How do you keep your English sharp?

**Banana72** · 27-02-12, 00:23

Hello all,

I've lived in Indonesia now for almost 10 months now. I notice I begin to forget quite a bit of English words already While Indonesians around me still think I speak very well, I think (or know?) my fluency is slipping. At least I have this forum to write in English, and at home I watch mostly TLC, Discovery and other American TV channels I watched back home...although sometimes I get distracted by the Indonesian subtitles..or even all the menus have been translated to Indonesian or some made up words (just like today, I found out realized 'potato poms' was actually btater tots..hahaa very important NOT to forget, I know!

) The biggest impact I think is to switch my brain into thinking in "Indonesian" especially when explaining things to employees, servers at restaurants, maid, etc. A friend of mine still thinks I'm fluent enough (lol thanks Sam...),but I still wonder if there's anything one can do to maintain the English fluency...I'd like to think my fluency is at least 70% compare to native speakers. I think living in Asia for many years won't affect the English native-speakers that much, so probably my question is directed to the ex-Indonesians...what do you guys do to maintain your English fluency? or English native-speakers, what would your suggestions be?

**tihzho** · 27-02-12, 00:53

Originally Posted by Banana72

I think living in Asia for many years won't affect the English native-speakers that much

Oh but it does mate!

I've lived in non English speaking countries since 1993 and my English is mangled enough for my fellow compadres to immediately notice.

**TheRuralJuror** · 27-02-12, 06:05

Originally Posted by Banana72

'potato poms' was actually btater tots..

It really kinda bothers me that they're not called tater tots, where did this 'potato poms' thing come from anyway?

Anyway, I definitely have the same concern you do, that I'm slowly gonna lose my fluency. Even back when I was living in the states, my friends could tell if I had been hanging out with other Indonesians during vacations and stuff, because I would sound different. What I'm trying to do right now is keep in touch with my friends and talk to them on the phone. And since I used to act anyway sometimes I read scripts and practice monologues and dialogues just for kicks. It also helps that I teach in English so I have to keep speaking it. I practice doing my lectures and presentations at home as if I'm doing them in front of my old professors instead of my Indonesian students. This forum definitely helps.

I think the biggest temptation for me would be to speak English with an Indonesian accent and with limited vocabulary. I used to not even be able to do this (it sounded fake as hell), but after hearing my students talk all the time and then them telling me that they can't understand me when I speak with an American accent (I'm guessing it's the Utahn accent, really), I have resorted to using simpler words and using an Indonesian accent at times. I'm thinking this would be one of the biggest things you can do to kill your fluency even faster and I'm trying to keep myself from doing that. It's just... that helpless, confused look on my students' faces...

**Missnaughty** · 27-02-12, 06:51

It happens to my Indonesian as well. I have been living abroad for quite a while, not being funny.. That sometimes I have to mix both language when speaking Indonesian.. because I couldn't remember the words. Problem is.. my english isn't good either. I am loosing both ways..

**Nimbus** · 27-02-12, 07:00

Originally Posted by TheRuralJuror

It really kinda bothers me that they're not called tater tots, where did this 'potato poms' thing come from anyway?

Maybe because that's what Aussies call them.

I think the biggest temptation for me would be to speak English with an Indonesian accent and with limited vocabulary. I used to not even be able to do this (it sounded fake as hell), but after hearing my students talk all the time and then them telling me that they can't understand me when I speak with an American accent (I'm guessing it's the Utahn accent, really), I have resorted to using simpler words and using an Indonesian accent at times. I'm thinking this would be one of the biggest things you can do to kill your fluency even faster and I'm trying to keep myself from doing that. It's just... that helpless, confused look on my students' faces...

Wait, other people pay good money so their kids can learn English from an imported Yankee, and here you're teaching them with Indonesian accent?

**tihzho** · 27-02-12, 07:26

Originally Posted by TheRuralJuror

It really kinda bothers me that they're not called tater tots, where did this 'potato poms' thing come from anyway?

Potato poms poms are from Australia and New Zealand, it kinda bothers me when they're called tater tots. hahaha Just winding you up mate

**Missnaughty** · 27-02-12, 07:37

Originally Posted by tihzho

Potato poms poms are from Australia and New Zealand, it kinda bothers me when they're called tater tots. hahaha Just winding you up mate

I had to google it! and it's harsh browns.. poms or not poms.. it is harsh browns. ha.. 'tater tots!'

**sweetmaria** · 27-02-12, 08:43

How do I keep my English sharp???

1. marrying an English teacher
2. Ken Follet, Sidney Sheldon, and Charles Dickens (if you know who they are)
3. some duct tape applied at the bottom of my telly to stop me reading the subtitles of the show.
4. joining this forum. This really helps because even when we meet the forum members personally, we still converse in English.

**Debora** · 27-02-12, 15:33

Originally Posted by TheRuralJuror

I think the biggest temptation for me would be to speak English with an Indonesian accent and with limited vocabulary.

A new friend of mine told me that he could speak normally to me and not to his colleagues. He did not use Indonesian accent but he speaks slower to them. Perhaps you can do the same too.