#english as a second language

[ao3demographicssurvey2024]

In the AO3 Demographics Survey 2024 - an unofficial demographics survey of 16,131 AO3 users - 71% of respondents were native English speakers, and 57% lived in part of North or Central America.

To see more analysis, including comparisons to the userbases of other websites, please view the full results on AO3.

[languageboutique]

[mysecretboringlife]

there is something so magical about reading Babel by R.F Kuang when english is not your first language

[jolteonmchale]

Ken Jeong and Joel McHale Community (2009) Dr. Ken (2016) Animal Control (2024)

[mexicanpadfoot]

Oh shiet, this gonna be good!

Down in the Valley by Versipellis21, and I’m HYPED.

[violent138]

Because idioms are something of a recurring topic on this blog, I want to take this opportunity to mention that when I was much, much younger and still learning English, I thought being part of the "mile high club" meant you were in heaven/dearly departed. Does anyone else have any similar horror stories of mixing up idioms? It was really funny for me to learn what some common idioms in the US were.

[uncanny-tranny]

Sending so much respect and love to people whose English is "broken." Whether that is because of disability, immigration, age, you haven't been studying long - it doesn't matter why your English is the way it is.

The best thing about language is how versatile it is - that means there are an infinite number of ways to express yourself. Your broken English is beautiful! It is a vital part of the English language. It doesn't need to be "perfect" to be valuable. There are people out there who will put in the work to make sure both of you are understood, just like you are putting in the work to communicate 💐

[arashikohedervary]

✨Phrases that'd become part of my daily vocabulary if it weren't for English not being my first language✨:

Part 1: Young Justice

"I'm whelmed."

"I'm feeling the aster."

*slaps forehead* "Hello, Megann!"

"Be back in a flash"

"Are you feeling the aster?"

"The Wall-man has arrived!"

[george-harrisons-last-biscuit]

I basically put the Beatles in my lesson plan for my ESL methods class.

Also one of the things I think about about is John Lennon and his attitude towards school. I think if John Lennon was put in a classroom environment that was student focused and supportive he probably wouldn’t have barely passed high school.

Idk I like to think if he was in the classrooms I see nowadays he wouldn’t have struggled so bad. Our education system isn’t perfect but it’s a lot more researched based than it was when he was in school.

[bipolaritysucksbutslaps]

so apparently i've failed my english exam, which means i am about to return the english certificate i've got, delete every single fanfic work from the internet and then delete my own existence as well

[thoughtportal]

this is my english

[jav-uni]

I do my best, okay?

[languageboutique]

[nofomogirl]

I have a little observation.

I use language in a particular way.

Firstly, I collect words and phrases like a magpie. Regional expressions, archaisms, slang terms, cool metaphors - honestly anything.

Secondly, I greatly enjoy putting words and phrases in a foreign environment. This term is used for dungeon crawlers video games? That makes it perfect to describe my corporate experience.

Thirdly, I like to twist and deform words and phrases a bit. Purposefully mispronounce them in a certain affected way. Purposely mash quotes or idioms together to make a hybrid that's might be missed.

How do people manage? It's not an issue because it's actually a perfectly normal thing that a lot of people do. I'm not even sure if I deviate from the average in any significant way.

People understand me.

Unless they learn in the early stages of our communication that English isn't my native tongue.

If someone perceives me as a learner, they are very likely to interpret everything I have listed above as a mistake. If I use a word that's unusual in any given context, they tend to assume it's because I don't understand how it works, or how to use it correctly. No way I could have known what is the most common, most frequently used and plainest word and have simply CHOSEN to use a different one.

I have no words for how frustrating that is.

[letitrainathousandflames]

Constantly delighted by the words y'all have for messing up or being goofy/confused in English. Fumbling. Bumbling. Dawdling. Stumped. Dumbfounded. Idk these words sound round and squishy when I say them.

[avtomat-kalashnikova47]

My korean student from seoul. Had them for private tutoring so they can learn english. They got more than english from me. Love them so much and miss them. Quiet but naughty girls.