Student Slips or SAY WHAT??
Humorous Mistakes by Japanese students while studying English
| Humorous English | Return to Erdoboy's main page |
In my work in Japan, I have come across the following quotes of Japanese students while studying English. While they are trying their best to communicate, the message they send is not always what they intended.
S = always refers to student. S1, S2 refer to the first and
second student in a conversation
T = always refers to teacher.
the corrected word/ idea is in brackets following the quote. (If it is
discernable and or required.)
| Food | the Arts | Business |
| Everyday Conversation | Animals | Travel |
| Relationships | Body Parts | Politics |
| Food S - I'm gonna eat dinner with Chuppa Chups. (Chopsticks) S - Could I have some bird meat? (chicken) S - Please pass me your head. S - (asking for lettuce) Could I have some head please. S1 -How much pork did you buy? S - I work in an izakaya. I introduce food to people. S - I boiled my husband. S - He was driving an old fork. (Ford) T - What is your favorite food? S1 (as waiter) - What kind of wine do you like? T - Please answer with a question....I wanted to meet somebody. S - I am going to eat the French. S to T - What kind of food do you teach? S - I don't have enough money to eat my children. S - I usually cook (for) myself. S - He was teaching a banana. (eating) S - He has lunch in a hamburger. S1 to S2 - Who do you have to eat? S - When she was 2, she could eat herself. (feed) S - Food poisoning is very popular in Japan. (common) T - Listen and repeat......"coffee and donuts" T - What perfume is she wearing? S -He is throwing up a ball. S - Who did you barbecue? S -I ate a barbecue. S -I'd like to buy some hamster. (hamburger) T - What does she have to eat on Mondays? S - She took a French fry from his behind. S - My daddy can eat a hundred sandwiches. (speak 100 languages) S - I usually eat pig skeleton soup. |
| The arts S - Paris is too gay for me. S - He asked her to play with his instrument. S - The old man is coming out in (of) the theater. S - He was walking to his car when he attacked his behind. (...was attacked from..) S - Pete is in the theater in (with) Betsy. S - (Movie title) Silence of the sheep. S - (of Godzilla) His dentist is a triangle. (????) S - He already sang (signed) his name. T - Where do you live? |
| Business S - He retired from pubic life. S - I like this school. They have small members. (the classes are small in size) S1 - Can you change a dollar? T - What do you do when you open a shoe box and
there are 2 left shoes? S - Come in and make yourself uncomfortable. S - Sit down and make yourself dinner. S - When we take care of our patients we shouldn't get hard. (be difficult) S1 - Can I exchange this sweater, please? S - I will graduate from university in 2000 years. (in the year 2000.) S1 - How much are these shoes? S1 - Who do I have to fax? T - What is his job? S - He is raping a desk. (????) S - I'd like to speak to something in the sales department. |
| Everyday conversation S - I went to crime school. (Cram) S - This watch is mental. (metal) T - If it rains will you get wet? S - I've never had clean toilets. T - What is he doing? S1 - He's getting with the cat. S - He's been a house for 5 years. S - She rides a house everyday. (horse) T - What is he doing? S - I'm usually easy on Sundays. (take it easy) T - What are the 5 most important inventions ever? T - What is it? S1 to S2 - You are riding inside me. (beside) T - Please tell me the opposite, ....expensive. T - (Showing picture) Why is he running? Student to teacher - What is your job? S - I was reading in the library for 2 years. (hours) T - How are you? S - I'm feeling vigorous. S - The cigarette is getting into her eyes. (smoke is getting into her eyes) T - Tell me, what is the same about you and your
mother? |
| Animals S1 - Do you have a pet? S1 - Do you have a dog? S -My bathroom has tails. (tiles) T - Who is Snoopy. T - What is it? (pointing to cow) T - What is she doing? S1 - How much dog is there? S - I'm gonna do my dog. (walk) S1 - Do you have an animal? S1 - What will she do with the sheep. S - Today, I'm a Gibbon. ( ???? ) |
| Travels T
- What are you doing? S1 - What is she birthing? S - He was runaway by bicycle. S1 -How do you go to work? S1 - Is there a supermarket near here? S1 - What is he doing? T - Where are they? S1 - Who's river is it? S1 - How long does it take you to get to English
school? S - They were putting him into the ambulance when they attacked him. S1 - Have you ever seen the Liberty of Statue? S to T - You are a New Zealandian. S - They are trying to Mount Everest. (climb) T - Name an English speaking country.... T - Why are you studying English? S - They won the gold medal in the traffic field. S - I'm going to the Disneyland to get Mickey. S (asking about Canada) - Do you snow? S - The middle aged woman was driving a cabinet. S - He has a small cabinet in the woods. (Cabin) S - The bride and broom are leaving the church. |
| Relationships S - I learn English because I want to be a white person. S - He burst into his old girlfriend. (bumped) S1 to S2 - What are you going to get married to? S - My friend will marry because HE is pregnant. S - Golden week is my relax time so my husband will be servicing me for the holiday. S1 to S2 - What position would you like to try with me? T - What is an example of suddenly? |
| Politics S - There was a big erection in England today. T - What do you think of Natto? T - Did you vote? |
| Body Parts S - She is going to take out her nose. (blow) S - He was attached by someone. S - She is sitting between Betty and a mustache. S - Someone shot a gun from his behind. S1 - What color is your hair? S - She is crying so hard that her foundation has dropped out. (Mascara is running) S - The tall one held her behind. (from behind) T - The opposite of thin. T - What is in your hand? |
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Revised: July 15, 2007.