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asians in australia
17 Aug 2006 10:23 pmGet shocked by a perfect Aussie accent?
Haha...to share my experiences:
I came to Australia in year 3, and one girl in my class always got really snarky around me because I didn't know English. Of course, even if you don't know a language, you always pick up on tones and expressions. Anyway, some time in year 4 she was nigelated and came piteously upon our group where we were having fun playing some random game, and she beseeched the one with the best English in our group, "Can I play with you?" And I got my own back with a snobby, "I don't want to play with her." To which she gasped with a hell lot of undeserved drama, "OMIGOSH she can speak English" and was forced to slither away under my glare.
LOL. The vengeful days of childhood. Ah, I was such an unforgiving soul back then. BWAHAHAHA.
I remember going to New York and getting shell-shocked by Asians (especially older ones) popping out with perfect American accents, and then remembering "Oh yeah, most Asians have been in American longer than us Asians have been in Australia".
There was once on a New York street when a local asked something of me, to which I answered in perfect Aussie, "Sure." (compare with the American "sure" and you'll see why) She gave me an odd look and said, "Where are you from?" I think she looked nonplussed when I said "Australia", and I almost added, "That's not in Europe." It was before the Sydney Olympics =P
I've never really been bothered by the "you speak very good English" remarks, probably because I haven't actually gotten a lot of them and also because I've always felt somehow that English was still my second language. These days I think I can say without exaggeration that my English is better than many (many being an undefined quantity a certain percentage less of 100%) native speakers (hey, at least I'm anal about grammar), and therefore the next time someone offers that line I shall smile tolerantly and reply, "Why, thank you, and so do you."
That aside, even though I'm Chinese, I do get annoyed by Chinese students who speak loudly on the train in Mandarin and squeal and in general act like asses. Asses. Donkeys. Not arses. Though sometimes that too, especially when they elect to decorate the pavement with theirexpectorated sputum spittle.
If you're over 40 I can understand if the language is hard to pick up. If you're here to study then speak the goddamn language. No wonder you all fail your bloody essays.
Sinocentrism annoys me just as much as white supremacy.
Haha...to share my experiences:
I came to Australia in year 3, and one girl in my class always got really snarky around me because I didn't know English. Of course, even if you don't know a language, you always pick up on tones and expressions. Anyway, some time in year 4 she was nigelated and came piteously upon our group where we were having fun playing some random game, and she beseeched the one with the best English in our group, "Can I play with you?" And I got my own back with a snobby, "I don't want to play with her." To which she gasped with a hell lot of undeserved drama, "OMIGOSH she can speak English" and was forced to slither away under my glare.
LOL. The vengeful days of childhood. Ah, I was such an unforgiving soul back then. BWAHAHAHA.
I remember going to New York and getting shell-shocked by Asians (especially older ones) popping out with perfect American accents, and then remembering "Oh yeah, most Asians have been in American longer than us Asians have been in Australia".
There was once on a New York street when a local asked something of me, to which I answered in perfect Aussie, "Sure." (compare with the American "sure" and you'll see why) She gave me an odd look and said, "Where are you from?" I think she looked nonplussed when I said "Australia", and I almost added, "That's not in Europe." It was before the Sydney Olympics =P
I've never really been bothered by the "you speak very good English" remarks, probably because I haven't actually gotten a lot of them and also because I've always felt somehow that English was still my second language. These days I think I can say without exaggeration that my English is better than many (many being an undefined quantity a certain percentage less of 100%) native speakers (hey, at least I'm anal about grammar), and therefore the next time someone offers that line I shall smile tolerantly and reply, "Why, thank you, and so do you."
That aside, even though I'm Chinese, I do get annoyed by Chinese students who speak loudly on the train in Mandarin and squeal and in general act like asses. Asses. Donkeys. Not arses. Though sometimes that too, especially when they elect to decorate the pavement with their
If you're over 40 I can understand if the language is hard to pick up. If you're here to study then speak the goddamn language. No wonder you all fail your bloody essays.
Sinocentrism annoys me just as much as white supremacy.
