This Person Shared a Revenge Story About Someone Telling Their Mom to Speak English

Do you love revenge stories?

Well, you’re in the right places, guys and gals!

Because a Reddit user told a story that happened to their mother when they first came to the U.S. and it’s pretty interesting.

Let’s see what happened.

Tell my mom to speak English? Okay!

“This is a story that was recently brought up again by my mom when she was recounting some really sh**ty r**ism she encountered when she first came to the United States.

I’ve heard this story a few times before but didn’t think to share it anywhere else. That is until I was made aware of this subreddit. Enjoy.

It was the late 1980s in Los Angeles, California. By this time my mom, a Japanese immigrant, had been living in the United States for ten years. Although she could speak English well, she wasn’t fluent and preferred to speak Japanese with others from the local Japanese-American community.

One day, she and a friend were waiting to be seated at a restaurant on Beverly Boulevard. As they chattered away in Japanese, a large shadow cast down upon them. Looking up, they found Karen’s 1989 counterpart leering down at them.

Mom couldn’t remember how the woman looked except for the look of pure contempt trying to work its way across facial muscles frozen by Botox.

“You two,” Karen barked, “this is America! Speak English.”

Startled, my mom and her friend made eye contact, unsure of what to do. Encounters like this were, sadly, ones they had run into many times since they came to live in the USA. They were not ones for confrontation.

Before, they couldn’t do anything while their bullies marched off, unpunished. But then, as they made eye contact, a brilliant thing happened.

Mom likened the moment to their thought processes coming in sync together. They had a shared idea that didn’t need any further elaboration or explanation.

“Masami, my dear, I do think the waiter ought to have shown up to escort us to our table by now,” Mom chimed in the poshest British accent she could muster. “It’s frightfully rude to keep us waiting like this!”

“Yes, darling,” her friend replied, invoking her best impersonation of the Princess of Wales, “it is frightfully rude indeed!”

As they continued to twitter away in their fake English accents, Karen began to slowly back away. Her Botox face reddened and twisted itself in a visage as hideous as the Furies.

Realizing that she had just been outsmarted by two young women obsessed with British culture and celebrity, all she could do was storm off down Beverly Boulevard a defeated bully.

While there was no direct punishment, it was a story that my mom would continue to retell thirty years later. It has always made me chuckle to myself, and I hope you enjoyed it too.”

We did enjoy it! Let’s see how folks on Reddit reacted.

This reader said that, sadly, not much has really changed in regard to this kind of attitude among some Americans.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Another person could relate to people trying to correct their English and they shared their experience.

Have you ever tried to talk to someone from Glasgow before? The accents are wild!

Photo Credit: Reddit

And another Reddit user had a bit of a different experience, but in some ways it’s similar because it deals with something we all need to fight against: IGNORANCE.

Photo Credit: Reddit

You gotta love it!

Have you ever experienced something like this?

If so, tell us your stories in the comments. Thanks!

The post This Person Shared a Revenge Story About Someone Telling Their Mom to Speak English appeared first on UberFacts.

This Person Shared a Revenge Story About Someone Telling Their Mom to Speak English

Do you love revenge stories?

Well, you’re in the right places, guys and gals!

Because a Reddit user told a story that happened to their mother when they first came to the U.S. and it’s pretty interesting.

Let’s see what happened.

Tell my mom to speak English? Okay!

“This is a story that was recently brought up again by my mom when she was recounting some really sh**ty r**ism she encountered when she first came to the United States.

I’ve heard this story a few times before but didn’t think to share it anywhere else. That is until I was made aware of this subreddit. Enjoy.

It was the late 1980s in Los Angeles, California. By this time my mom, a Japanese immigrant, had been living in the United States for ten years. Although she could speak English well, she wasn’t fluent and preferred to speak Japanese with others from the local Japanese-American community.

One day, she and a friend were waiting to be seated at a restaurant on Beverly Boulevard. As they chattered away in Japanese, a large shadow cast down upon them. Looking up, they found Karen’s 1989 counterpart leering down at them.

Mom couldn’t remember how the woman looked except for the look of pure contempt trying to work its way across facial muscles frozen by Botox.

“You two,” Karen barked, “this is America! Speak English.”

Startled, my mom and her friend made eye contact, unsure of what to do. Encounters like this were, sadly, ones they had run into many times since they came to live in the USA. They were not ones for confrontation.

Before, they couldn’t do anything while their bullies marched off, unpunished. But then, as they made eye contact, a brilliant thing happened.

