Episode 163 Taiwanese Students, Avoid This Common Mistake When Speaking English

In this episode we will look at a very common mistake in Taiwan. This mistake has come about because many people commonly directly translate from their own language to English. And most of the time, that works OK. But sometimes English doesn't have exactly the right word, or idea to translate too. In this case Taiwanese people are using 'help me' in mandarin to soften the impact of their sentence. But in English this doesn't achieve that result... Instead it completely changes the meaning of the sentence! So today let's look at some examples and see how we can fix this problem. And if you're not from Taiwan, then think about your own language...are there any common words or phrases that you're directly translating to English that just don't work? Examples Please help me to put the mask on. - I need your help to put my mask on. Please would you mind if I asked you to put on your mask. - You should put your mask on. Sorry to ask but it's our stores policy that everyone should war a mask. I'm sorry but I really must insist that you put on your mask. I really appreciate your cooperation. Please help me to check the status of - I need your help to find out the status of something. Please check the status of - Can you check the status of something? Please would you check the status of Please help me to ask for an update - I need your help to ask for an update. Please ask - Can you ask for an update? Please could you ask Please help me to take off your shoes - I need your help to take off your shoes...🥴 Please take off your shoes. - Can you remove your shoes? Please can I ask you to take off your shoes. Please would you take off your shoes. Vocabulary light-bulb moment - something that suddenly made things clear for us or gave us an idea killing two birds with one stone - idiom - to achieve two goals with one action Darn it! - a not very strong swear in English the main takeaway from this - the main thing we can learn or remember