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bryak
WayToRussified
Joined: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 321
Location: Edmonton, Canada
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 Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 4:34 am Post subject: awkwardness |
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This is a question for all the people out there who are currently learning or who have in the past learned a second language, be it Russian, English, or something else entirely.
When you first starting speaking to native speakers of the language you were learning, did you feel incredibly awkward  and embarrassed to say anything for fear of wrong pronunciation, words, so on?
I recently started working with a Russian woman and I have a crippling phobia about speaking to her in Russian, even tho she has asked me several times and I know she would be nothing but supportive of the million mistakes I would inevitably make.
Anyways, has anyone gone through a similar circumstance? Any hints on how to overcome my shyness?
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Bzik
Just Starting
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:26 am Post subject: |
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yes i feel embarassed couse i just learning english. more embarrassed when i'm writing in english  ssorry for terrible spelling |
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Paul-Holmes
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 1073
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| Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| Bad translation is the worst. I wanted to play Rugby in Moscow. I posted a message on the Russian Rugby board" I wanted to play hooker (Rugby Position) for a game in moscow" It can out in Russian" I want to be prostitute in Moscow" |
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Fire_Goddess
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:59 am Post subject: |
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| Paul Holmes wrote: | | Bad translation is the worst. I wanted to play Rugby in Moscow. I posted a message on the Russian Rugby board" I wanted to play hooker (Rugby Position) for a game in moscow" It can out in Russian" I want to be prostitute in Moscow" |
Now thats humiliating  |
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nikir
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Bryak learning anything is pretty much the same, you have to learn to crawl before you walk or run. Dont get so uptight and just practise at every opportunity. You will gain confidence as you go along. |
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Scytale
Just Starting
Joined: 15 Apr 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:45 am Post subject: |
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After reading your post, I was surprised to see you were Canadian. I thought it was only us British who had an innate fear of speaking aloud in a foreign language. Ah, the embarassment of getting it wrong.
I only found out I speak passable German, when, on my honeymoon in Bavaria, I got too drunk to care what anybody thought of my schoolboy language skills.
I just wish I could remember what I wrote in the guest book!!! |
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SPQR
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 135
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:47 am Post subject: |
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Nobody here is alone in embarassing language difficulties. Last time I was in Moscow (a few months ago) I very nearly ordered an entire cheesecake instead of only one piece... And I've probably got other things wrong that I don't know about.
Then there was the time I was trying to pick up a few words of Farsi/Persian. I thought the word "kah-jeh" meant something like a shopkeeper...turns out it actually means a eunuch <sigh>  (My Iranian friend thought that was the funniest damn thing she'd ever heard.)
Mind you, it cuts both ways. I had an Italian friend (female) who spoke English quite well, but still had a few problems with the vowel sounds. We were in a pub once and she meant to ask for a Coke, but got the "o" sound wrong so that she asked the guy behind the bar for a Cock.
But I'd certainly agree with Nikir when he/she says that the best approach is to practice as much as you can... |
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charles
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 180
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:42 am Post subject: |
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| Is it wrong to laugh when someone asks for a Cock instead of a Coke? Of course not! That's damn funny!! True, it's very embarassing if you're the person making the mistake, but if you can laugh at yourself along with everyone else, then making mistakes is no big deal. When we laugh at ourselves, it tears down so many barriers. |
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SPQR
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 135
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:11 am Post subject: |
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Eta pravilna: laughing at oneself is a skill each and every one of us should learn.
I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing at the Coke/Cock mix-up. But luckily people have been very patient with my language mix-ups too, for which I'm extremely grateful.
This sort of thing can even happen in different dialects of English. One good example is when the word "root" is used as a verb. In the US (and possibly Canada too) the verb can mean "cheer", but in Australia it's used as slang for sexual activity.
The first time I ever heard an American ask me if I wanted "to come and root for the team" it took all my self-control not to burst out laughing. 
When the Olympics were on in Sydney back in 2000, it was a source of endless mirth to Aussies that the Canadian team all wore tracksuits made by the large sportswear company "Roots". And what was even funnier was the fact that the Roots logo is a beaver!
I honestly don't mean to offend or make fun of anyone by saying all this: it's just a few observations that I couldn't help but find funny. |
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nikir
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:51 am Post subject: |
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It's all part of the great cultural diversity that makes the world go around.
Whether someone wants a coke or a cock is usually easily resolved and the wanter is pointed in the right direction. Even to the sort of coke / cock they are looking for.
Thats a bit of aussie logic. 
I am curious as to how Bryak is getting on overcoming his akwarness.
An update please. |
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bryak
WayToRussified
Joined: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 321
Location: Edmonton, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| nikir wrote: |
I am curious as to how Bryak is getting on overcoming his akwarness.
An update please. |
Ha, well, so far not so good, but I've been studying hard and plan to try a conversation with my Russian friend when I next see her on Wednesday. I'll tell you how it goes....
Thanks nikir and everybody for the encouragement, I don't know why I'm so damned hincty about it; usually I have no problem making a fool of myself and just laughing along with everyone else but somehow this seems different. Well, I'm sure that as soon as I get to Russia I'll overcome my fear pretty fast if I haven't already by then; out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they say. |
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SPQR
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 135
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:01 am Post subject: |
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| The best way to learn it is just to do it. That's what I've found, at least...just jump in with both feet. |
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nikir
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 54
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| there you are bryak you have a consensus, just go for it man. laugh at your mistkes before the other pricks do and you'll be fine! |
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