Mom likened the moment to their thought processes coming in sync together. They had a shared idea that didn’t need any further elaboration or explanation.

“Masami, my dear, I do think the waiter ought to have shown up to escort us to our table by now,” Mom chimed in the poshest British accent she could muster. “It’s frightfully rude to keep us waiting like this!”

“Yes, darling,” her friend replied, invoking her best impersonation of the Princess of Wales, “it is frightfully rude indeed!”

As they continued to twitter away in their fake English accents, Karen began to slowly back away. Her Botox face reddened and twisted itself in a visage as hideous as the Furies.

Realizing that she had just been outsmarted by two young women obsessed with British culture and celebrity, all she could do was storm off down Beverly Boulevard a defeated bully.

While there was no direct punishment, it was a story that my mom would continue to retell thirty years later. It has always made me chuckle to myself, and I hope you enjoyed it too.”

We did enjoy it! Let’s see how folks on Reddit reacted.

This reader said that, sadly, not much has really changed in regard to this kind of attitude among some Americans.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Another person could relate to people trying to correct their English and they shared their experience.

Have you ever tried to talk to someone from Glasgow before? The accents are wild!

Photo Credit: Reddit

And another Reddit user had a bit of a different experience, but in some ways it’s similar because it deals with something we all need to fight against: IGNORANCE.

Photo Credit: Reddit

You gotta love it!

Have you ever experienced something like this?

If so, tell us your stories in the comments. Thanks!

The post This Person Shared a Revenge Story About Someone Telling Their Mom to Speak English appeared first on UberFacts.

Young People Look for Love and Adventure by Teaching English Abroad

It’s easy to feel lost after you get out of college.

Too many people ask what you’re going to do with the rest of your life.

And who’s ready to think about 401ks and health insurance in their 20s?

When they’re not ready to face “real life” yet, a lot of young people turn to teaching English abroad.

It’s a great way to have some real life experiences, make a little money, and figure out what you want to do with yourself.

And a lot of young people enter this next phase looking for something more.

Direction, meaning, love–here are 13 people who taught English with a purpose.

1. Some people might go because they got broken up with

And some might get broken up with because they decided to go.

My boyfriend just broke up with me because I got a job teaching English in China. I love him so much I almost don't want to take the great opportunity.

Image credit: Whisper

2. Some are just looking to be fulfilled

I can’t imagine criticizing. What a useful, selfless way to be fulfilled.

I'm teaching english in Spain. Some people criticize my decision but after 4 years of unhappiness in college, I need to be happy again.

Image credit: Whisper

3. Lots of people seem to be looking for love

I really hope they find it. At the very least, opening themselves up to new experiences invites love in.

I'm 25and leaving in 2 weeks to teach English abroad. i want to share this and future adventures with a partner so badly. Not sure that will ever happen.

Image credit: Whisper

4. Just stay open to possibility

What a beautiful love story. They will have so many adventures together!

I found the love of my life teaching English abroad. And several of my friends are students and have met their significant other abroad too.

Image credit: Whisper

5. Sometimes you might get lucky

You really never know what might happen.

I'm an English teacher in a foreign country and I have a private student who I get on really well with! Unfortunately he has a girlfriend but I really really like him. PS I'm 29 and he's in his 30s.

Image credit: Whisper

6. They already found love

And then they found a family! It honestly feels like a Hallmark movie.

Me and my hubby decided to volunteer for our honeymoon. We spent three months teaching English in Asia and are now adopting siblings from there.

Image credit: Whisper

7. Some aren’t looking for love, just space

And what better way to find yourself than to run away on an adventure?

I'm teaching English abroad. I needed some space to find myself.

Image credit: Whisper

8. Others aren’t looking for love, but they find it

Found families can be the best families.

I'm an English teacher in Japan and I became close friends with one of my student's parents. For the first time here I felt like I had family. And I might have to give that up. Feels like death.

Image credit: Whisper

9. Then there are those who just want acceptance

And they have no idea what to expect. They might be the bravest of all.

I'm planning on leaving SF (San Francisco) to live and teach English abroad. I'm nervous that people outside of SF won't understand Polyamory.

Image credit: Whisper

10. It’s a great way to escape

You’re young and untethered and have the world at your fingertips. Tbh, I’m a little jealous.

I got a job teaching English abroad so I can escape facing real life for a bit longer. I'm 23 and still not ready to grow up.

Image credit: Whisper

11. Sometimes what you’re escaping is the all-seeing eye

It’s honestly no one’s business but yours. Good for you!

