CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS 5.1. Summary
Appendix 3: Interview Transcriptions Time: 28 th April 2011
Place: Front yard of French Building Interviewee: B
Interviewer (A): Can you restate the reasons why you learned slang?
Interviewee (B): I have tried to learn slang by myself for a while. The main reason I think is because I simply just love English language. I know that slang is a part of the language. Thus, I care [about slang] and try to learn as many [slang] terms and expressions as possible. That way I can improve my English.
A: I see. So you have learned slang before and you love it. But how is your slang vocabulary? Good enough or not? Do you wish to know more slang?
B: Compared to my classmates’, I think my slang vocabulary is quite good. But I do still meet difficulties sometime when I experience an authentic daily native speakers’ conversations in which lots of slang is used. So yes, I want to learn to know more slang terms and expressions.
A: It seems like you have positive attitude towards slang, right? (Yes) Can you specify how you really feel about slang?
B: I simply love slang [because] it’s cool. There are a lot of feelings and attitudes [you can convey] through some simple [slang] words. While standard English just gives you the exact meanings [of the words], slang gives you a lot more than that. As a language learner, I find slang a very
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interesting and expressive language that I would love to be able to be fluent in it someday.
A: I believe with such interest and enthusiasm for slang, you are surely going to reach that goal soon. Thank you so much for the short interview and good luck!
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Time: 28th April 2011
Place: Front yard of French Building Interviewee: C
Interviewer (A): Hello (hi), as I can see from your answers in the questionnaire. You have learned slang words before and you seem to have certain reasons to do it. Would you like to give me more details about that? (yes)
Interviewee (C): The culture and lifestyle of the English speaking countries have always inspired my way of life. To me, these are the most sophisticated ones compared to other cultures and lifestyles in the world.
Slang is not simply a language, but also [the carrier of the] culture, so I learn a lot about it [via slang]. I wish I could live in the U.S. or the U.K.
someday. Well, at least spend some time of my life living there.
A: So you have a pretty strong connection with the culture and the people of the English speaking world, right? (yes) You also appear to have a fairly insightful view of slang. Do you want to know more slang then?
C: Of course, I do.
A: Okay. So in general, your attitude towards slang in English is positive?
(yes) Alright. What do you think about the use of slang at school?
C: I find nothing wrong with using slang at school. It actually helps [us students] more relaxed and intimate. We may not see or hear us students using slang often just because we do not know many slang words or
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expressions to use. If we ever did, I’m sure it would be very popular among us.
A: Thank you for the ideas.
Time: 28th April 2011
Place: Front yard of French Building Interviewee: D
Interviewer (A): Okay. As you do not have much free time, we are going to keep this short. Why did you learn slang?
Interviewee (D): I met many native speakers [of English] in Hanoi. I saw how often they used slang in everyday conversations. Then I tried to learn the most common and up-to-date slang words to keep up with the current trend and communicate with the native speakers more easily.
A: I understand. Do you want to know more slang?
D: Certainly.
A: What is your opinion of slang then?
D: I think slang is the symbol of the youth. Using slang makes us appear young and even fashionable. As youngsters, who doesn’t want to be young and fashionable? I personally find it most fun if we use slang when my friends are around.
A: Thanks a lot.
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Time: 28th March 2011
Place: Front yard of French Building Interviewee: E
Interviewer (A): Would you like to tell me why you learned slang?
Interviewee (E): I got people commenting on how natural and native I sound whenever I use slang. It’s like one of my favorite praises, so I will just keep on learning to know more slang and use it more often.
A: That’s very impressive. You sound like you have decent knowledge and vocabulary of slang. Do you still wish to learn more slang?
E: Thank you. Mine is still at a sort of average level though. I do want to know more slang. As I told you how like it when people commenting on how good I sound as I use slang.
A: I see. So you do have a positive attitude towards slang. Any further details you feel like adding?
E: Slang is an interesting language, but we should make sure we understand its meanings and usage before trying to use it. Or else, we might be in some trouble, I think.
A: That’s a good point. Thanks for sharing.
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Time: 28th March 2011 Place: B2 Building Interviewee: F
Interviewer (A): Why did you learn slang?
Interviewee (F): I like to watch movies in English. They are either British or American most of the time. My favorite [T.V.] shows are FRIENDS, High School Musical, Hannah Montana and Glee. They are all about teenagers and youngsters, so lots of slang is frequently used. If I don’t know those [slang] words, I wouldn’t understand and enjoy [the shows] at all.
A: Very nice. You must know a great number of slang words from such sources. Do you think you should still learn more?
F: Sure. Those sources help a lot, but you know, slang is a language, it changes and develops every day, we just can never stop trying to learn more.
