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There's a common misconception in language-learning circles that most native speakers speak their language well. This couldn't be further from the truth.
If you're like me and take notice of how English is spoken on TV, radio and other media, you'll have spotted plenty of presenters and the like who regularly get their grammar wrong. Sometimes there's a genuine reason. In songs, for instance, 'he don't' often replaces 'he doesn't' simply so the lyrics rhyme.
But when well-known sports pundits on one of the UK's best-loved football shows, Match of the Day, keep making schoolboy errors – well, to me, that's just not acceptable! OK, many are former professionals who probably spent more time at school dreaming of being the next Beckham than learning how to use English properly. Still, if you're paid a stack of cash to speak to a huge audience, you should be able to use English flawlessly.
Most people would say pundits are paid for their knowledge of the beautiful game, not their grammar – and I do get that. But on a stage as big as Match of the Day or any Premier League broadcast, you should at least make an effort to speak English well. Rant over!
English-language students, how often do you hear mistakes from pundits and commentators in the UK and other English-speaking countries? And should they be tested on their English before they get the job? Let me know what you think!
Look out for my next blog, where we'll dig a little deeper.
Handy phrases-
Schoolboy errors – very basic mistakes
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Stack of cash – a lot of money
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The beautiful game – a popular nickname for football
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Shown the red card – in football, sent off the pitch for a serious offence
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Rant – a long, passionate complaint
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