I'm signing up for a course that will allow me to teach English abroad. I'm SUPER excited but I have to keep it on the DL because of work and my family's judgment.

Image credit: Whisper

12. For others, it’s all about the adventure

I just really love the enthusiasm here.

Landed my dream job teaching English in Thailand. Bring on the experience!?

Image credit: Whisper

13. Don’t forget that it can be mutually beneficial

You learn just as much as your students do, if you’re doing it right.

I actually think teaching English in Korea can be very helpful. I'm learning Korean in English, and it definitely comes in handy.

Image credit: Whisper

These are all such great reasons to take a job teaching English abroad.

I hope they all found what they were looking for!

What about you? Would you consider teaching abroad, and where would you most want to go? Tell us in the comments.

The post Young People Look for Love and Adventure by Teaching English Abroad appeared first on UberFacts.

People Discuss How Teaching Abroad Can Be Both Amazing and Terrifying

When I was young and hungry for adventure, I wish I would have taught English abroad.

What an amazing experience it must be!

Getting paid to immerse yourself in a completely different place, life, and culture?

Here is what 12 young people had to say about why they went, and how teaching English can be as life-changing as it is scary.

1. I don’t want to grow up

Like Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. It’s a great way to put off the real world just a little while longer.

I got a job teaching English abroad so I can escape facing real life for a bit longer. I'm 23 and still not ready to grow up.

Image credit: Whisper

2. Who am I, anyway?

There’s nothing quite like an adventure on your own. It can really show you the truth of who you are.

I'm teaching English abroad. I needed some space to find myself.

Image credit: Whisper

3. Getting there can be hard part

After the hurdle of deciding to go, then you gotta get there.

I will start teaching English in China in November but have no idea how I can raise $3000 before then...

Image credit: Whisper

4. It can be scary, no matter who you are

No matter what you’ve seen and done before.

I'm more scared about teaching English in Asia than when I went to war in Iraq.

Image credit: Whisper

5. It can be scary, no matter how prepared you are

There’s nothing quite so frightening as the unknown.

I just got a job teaching English in Seoul. I'm terrified even though I am fluent in Korean.

Image credit: Whisper

6. But if you crave excitement?

What an amazing opportunity!

Landed my dream job teaching English in Thailand. Bring on the experience!?

Image credit: Whisper

7. It could be a new experience on both sides

But experiencing different cultures is how we learn and grow and become more accepting.

I'm planning on leaving SF (San Francisco) to live and teach English abroad. I'm nervous that people outside of SF won't understand Polyamory.

Image credit: Whisper

8. It might not be perfect every minute

But learning how to deal with annoying people is part of the experience.

I am currently teaching English in Korea and my co-teacher is the worst. I am sick of seeing her face. Stop mistranslating my explanations!

Image credit: Whisper

9. There might be some funny moments

Oops. Just roll with is.

I'm an English teacher abroad and one of my students told me I was his favorite 'teeshirt' lol.

Image credit: Whisper

10. You might end up teaching more than just the language

It’s good to show both sides of things I guess.

I'm teaching English abroad. I tell my students all about the bad side of the Western world.

Image credit: Whisper

11. It might be lonely at times

But the friendships will be so worth it.

I'm an English teacher in Japan and I became close friends with one of my student's parents. For the first time here I felt like I had family. And I might have to give that up. Feels like death.

Image credit: Whisper

12. It can be hard to come back home

But if you found your calling, there’s no reason not to stay.

Year and a half since I returned from teaching English in Asia. My life sucks here. I should go back.

Image credit: Whisper

All this talk about traveling and new experiences–these certainly gave me the urge to get out there and try something different.

What about you? Did you ever think about teaching English abroad? Share your story in the comments.

The post People Discuss How Teaching Abroad Can Be Both Amazing and Terrifying appeared first on UberFacts.

Here’s a Defense of the English Language as Told by a Very Passionate Tumblr Blog

People who learn English as a second language will often tell you that it’s not exactly easy. There are a lot of things about English that just don’t make sense at all, especially when you’ve grown up speaking something else.

However, the same can be said for other languages… it’s just really fun to make fun of English since it’s still globally a very powerful language.

One person recently took to Tumblr to offer up a quick defense of English. It’s a great thing to keep in your back pocket if you feel like you might ever need it.

For starters, there are a few things about English that actually make it kind of easy. Take tone, for example: unlike Cantonese, the meaning of words in English don’t change based on how you say them.