A: Very brilliant. So what are your ideas of slang in short? Or specifically slang in English speaking movies like in your case.
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F: Watching a movie in which lots of slang is used is more real life-like and believable than the ones in sheer standard English. Everybody knows native speakers of English always use slang in their daily life, so the real society and culture are more vividly portrayed through such movies with informal words and expressions. A great type of language. Another great tool to connect us with the civilization and knowledge of the English speaking world.
A: It’s very nice to know of these opinions of yours. Thanks.
Time: 28th March 2011 Place: B2 Building Interviewee: G
Interviewer (A): The reasons you learned slang are….
Interviewee (G): Mostly for personal development. I like to be smart. I don’t usually use slang even though I know it. In my opinion, using slang too much makes us sound somehow less intelligent.
A: Can you explain more about that idea? How does slang make us sound less intelligent?
G: It’s more like a personal idea though. I am a traditional type of person.
I tend to think and act like the old people. But I like being that way. Slang is a bit too young for me.
A: I see your point. So you don’t like to use slang, but do you still want to know it anyway?
G: Yes. As I said, I’m eager to learn more to develop my own knowledge.
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A: Yes, I got it. How about your opinion on the idea that movies with more frequent use of slang are more enjoyable than the ones with mostly standard English?
G: I can’t say that movies in which lots of slang is used are more enjoyable than the others because there are ones in which lots of standard and formal English is used like the old movies or the ones with the settings of the old time, but they still manage to be great by reflecting the culture and society of the old time.
A: Thanks a lot for the ideas.
Time: 28th March 2011 Place: B2 Building Interviewee: H
Interviewer (A): You answered in the questionnaire that you have never tried to learn slang before. Is it true?
Interviewee (H): No, I never really tried to learn slang terms. I don’t find essential reasons to do it. It’s not going to help your study or your future job then why spend time learning it?
A: You have a point. So you naturally just don’t want to learn more slang?
H: I’m afraid not.
A: So your general attitude towards slang is basically negative?
H: I’m afraid so. To be honest, I think EFL students like us should not learn to know slang. Instead, we should focus on the standard English only. If we spend so much time on learning slang, we would end up with
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poor standard grammar and vocabulary, which is certainly not the point of the education.
A: Thank you so much for the honest opinions.
Time: 28th March 2011 Place: B2 Building Interviewee: I
Interviewer (A): Could you tell me why you learned slang?
Interviewee (I): It should be why I have ever tried to learn slang to be more exact. I did try finding the meanings of some very common slang terms since too many people were using it. But I never really attempt to learn it as a language I would use.
A: Does that mean you don’t have desire to learn more slang?
I: No, I don’t.
A: Okay. Could you please clarify your negative attitude towards slang?
I: As a future teacher, I don’t think it’s appropriate to use slang at our school. It’s an educational environment here. We’re supposed to be on
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our best behavior and acquire standard English in order to teach our students in the future. Knowing slang doesn’t help them in exams.
A: Thank you so much for taking your time the interview.
Time: 28th March 2011 Place: B2 Building Interviewee: J
Interviewer (A): What motivated you when you learned slang?
Interviewee (J): Because it’s very popular. Native speakers use it all the time. I encountered it so often that I decided to get to know what it was.
A: I see. Would you like to know more slang words?
J: Yes.
A: There are negative attitudes towards slang, saying that it’s inappropriate for formal and educational environment like school, especial a very pedagogically related school like ours. What do you think?
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J: It’s true that slang is very informal, even to the point of offensive to some people sometimes, but that doesn’t mean we should not know about slang. Whether we want it or not, slang is here to stay. It is existing in the English language. We ignore it; we lack a considerable amount of vocabulary [of the language]. As advanced learners of English, FELTE students should at least know and understand [slang] even if we don’t use it.
A: Very smart. Thank you so much.
Time: 28th March 2011 Place: B2 Building Interviewee: K
Interviewer (A): You answered that you tried to learn slang before right?
What made you do that?
Interviewee (K): Just totally by chance. There were these English songs that I really liked. I wanted to sing them so I went look for the lyrics.
These slang words were always there. Like in almost every song I listened to. So I looked for their meanings.
A: Nice. So you want to know more slang?
K: Yeah. And singing them out loud is a good way to remember such new words.
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A: Very great idea. But it’s all about songs and music. How about something more academic like school. Do you think it’s necessary for FELTE students to learn slang?
K: I’m not sure if it’s necessary for us FELTE students to learn slang. I think it mostly depends on the learners themselves. School clearly doesn’t require us to know slang. So it actually depends on the learners’ interest and willingness for learning slang.
A: Thank you so much for the ideas.