain't ya cap? What were you doing before taking the plunge into the murder of TEFLT?

Nah, I am new to Thailand mate. I lived here years ago but returned at New Years. Teaching English is something that I have wanted to do for ages.

(^present continuous)

Originally Posted by Captain Sensible

Nah, I am new to Thailand mate. I lived here years ago at New Years. Teaching English is something that I have wanted to do for ages.

(^present continuous)

present continuous????????? where??????????????

I am new...............pres simp
I lived here.............past simp
but returned............past simp
Teaching English is something.........pres simp
I have wanted..........present perfect

I'd ask for my refund now Cap, save fucking around in the future!

Originally Posted by mad_dog

You have been here years ain't ya cap? What were you doing before taking the plunge into the murder of TEFLT?

If you trawl around the forum you'll find that the good 'ol captain was a dreadlocked hippy for many years upcountry -

Yes colourful,or is that colorful?
Australia,NZ and South Africa all spell proper.

When it comes to the different spelling of British and American spelling, the difference is neglible.

I use both forms of spelling and accept both.

But last week, some upper level English speaking students of mine at a British International school were marked "wrong" for using the American spelling (again which barely different).

The dumbsh*t teacher marked them wrong.

So I told my students parents to contact the school about the matter.

What a f*cking ignorant asshole.

Originally Posted by Milkman

When it comes to the different spelling of British and American spelling, the difference is neglible.

I use both forms of spelling and accept both.

But last week, some upper level English speaking students of mine at a British International school were marked "wrong" for using the American spelling (again which barely different).

The dumbsh*t teacher marked them wrong.

So I told my students parents to contact the school about the matter.

What a f*cking ignorant asshole.

That is unfair. Many of the poor dears may well been back and forth between sepo and British text books for their whole lives! Poor lads

^ I agree.

When I use British books I use British spelling on the board, and if the students use Yank spelling, that's fine.

We live in a global economy today, and I think marking wrong a word because of "o" instead of "ou" and vice-versa is too trivial.

Same with British vocab and pronunciation, which if of course fine by me.

Some students that write American spelling and use American vocab pronounce the [ae] sound as "aw" such and "can't" and "laugh" because they gone back and forth so many times. It's OK.

^ Sounds like the course is going well, cap.

Originally Posted by Captain Sensible

Sorry. 'Present Complicated' I meant to say.

Hehe. I agree with you there Capt. As many of you are aware I'm considered near genius-level in most fields of endeavour. However, I couldn't find a present-tense participle in an alphabet factory.

Originally Posted by danbo

Originally Posted by Captain Sensible

Sorry. 'Present Complicated' I meant to say.

Hehe. I agree with you there Capt. As many of you are aware I'm considered near genius-level in most fields of endeavour. However, I couldn't find a present-tense participle in an alphabet factory.

I am about the same danbo, so I decided to invent my own tenses. Instead of the 'Present Perfect' and 'Present Continuous', I am gonna introduce the 'Presently Perfect' and 'Presently Continuous'. I fully expect that the introduction of these tenses will turn the English language on its ear. Once 'Sensible Tenses' are accepted worldwide, then I shall introduce the 'Shortly Perfect' and 'Shortly Continuous' tenses. I will be famous like Shakespeare and that other bloke.

My kids use both spellings and grammar and although I teach them that the UK English is more proper, I let them dumb themselves down a little.

Do you pronounce it like color?

No.

Try 'kulla'.

Correctly spelt English tips its hat to the origin of the word, usually, which is why its such an interesting language. US English (written form) removes a lot of the colour of the language sadly.

my user name kind of gives my nationality away (well it says I'm not from the US)

US English (written form) removes a lot of the colour of the language sadly.

Shit! have to agree. For international use though, language lacking in "colour" is a better tool for cummunication. But y'all will surely continue to use things like "humour" and even "Jewellery" in art, one would hope.

they seem to use half and half over here though - like the Thais understand 'movie' (US) but not 'film' (British) , yet they don't understand 'gasoline' (US) but they do 'petrol' (BR) ......

Using correct English has its place in the international community too. I have noticed people from other nations show it a higher level of 'respect' (for want of a better word) than if I used simplified English.

parlour... no one ever thinkis of that one

"Aluminum" and "Aluminium".

I was always taught that the yanks had changed this because of a spelling mistake. Looked it up the other day and found out that it was us that changed it 'cos Aluminum sounds gay.

Originally Posted by NickA

"Aluminum" and "Aluminium".

I was always taught that the yanks had changed this because of a spelling mistake. Looked it up the other day and found out that it was us that changed it 'cos Aluminum sounds gay.

I think it also had to the with the Chemistry symbol or somethin' like that.

Off-licence and liqor store...