Is there a Brazilian English?

"Oh my God! You speak English like a Brazilian!" We, as Brazilians students of English, listen to this sentence frequently. And almost never (I really don't know why I put "almost" there) it is in a good sense. Speaking English like a Brazilian is bad, according to these people, but, I want to talk about it. I need to talk about it.

Speaking English like a Brazilian means speaking English a little bit wrong. Sometimes because the pronunciation of a word or term, or because we think first in our language and commit some grammatical mistakes, etc. But, in fact, it is not just a Brazilian feature. Everybody who is learning a language does it. And, be amazed: natives will understand us! Yes, they do not care about it, they also commit a lot of mistakes.

Let’s think about our reality: when we are speaking even in Portuguese with our friends, we never speak correctly. We do not mind if we are doing the greatest conjugation. For example, we say “nós vai”, “tu foi” and other things we do not realize. English natives do it, too. So, imagine: if even a native speaker does it, why can’t a learner do it?

Of course, we have to practice! Since the beginning, we have to try to speak and write things not as an American, but as a good student! However, it does not happen in one week, it is a long procedure.

In this article, I am not saying we have to stop practicing English, because we are speaking perfectly, as they understand us. No! I just want to pass the message that we all commit mistakes and the term “speaking English like a Brazilian” has a super power. It never (better now) means a good thing. People who say that want to humiliate, even they do not notice it. So, for the person who listens to it, the procedure will probably be a little bit longer. The guy will be afraid and shy when s/he talks with someone. S/he will feel as a bad student.

Now, I give a piece of advice to you! As a friend, I want to tell a secret screen-to-screen: Do I speak/write English like a Brazilian? Sorry... maybe it happens because I am a Brazilian student of English!

Think about it!

Xoxo,

Vitor Hochsprung.