English also doesn’t concern itself with whether or not “they” is male or female, unlike Spanish and French.

As someone who has been trying to learn both for years, I can confirm that this can be mighty confusing.

And unlike Arabic, English doesn’t have a separate tense for speaking to two people at the same time.

While the tone of this post is harsh, the person manages to get their point across: English is just as tricky as any other language, but possibly not any more so.

Of course, people had a lot to say about all of this. Mostly, they were surprised that the original poster didn’t really explain just how confusing some languages can be.

They also shared more details about other languages not mentioned.

And, of course, the word y’all somehow made it into the conversation.

What do you think of this person’s thoughts? Have you ever tried to learn another language?

Let us know how it went in the comments!

The post Here’s a Defense of the English Language as Told by a Very Passionate Tumblr Blog appeared first on UberFacts.

15 Tweets That Should Please All the English Majors out There

These posts sure are lit.

English lit, that is!

Those English majors sure are a punny bunch, aren’t they? If you one of these folks or maybe you just merely identify with them, you will enjoy these tweets.

You may proceed!

1. That’s very true.

2. Time to unpack.

3. Maybe they had a few too many?

4. Oh, here we go…

5. Not gonna make it.

6. That’s much better.

7. Don’t ask me.

8. A lot to read…

9. He is pretty good, I must say…

10. Might want to wait on that a little while…

11. Is that really E.E. Cummings?

12. Funny how that works.

13. No symbolism here, unfortunately.

14. That’s high praise.

15. Oh, it’s lit alright.

Okay, I’m gonna say it…NERD ALERT.

But don’t take it as an insult! I’m one of you!

The post 15 Tweets That Should Please All the English Majors out There appeared first on UberFacts.

433 Men Named ‘Nigel’ Gathered in a British Pub to Honor Their First Name

This is one of my favorite stories of 2019 so far.

Is there any more British name than Nigel? My favorite Nigel is Nigel Planer, who played Neil on the great British TV show The Young Ones.

Recently, 433 men named Nigel came together at a pub called The Fleece Inn in the middle of England to celebrate the heritage of that incredible first name.

Nigels from all over the UK came to the small village of Bretforton for the big bash. One Nigel flew in from Cyprus and one from Texas even crowdfunded a ticket to be able to make it to the event.

The idea was the brainchild of Nigel Smith, the landlord of The Fleece Inn where the festivities took place. Smith said it started off as “a slightly mad idea” and that he thought maybe a couple dozen Nigels would show up to have a few beers.

Smith added, “Nigels were kind of dying out. Those of us who are still around ought to celebrate the fact we are still around and very much comfortable with our Nigelness.”

The night features not only 433 chaps named Nigel, but also special drinks, including the Mad Nigel, Nige Ale, and a cider called Narky Nige.

Even the local MP showed up that night. His name: Nigel Huddleston. Of course.

And Smith is right: the very British name is dying out. Apparently, there were only two British babies named Nigel born in 2016.

I’ve decided I’m going to do my part. If I have a child (or a dog, a cat, or a goldfish), I’m going to name them Nigel. That’s a guarantee!

The post 433 Men Named ‘Nigel’ Gathered in a British Pub to Honor Their First Name appeared first on UberFacts.

8 Nouns That Only Have a Plural Form

English, as you might have realized by now, can be a difficult language (if you’re trying to learn it, anyway). The rules are fluid, there’s always an exception, and common sense doesn’t really apply the way it does to the “other” romance languages, or even German.

In that vein, I present to you 8 nouns that only come in multiples – meaning you can’t have just one of them, because there is no singular form.

8. Jitters

Some moods or feelings, like jitters, blues, doldrums, are only available in multitudes, sadly. You’re not allowed to have a single willy (of the creeped-out variety) or one heebie-jeebie (even if you’d rather stop there).

7. Scissors

You say “give me the scissors,” not “hand me a scissor,” even though it’s a singular tool. Others are similar (pliers, tongs, tweezers) but not all – you can have one clamp, one bear trap, and one flat iron, even though they, too, are made of joined parts.

Have fun figuring that one out.

6. Shenanigans

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If you’d rather have one shenanigan instead of several, well, you’re out luck. You also cannot have a heroic, or go into a hysteric. Womp-womp.

5. Glasses

Like goggles and binoculars, the word is only plural, even though a “pair of” can be singular. They’re considered a unit made of connected parts, yet only referred to in the plural form.

4. Remains

There’s a small group of words for things that are left behind – remains, leftovers – and you’re not allowed to have a single one of them.

