Becoming acquainted with Jane Austen
I moved to England in 2012. I was fluent in English by then after studying it for 9 years, but I soon realized that the English taught at school isn't exactly the English people speak in England. I struggled greatly with the Essex and Scottish accent, proverbs and slang. I remember one day that I assumed a woman was slightly senile because she told me she wanted to spend a penny at eleven pm. "You have to wait until the morning when the shops open" was not the answer she was expecting.
I had to improve my English, but spending time with my work colleagues or watch TV was not the best way to do it.
Eventually, I turned to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I already knew the story, of course, and the 2005 adaptation was one of my favorite movies. Besides, it's a classic and I have a soft spot for them. Ten pages hadn't passed when I came across the word 'acquaintance'. Now, this was a word that never crossed my work colleagues' lips!
After her books, my vocabulary had expanded, my grammar improved and my confidence boosted. I even started to hear the dreadful phrase "for a foreigner, your English is very good" (honestly, who thinks this is a compliment?!).
I had to improve my English, but spending time with my work colleagues or watch TV was not the best way to do it.
Eventually, I turned to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I already knew the story, of course, and the 2005 adaptation was one of my favorite movies. Besides, it's a classic and I have a soft spot for them. Ten pages hadn't passed when I came across the word 'acquaintance'. Now, this was a word that never crossed my work colleagues' lips!
After her books, my vocabulary had expanded, my grammar improved and my confidence boosted. I even started to hear the dreadful phrase "for a foreigner, your English is very good" (honestly, who thinks this is a compliment?!).
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