Handling TT "illegals" who want to talk language

What should be my attitude to so-called Toytown "illegals"? The attraction of Toytown was the being sure to spend time with native speakers - I find myself grumpy after being asked vocab questions by a German Toytown "illegal"(she called herself that). I teach all day all week long - just can't face it on Sundays and moved away from the woman. What should I have done - or do???

Act like a normal human being. If you are not in the mood to answer vocab questions then simply politely say that you'd rather not discuss languages as that's what you do all day. Simple, polite and to the point. Not really much of a problem.

If you do it all day Nicky, then I guess it is a real bugger when somebody asks you to do your job in your free time. But I don't have a problem with Germans being here... after all, it is THEIR city.

What really gets me though, is when Germans correct my English. I'm a cockney. Wha'sis grammar fing they keep on aba'aat anyways?

Sin

Rubbish. You pay tax.

If a German asked me a vocab question, I'd ask them who the fuck they were (I don't know any Germans), and if a German attempted to "correct" my English, well, lets just say that from that moment on, their legs would be purely ornamental.

Great opportunity to use the "purely ornamental" line there.,

whats even worse, is when natives start to correct your grammer. they of all people should know that the great thing about english is that it is spoken so freely and can be used in an endless number of ways! like , tell Joyce that his grammer was wrong! Or what about Frank McCoart? (did i spell his name right?)
s

But back on topic to Nicky. There's a few germans who've been active on-line and coming to Toytown events for far longer than you or I. As long as they speak english, I see no problem. If you don't want to answer grammer questions, just don't.

i agree as to be honest i don't really give a shi! who meets who or asks whatever! i like this website alot as it is helpful and quite good fun the odd time.but if someone else , german or not, uses it to learn more english or feel better about there own , to me it makes not a tad of differance!
s

"Purely ornamental" don_riina... hahaha I'm still larfin'

Nice one cocker

Only problem is that it's me Bavarian missus that's the one correctin' me English...

...an' I'm a bit attached to 'er pins

Sin

I have found the "illegals" I've met to be some of the best and most interesting members of the community. It's great to speak English and all, and that's what drew me here to begin with, but after a while it just isn't enough to keep anybody coming back.

What makes this little group great is the diversity. I would say if you can't handle one little vocab question, you should get yourself another drink. There is a reason why the "illegals" are tolerated - they are a valuable part of the community.

I have to deal with my work all day and if someone asks me a related question in my free time I either answer it, or just tell them that's what I do all day, and ask "can't we just get drunk and have an off-colour conversation?"

If they look good and need the extra cash then who cares ?

Man u guys are some snobs...

Did i miss something here or..


Was what i read when i signed up. This 'illegal' thing shouldn't be an issue. Is this true that we have some foreign spies enrolled in the Toytown system? Time to blow the dust off that Enigma machine.

Either the rules get changed or the mods control better. Or do we agree that the rules are there to be broken? If only we could apply that rule to the central Irish bars then i wouldn't get knocked by 'twat' Germans that don't say "Sorry mate" or "Excuse me".

I'm sat on the fence right now, although opinion subject to change.

kt

Any chance we can drop the word "Illegal"?

It grates on me nerves a bit

Sin

the whole business is a bit silly. I spend half of my conversations asking the brits vocab questions. I can't understand half of the words they seem to pop out with - and I watched a fair amount of bbc growing up. And yet, we are all native speakers.

we have lots of members that are not actually "native" speakers. I mean we wouldn't toss the dutch now would we? I think the "native" requirement is a bit of a scare-tactic and not more. The blind-eye is turned to those who contribute to the group and don't turn it into a "let's practice english" session.

Mine too.

Shameless more like - stolen from me, and I stole it from 'Stenders...well remembered though mate.

I often have to ask my husband, native British speaker, to explain what he is saying. Perfect example: yesterday he was asking for a 'spanner' and we call it a 'wrench'. The list of differences is almost endless.

We are both native speakers yet we ask vocab questions ALL the time. I think the same would apply to a native German speaker...who was speaking English to me...but asking a question about the language. I would just answer the question and get on with the conversation.

If it became some kind of lengthy grammar lesson, then I would probably say 'this is not really the forum for that discussion...PM me and I will try to explain it later' or something. You certainly are not expected to teach while you are out relaxing...but I think you have to extend some common courtesy to fellow patrons...German, English or otherwise.

and dont forget "yaffling spanners" which is British Army for eating utensils.

...or wanking spanners (hands) for masturbatory purposes.

Nicky, I am german myself, tolerated now for a year. I was meeting TTs all the time but was too scared to sign up, till native TTs encouraged me. I often ask myself how to put things without being misunderstood and without having to apologize.
Nearly all Germans here have great English so that i wouldn't even guess that they are German, like xy... Oh I better not tell anyone who they are...
I also answer vocab questions.
Since I have never met you, I think, I feel offended by the TT illegal thing... Just enjoy your time and drop the conversation, when ur bored or annoyed like you would do it with another native speaker. I know how terrible it is when somebody speaks dodgy english, but it's a free world and you can leave anytime
I guess you are not that involved in the TT group so u would be able to judge the whole TT group... exceptions are the rule though and you should just tell them off when they start annoying you. This country is known for its directness.

