Dana P. -CP #3

My CP and I met with some other students in our TESOL class for the Japanese drummer, Matsuri, at the student center. Normally, she is quite talkative but she shut down around the other TESOL students. As I probably would when around a group of non-English speakers. She is actually quite fluent in English and is studying here mainly to pass the TOEFL, so she can go to a university. It's funny I actually find myself saying, " go to university" instead of going to college." I find myself leaving out some connectors, prepositions like ESL students! This is quite interesting, I think I am doing this because I feel they would understand me better. However, this is completely defeating the purpose of them learning English. Another thing I discovered is I am slowing my speech and thinking more about what I am going to say next. Do you know how non-native speakers tend to say a few English words, then will pause, as they look for the right English word? I am picking up these little habits from being around it so much. I have discovered, although for different reasons, that is better too slow down sometimes to find the right word to express yourself. I tend to talk fast with emotion sometimes not really using the correct vocabulary. Just something I discovered while working with non-native speakers.