The Chinglish Exhibition

Your Native English Teacher's thought of the day:

I attended the Chinglish Exhibition last week at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. I was intrigued by the concept: the blending of two unique and distinct cultures and languages in a way only Hong Kong can. The collision of east and west.

Language is always evolving, and this was highlighted in a number of colorful and interactive ways by the exhibition.

My knowledge of Cantonese is tragic at best, but I was accompanied by a student who patiently went through each display with me. This exhibit is lost on those who speak English only.

Why do I bring this up?

The evolution of language, and the slang that becomes a part of our daily lives is one of those topics students ask me to help them with on a daily basis as their Native English Teacher. A large part of feeling comfortable with the day to day use of English is through the mastery of slang and idioms.

Here is a great link to some English slang