Top 10 Mistakes Vietnamese Learners Make When Learning English
Vietnamese is a tonal language where words are often short and endings are dropped. This causes big problems in English, where ending sounds (like S, K, T) change the meaning of the word! Here are the most common errors.
Top 10 Mistakes
1
β Typical learner sentence:
"It is same same."
π€ Why learners say this:
A direct translation of Asian grammar to emphasise similarity. In English, we never repeat the word.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Very touristic and informal. It sounds like "Pidgin English".
β
Natural English version:
"It is the same."
2
β Typical learner sentence:
"I li_ rice." (Dropping the K/S sound)
π€ Why learners say this:
Vietnamese words don't explode the final consonant. In English, you MUST pronounce the end sound (Like vs Light vs Life).
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
We can't understand the verb! Did you say Lie? Light? Like?
β
Natural English version:
"I liKe rice." (Pronounce the K!)
3
β Typical learner sentence:
"I very like it."
π€ Why learners say this:
Vietnamese 'RαΊ₯t thΓch'. In English, 'Very' cannot go before a verb (like/love/hate).
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Grammatically weak. Put the intensity at the end.
β
Natural English version:
"I like it very much." / "I really like it."
π― Practice: Which Word?
You want to say two things are identical. You say:
A) They are same same
B) They are the same
4
β Typical learner sentence:
"I go market."
π€ Why learners say this:
Dropping prepositions (to) and articles (the). Vietnamese is very efficient and cuts these words out.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like a robot speaking. "Me go market."
β
Natural English version:
"I am going TO THE market."
5
β Typical learner sentence:
"There have many people."
π€ Why learners say this:
Vietnamese 'CΓ³' covers both 'Have' and 'There is'. English distinguishes them.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Grammatically incorrect. "There" cannot own things.
β
Natural English version:
"There are many people."
6
β Typical learner sentence:
"My body is healthy."
π€ Why learners say this:
Direct translation of 'Sα»©c khα»e tα»t'. We usually just say "I am healthy".
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you are examining your body in a mirror.
β
Natural English version:
"I am healthy." / "I am fit."
π― Practice: Fix the Sentence
"I very like play football."
7
β Typical learner sentence:
"She like ice cream." (No S)
π€ Why learners say this:
Vietnamese verbs don't conjugate. In English, He/She/It NEEDS the 'S' sound.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
It sounds incomplete. The 'S' is essential for grammar.
β
Natural English version:
"She likes ice cream."
8
β Typical learner sentence:
"I cut my hair." (Meaning at a salon)
π€ Why learners say this:
In English, if you say "I cut my hair", it means you held the scissors yourself.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you stood in front of a mirror and did it yourself!
β
Natural English version:
"I had my hair cut." / "I got a haircut."
9
β Typical learner sentence:
"He is boring." (Meaning bored)
π€ Why learners say this:
Confusing adjectives ending in -ED vs -ING.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
You are saying he is not an interesting person!
β
Natural English version:
"He is bored."
10
β Typical learner sentence:
"Close the TV."
π€ Why learners say this:
Vietnamese uses 'TαΊ―t' (close/extinguish). English uses 'Turn off'.
π¬π§ What it sounds like to a Brit:
Like you want to cover the screen with a blanket.
β
Natural English version:
"Turn off the TV."
π― Practice: Fix the Sentence
"Yesterday I go market."
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