English is a second language for me, and I often see posts about fear of using acquired languages.

There are more than one billion English speakers around the world. But only 1/4 of them speak English as their first language. Do you know that India has more English speakers than United Kingdom?

Below are a couple films and a TV show that are interesting from a language perspective:

• Steve Jobs (2015): heavy on tech and business jargon, I was having a hard time following dialogs.
• Shantaram (2022): a mix of Australian, Indian, and a few other variations of English. While the Indian one is okay for me, I was struggling with the Australian pronunciation.
• Bob Marley: One Love (2024): you may be unaware, but Jamaica has its own spin on English. I’m not sure if native English speakers will be able to understand them right away :)

Considering all the variations and cultures around us, I believe it’s perfectly ok to speak your own flavor of English. Especially at the beginning of one’s journey. Don’t be afraid of mistakes, they are part of the experience. But strive to improve and learn ;)

References:

• Wikipedia: English-speaking world

Fri Apr 12, 2024 / 196 words / Language Learn Motivation