Which English Is Correct? Maybe That's the Wrong Question

Masami and I teach how to communicate in English, although, there are more than one type of English. Whichever English you speak or learn, do people still understand what you truly want to say? 

In Japan, American English is taught in schools and universities but that isn't the only English. According to Wikipedia, as of 2019, there were 59 sovereign states and 27 non-sovereign entities where English was an official language. That's 86 different countries and within each country there are countless dialects. Sometimes, people who speak the "same" language can't understand each other.

One of these differences are using alternative words for the same thing, other times the different word means something else in the other English language. Look at the list below the first column is British English and the second American English.

As you can see, there could be a very confusing conversation:

American woman: "I like your pants."

British man: "Can you see them !?"

British woman: "Why are the goals that shape?"

American man: "That's what football goals look like."

American woman: "Is he wearing suspenders?"

British woman: "Really !? Under his trousers !?"

Being a native English speaker, I am aware of the differences in some English languages and find them quite amusing, interesting and confusing. I like to highlight these differences to my students without bias.

When a student is learning English for travel or to live overseas, I always use the English related to that country and it's cultural differences, too. It's one thing to speak English but another to communicate in it.

Further reading:

Grading English Language to Japanese people

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