Popular Post Dave Hounddriver Posted June 16, 2015 Popular Post Posted June 16, 2015 I have seen Philippine presidential decrees that state English is an official language of the Philippines. I have seen articles that claim Philippine business English is the best in the world. But it truly isn't, as this exchange of emails will show. My mother comes to visit me from time to time. It is impressive as she is 80 years old and travels alone in a wheelchair but she does. We stay in the Quest hotel, Cebu, separate rooms and it is a simple process to book 2 rooms on line . . . or is it? This time I booked a room for my mother via Quest direct booking and gave it to her as a birthday gift. I planned to book a room for myself later as she does not visit until October. Mothers being what they are, she booked my room by expedia dot com and paid for it with her own credit card. I don't see any problem here until I get this email: Quest: We have noticed that the credit card holder’s name is different from the name of the guest. Kindly advise if the credit card holder will be staying with you in the same room. If so, we will need you to send us an e-mail of request to have the reservation name revised to the name of the credit card holder since she will be the one paying for the reservation. Otherwise, the attached Credit Card Authorization Form must be filled-out by the credit card holder to guarantee and secure the reservation. Please send us back the filled-out and signed form along with a scanned front & back copy of the credit card and 1 valid ID with signature on or before Jun 17, 2015 to secure and guarantee your reservation. Me: You asked: "Kindly advise if the credit card holder will be staying with you in the same room." I am sure you will find this amusing and confusing but here is what happened. I (XXXXX) reserved a room for my mother (XXXXX) for 2 nights using my credit card and she will be the only one in that room. Then my mother (XXXXXr) reserved a room for me (XXXXX) for 3 nights (via Expedia.com) You see I was being polite and paid for my mother's room and she was also being polite and paid for my room so you will have 2 rooms booked for XXXXX on 2 of the same days. It is not a mistake. Quest: May we please clarify first if you and your mother will be staying in the same room? Thank you. This is where I have a face palm moment :1 (103): DO NOT use complex sentences here, they really do not understand. So keeping it simple, I wrote back. Me: No. Separate rooms. Please read my previous email VERY CAREFULLY. All the info is there The saga continues, fortunately there are a lot of hotels in the area if they screw it up before our arrival. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tukaram (Tim) Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 It is not just hotel clerks... in my Rotary club I have the same problem talking to members. Judges, retired generals, city councilmen, businessmen of all sorts... does not matter. Use. small. words. talk. very. slowly. It does not help ha ha :tiphat: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogo51 Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 On my recent visit to Phils with my gf was expecting communication to be far less difficult thatn it is is in Thailand - WRONG. Give yourself an uppercut! Even my English degree gf will just pretend she understands what I am saying - why do they do that???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Runza Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 Speaking to you now as a freelance writer who makes his living making sure my clients are NOT misunderstood, I see the problem. Yes, there's a lack of understanding, when it comes to the English language. It's a mishmash of several different languages, filtered by the local dialect you learned. I've had conversations with British folks who seem to be speaking a foreign language, compared to my American English background. I'm not apologizing (or is it 'apologising'?) for Filipinos who claim to be fluent in English. They are, in a manner of speaking. So am I, in a manner of speaking, despite not being English. However, if you put all your effort into making yourself understood, you will be doomed to failure. You need to get local, and figure out how to make sure you are NOT misunderstood. That simple switch in mindset may help. Or not. Depends on the listener, his or her hearing, and whether or not that person is hard-of-listening. :bash: 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Methersgate Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 I have a related problem; a gf who claims to be fluent in IT and is utterly hopeless at anything involving a computer. At least, with English, if she does not know, she will ASK. But it seems that her "face" will not permit this where even simple things like Facebook are concerned. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry45 Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 Yes, best to speak slowly, and not use any slang or ask questions in the negative. "So, you didn't pay the cable bill?" "Yes.....I didn't pay the cable bill." :1 (103): 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 I have seen Philippine presidential decrees that state English is an official language of the Philippines. I have seen articles that claim Philippine business English is the best in the world. But it truly isn't, as this exchange of emails will show. What?! Did you get ANSWER at emails?!!! :mocking:(I have got answer from ONE of the Filipino companies/officials I have emailed.) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonjack2847 Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 On my recent visit to Phils with my gf was expecting communication to be far less difficult thatn it is is in Thailand - WRONG. Give yourself an uppercut! Even my English degree gf will just pretend she understands what I am saying - why do they do that???? They do it to save face or they might be trying to be polite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuya John Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 Yes, best to speak slowly, and not use any slang or ask questions in the negative. "So, you didn't pay the cable bill?" "Yes.....I didn't pay the cable bill." :1 (103): Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Nothing unusal here remember. Although most of us expats speak English it is our accent's that throw the local's. Lol...I have grand-children here in UK who live 10 miles away and I can't understand them! (scouse accent's) :no: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Peterson Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 :hystery: My Wife often Reminds me when we talk about this subject. HEY Joe! Our English is a darned sight better than your Tagalog, Visayan or any other Filipino language. Next issue please :rolleyes: JP :tiphat: :thumbsup: Morning all :morning1: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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