I never have a problem explaining English to non-native speakers...I am also glad when a native German speaker can explain German to me!
As regards TT...I think that it's important the forum language is kept as English. Whatever happens at events language-wise though, is at the speaker's/listener's discretion.

I agree with Bubblylady when she says that directness is a good solution in this case.

I suggest "unwashed" as a good replacement for "illegals".

As Nicky mentioned in the orginal post, the term „illegal“ was used by the illegal herself. Not a helpful term, but okay in jest.

This has nothing to do with whose country or city or pub it is. This was just someone having an off day and not feeling like spending her Sunday on a busman’s holiday. So it’s not a difficult question. Just say you couldn’t be arsed and why and that’s that.

@KT Yes there are rules, but if the mods don’t see fit to implement them in this case then bloody good for them. The “illegals� are an enrichment of this forum, not a dilution of it. No, we do not want to ban the Dutchies (who speak as good an English as some of us, if that’s really what it’s about). Nor the Swedes, Spanish, Welsh or whatever. And certainly not the Germans amongst us, very valuable members of the “community�. They are even prepared to sacrifice their time to help us learn German for fuck’s sake.

Personally I don’t have a problem with vocab questions. Pleased to be of service in fact. Grammar however is a different matter. I’ll try to help, but unless he or she is a trained teacher of English then a native speaker is not the best person to ask. For instance I don’t consciously know the rules about when to use the simple present and when the present continuous, I just do it. So explaining the difference is kinda hard.

So ein Schmarrrrn!

@Nicky

well, I'm not a native speaker either, in the sense that English is not what my folks speak at home. Having confessed as much (actually, you knew this, from our TT night out at Pars), I also have to add that I can understand your irritation: I've worked for years as a translator and friends and family seem to regard me as a walking, talking Roget's-cum-OED (the twenty-volume edition at that ).
On the other hand, that woman might have been looking for a way to make conversation (I'm assuming she's not a friend or something). Teaching English is your job, so...

Leave Roget's-cum out of this!

Oh hang on, I think I misread that post. Sorry.

It really depends on the situation. Nine times out of ten I couldn't care less (I am a walking dictionary and a translator). But catch me on the wrong day and I really can't be bothered. I would have done the same as Nicky and moved seats.

If it's just the odd word it's not a major issue but if you're explaining a word every couple of sentences it gets annoying... particularly if you had left the house intending to just speak English and not teach.

@keydeck

with all respect, sir, it was Roget's, I said, not Roger's *ehm, cough*

is everything o.k. there man...need help...???
to be honest mate i think ( in an odd way!) that here you have hit the nail on the head!
you see english is totally differant to german in one very important way . english allows alot more freedom with the use of words and threfor we are maybe not so stressed when someone makes a mistake or uses the word differantly( and before i'm asked -yes i can and do speak very good german). however here i would like to mention that some people ( also native speakers ) seem to get a great kick out of correcting people. it seems to make them feel better or some shit . these people always remind me of those old ladies that ya see on the u-bahn, who just seem to get a right kick out of standing there ( with bitter expressions ) , even after you have offered them your seat.
also i would like to mention that english is a great language for it's variety and freedom. not all things can be expressed with words ,but the english language allows you the freedom to try,
s

Ok, okay, okay I get everybody's point ... although I must say I like the bit about the ornamental knees ... If only I dared! So thanks for all the tips and I'll be direct in future.

But it does seem unfair that all the other nationalities here have their clubs and are sure of an evening to themselves. Perhaps I'll disguise myself as a Greek or a Latin ...

Well Bubbly is an illegal, and I'd hate to see her kicked off.

Nicky, I think you posted because you felt guilty about being rude toi this person for ignoring them because of your annoyance.

First don't feel bad about being rude, you were right, they were wrong.
Second do feel bad about not being ride enough.

As bubbly said, Germans are not noted for their tact, discretion, or carefully phrasing to avoid hurt. You are in Germany now, and the corrct way to have handled it would be to tell her you resent being used as a free English teacher, specially when its you job Monday to Friday, and technically this group is closed to Germans, especially those who don't speak good English.

That would have been the Germany way. BTW I'm not criticisng the Germany for this. I like their bluntness, and honest. What with me being renowen for my tact and discretion its refreshing.

For goodness sake, why be rude to someone when you can get your message across in a non-aggressive way. Being overly blunt or hurtful is not something to strive towards.
I have also worked for several years as a teacher and the odd question about vocab. or a grammar point is no big deal.
Granted, if it's constant then it is irritating. But a humorous joke about charging then for your advice might just set them thinking. Come to think of it, wht not hand them your card and say you are available for private lessons, then change the subject.
I often complain about unfriendliness here but being unfriendly in turn will make nothing better.

great idea, that even should make a german think