Vocabulary, accurate grammar and clear pronunciation are all important when learning English, but we mustn’t forget the importance of cultural awareness and natural communication. Some words and phrases, even though they make sense, might not be appropriate culturally. Mandarin Chinese is a very different language to English, structurally and culturally and there are a few common phrases that often get directly translated into English, even by high level speakers of English. Here are a few of the most common cultural language mistakes.
Just because a sentence is grammatically correct, doesn’t mean it’s culturally appropriate. Have a look at some cultural language mistakes that are common amongst Taiwan learners.