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TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

You may remember from previous posts, that some time ago, I wrote a book based on the most common mistakes Polish students make in English.

It was a large book, with examples, cartoons, quizes, explanations, advice, tips etc.

I couldn't get it published.

So, I have put the main content of that book into a much shorter pdf document for all and sundry, so please feel free to download it and distribute it or use it with students. Here is the link:

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/1941919/101-najcz-stszych-b-dow-pope-nianych-przez-polakow-mowi-cych-po-angielsku-pdf-may-31-2?da=y

Since writing it, it has received a lot of great feedback. However, nothing is perfect and one or two of the examples have been critisized
for being a little grey or pedantic and prescriptive, with some possible 'mistakes' actually being acceptable in American English. I have to say though, that the original book made it clear that it was based on British English.

Why did I leave it as is and not change anything? Because I think the one or two grey areas make the document better for class discussion, after all opinion is opinion. If the teacher distances themselves from the document and asks the student which mistakes they feel they make, then you can get a good lesson or two out of it. Then you can encourage the students to ask your opinion of the 'mistakes' etc.

So, if you are interested, please go ahead and download it.

All the best
TC

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Thanks for the link! Lot's of good stuff there.

I could definitely turn that into a lesson or three.

I have to admit that some of your mistakes do seem a bit low-frequency to make the top 101 mistakes. Sounds to me like you were teaching a lot of lawyers, doctors and bankers when you compiled this. credit vs. a mortgage?

Nevertheless, there are some real obvious forehead-slappers there as well!

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

Yeah, it's true Mastershake, so many students are lawyers and finance folk!

hrvatski · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 270

That's good work, makes me wish I was still teaching (hahahahaha jk)

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

BTW, aren't you American, Twincentre? Why base the book on British English?

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

Hi Mastershake,

No, I am British, from Manchester. Alas, decided not to base the book on Manc. English....that would be a laugh; everything the Poles said would just be 'wrong'! lol

keithwkrakowie · Joined: 07 Nov 2009 Posts: 6 Location: krakow

hey, that was a really good idea. i know because i had the same idea myself. Smile

i noticed that all Poles tend to make the same mistakes (lexical and grammatical), and i thought that there must be a reason for it, so i've been analyzing why, and have started making exercises based on that. so far, my students really like it.

any idea why nobody wanted to publish it? i'd be really interested in seeing more.

TwinCentre · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 273 Location: Mokotow

Thanks Keith!

Glad you like it. I guess no-one was into publishing it in Poland as, one publisher suggested, in Poland, 'it is not really the custom to pay to see what you do wrong...but what you do right'....whatever that means!

I now using it as a marketing document, so it has been put to good use.

steviok85 · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 87

This is very interesting.
Oh, if I had a zloty for every time a student says 'I am in the second class of ...'