- Summary of correct and incorrect English expressions -
0:13-0:17
[Incorrect] I know you love to play in barefoot.
[Correct] I know you love to play barefoot.
[Explanation]
Even if it's hard to understand what's wrong in the video, as you can see above, “Whether or not you add "in" makes the difference between correct English and not.
but,It's not just that "adding 'in' is wrong","Why did Yume-chan add "in"?"The adults around them need to think about this as well.
So, I started researching using dictionaries and reference books, and found thatIn the form of [in + noun phrase], it means "in the state of..."We can see that this is the case.
Such expressions are, for example,in angerOr,in good healthIt is used in the form of.
Perhaps Yume-chanBecause they intuitively understand and have mastered the meaning of [in + noun phrase]To,It is thought that the expression "in barefoot" was used to mean "barefoot.".
By the way, if you look up the word barefoot in the dictionary,"Barefoot"It means,"The word itself contains the meaning of the state of being barefoot."We can see that this is the case.
Therefore,The expression "in barefoot" is not an accurate English expression.(Incidentally, the dictionary I used listed "walk in feet = walk barefoot(ed)" as the expression meaning "walking barefoot".)
This phenomenon can also be seen in Japanese. For example, a child who has intuitively learned the expressions "red insect" and "blue insect," which are expressions that form an adjective by adding "i" to a color and then a noun, might say "midorii mushi" (green insect) when they find a green insect.
Even now, Yume-chan uses "pinkii" to mean "pink-colored."
Such "mistakes" are not "simply expressing something incorrectly", rather"These mistakes occur because we intuitively understand expressions using 'in' and 'i'."that's why,The inevitable mistakes that occur in the process of acquiring a language as one's native languageThat's it.
1:16-1:21
[Incorrect]There's three neurons, 1, 2, and 3, see?
【Correct】There are three neurons, 1, 2, and 3, see?
[Explanation]
As you all know, regarding this part, the "be verb used when the subject is singular" is different from the "be verb used when the subject is plural."
Even if someone has the ability to speak English at Yume-chan's level, the fact that they are unsure of the conjugation of the verb "be," which is taught in the first year of junior high school, is a good subject to consider when thinking about what it means to learn English as one's native language.
2:13-2:14
【Incorrect】This is the motor.
【Correct】This is the motor nerve.
[Explanation]
From Yume's perspective, this is where she decided to make an omission.
2:38-2:41
[Incorrect] and then, this is where the most bad part begins.
【Correct】and then, this is where the worst part begins.
[Explanation]
I find this error particularly interesting.
We learned that the superlative form of "bad" is "worst," but Yume-chan expresses it as "the most bad."
In this passage, Yume-chan says,"I want to say 'the worst'! When you want to say 'the most', use 'most'!"This shows that they understand it in their native language (intuitively).
2:46-2:50
【Incorrect】He is looks like a bridge! Oh my god!
[Correct] He looks like a bridge! Oh my god!
[Explanation]
Here too, in sentences like this, the verb "be" and a regular verb should not be used together, but Yume-chan still seems unsure.
3:21-3:25
【Incorrect】You can protect your bottom of your feet.
【Correct】You can protect the bottom of your feet.
[Explanation]
The mistake is using "your" twice: "your bottom of your feet."
It is not necessary to say "the soles of your feet"; it may be easier to understand if you are told, "In Japanese, you can simply say 'the soles of your feet'."
Bestie's thoughts on grammatical errors
As those who study English will know, there are some grammatical errors in the English that Yume-chan speaks in the video.
However, Besty's goal is not to enable children to immediately become proficient in proper English (the so-called "correct English for Japanese entrance exams").
They believe that if they focus on things like "You need to use 'the' here" or "It's wrong to have 'in' here" and try to correct every single mistake, it will discourage children from using English, even though they are having fun learning it and are actively trying to use it, and they will end up disliking English.
What's even more important is that at Besty, when raising children bilingually in Japanese and English, we encourage them to learn and use their native language, just as they do so.The aim is to "learn English naturally, intuitively, and through application."That's why.
If adults place too much emphasis on getting children to speak using so-called correct grammar, children will not be able to learn how to use language in an intuitive way, like how we naturally and intuitively learned and became proficient in Japanese.
Rather, the reason why Yume-chan is now able to speak English as well as a native speaker and her English ability is improving rapidly is because she is absorbing English in the same way that a native Japanese speaker learns Japanese."It's because I can use words intuitively."I think so.
Therefore, I don't directly correct Yume-chan's English mistakes.
It's only natural that children will make mistakes when they speak English, but I'm actually really looking forward to watching Yume's growth process, seeing how she will use English as she grows, correct and improve her English expressions, and turn them into adult English.