3. Pants

You’d be hard pressed to find a word for clothing that provides separate holes for two legs that’s a singular noun – shorts, jeans, skinnies, leggings, capris, panties, etc, all follow the plural rule even though they’re a single cut of fabric.

Fun fact: We also refer to brands in the same manner, like Levis, even though it’s actually a possessive – Levi’s – not a plural.

2. Suds

This is a strange one, because most words for masses of stuff made of other, smaller stuff will be a singular noun (rice, sugar, salt), but not suds – it’s a plural noun and has plural agreement (the suds are all over the bathroom), perhaps because a single sud is…what? No one is sure.

Or perhaps just because the people who invented English like to screw with us.

1. Riches

There are a few nouns that refer to possession or ownership – furnishings, belongings, earnings, valuables – and they’re all plural. So score one for consistency, at least.

 

Interesting, right? I thought so!

The post 8 Nouns That Only Have a Plural Form appeared first on UberFacts.

Here’s a Simple Trick Can Help You Choose Correctly Between “Who” and “Whom”

Like most people, I struggle with this conundrum. But if you’re someone who likes to sound smart and use proper grammar like an educated person and all of that, you might want to be able to use ‘whom’ when it’s appropriate.

But when is that, exactly? Well, we’re both about to learn, using this simple trick.

It’s a mnemonic device – the idea is you just mentally exchange the ‘who’ or ‘whom’ in the sentence with he or him. If he makes the sentence correct, then you use ‘who,’ but if him fits the bill, you should go with ‘whom’ (if the situation is formal enough to warrant it).

The device works because ‘who’ and ‘he’ are both subjective pronouns, meaning you use them to refer to the subject of the sentence, while ‘whom’ and ‘him’ are objective pronouns, meaning they refer to the object of the sentence.

It works even better if you rephrase the questions as statements.

For example: “Whom will you invite to dinner?” is correct, and you can figure this out by switching the question to a statement and using ‘you’ as the subject. “You will invite him to dinner,” not “You will invite he to dinner.”

Also, the trick isn’t sexist – she and her, and they and them also work – but he and him sound similar to who and whom, which makes things easier on your brain.

And let’s be honest, when it comes to using proper grammar, anything you can do to make it easier is a benefit, if you ask me.

Are you going to use this trick? Do you even care whether you ever use whom?

I think this is so easy I might actually start trying it!

The post Here’s a Simple Trick Can Help You Choose Correctly Between “Who” and “Whom” appeared first on UberFacts.

15+ Words That Are Literally Their Own Opposites

I truly love the English language and am the type of person who can become endlessly fascinated by a word. Perhaps that’s why I became a writer.

Did you know there’s a special type of word known as a “contronym” –  a word that is its own antonym.

Image Credit: Pixabay

#1. Sanction

You can use it to “give official permission or approval for an action” or “impose a penalty on.”

#2. Cleave

“To cling to or adhere” or “to split or sever,” depending on how you use it.

#3. Left

What’s left or we have left? One means “remaining” and the other “departed.”

#4. Go

“To proceed,” of course, but it can also mean “to give out or fail.”

#5. Clip

You can use a clip to “bind things together” or you can “separate” coupons from the paper by clipping them.

#6. Dust

You can apply dust or remove dust, depending on the context – are you dusting crops or furniture?

#7. Weather

It can mean “to withstand or come safely through,” as with a storm, or conversely, “to be worn away.”

#8. Out of

“I hardly get out of the house anymore since I work out of my home” You’re referring to both “outside” and “inside” with the same phrase.

#9. Oversight

“Supervise” or “to fail to see or observe; to pass over without noticing; to disregard, ignore” – true opposites!

#10. Continue

We generally use it to mean to persist in doing something, though in the legal system, it means to stop a proceeding, if only temporarily.

#11. Out

It means both visible (the moon was out) and invisible (the lights are out).

#12. Screen

It means both “to show” (a film) or “to hide” (something unsightly).

#13. Hold up

This phrase can mean “to support” or “to hinder.”

#14. Off

You can turn something off (deactivated) or an alarm can go off (activated) without changing a thing!

#15. Toss out

“To suggest” and also “to discard.”

#16. Help

Most often used as “assist” but can also be used to mean “prevent” – I couldn’t help myself.

#17. Fast

It can mean both “moving rapidly” and “fixed, unmoving,” as in holding fast.

Go forth and sound smarter, people!

The post 15+ Words That Are Literally Their Own Opposites appeared first on UberFacts.