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Hi I have to say this blog is the best thing on the web. I read it regulary and my English is improving every day. There is a lot of Vietnamese people there, becouse of historical connection. A few years ago there was communist regime there and in Vietnam too. Very many sudents from Vietnam have studied in our universities as a part of something like relief program and many of them stayed here. Have a nice day

I was so surprised that you mentioned about Vietnamese people in your blog.You know, as the other people in developing countries, Vietnamese tend to work in foreign country with the hope that they can have a better life and earn more money.And certainly it's not easy to seltle down in other country especially when there are racists everywhere.I agree with you that " It’s not fair that some people try to find an easy scapegoat for their own problems by blaming a weaker minority whose voice is often left unheard".On the other hand, the immigrants sometimes don't aware of cherish the country as well as they should .And Racial issues is always a big problem that we haven't a perfect solution yet. Anyway, in my country there is also a different kind of English, and we call it by " Boi language".But it's just for the people who have never learning English in any school ,they often use simple words and have a strange funny pronunciation.they are often merchants in the street selling things in tourist destination.These people meet the tourists everyday and from the need of their work , step by step they find their way to communicate with the foreigners, then they speak Vietnamese English very well and not only English but also French or Japanese as well as Chinese.You know, in Vietnam the most of tourists are Japanese, Chinese, American or French.Anyway, I admire them very much,without learning basicly, They can also express their my in English.That's a good way for their livelihood ,you know.I'm sure that you will surprise when coming here and Listening to them.You will wonder how they can have such a strange description and how you can understand them so easily.:).

Lewis, I can explain a bit: There was businnes activites between Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia)and Vietnam at the times when we were under the same communist rules. It was all organized by Soviet Union.That is why we have a big Vietnam community in our country. There was couple of migration waves from 50´s - students, workers. They normally settle with their whole families.

Hi Lewis, I think that now one of the most painful problems related to the minority groups in the UK are the homegrown terrorists. What is surprising, such problem doesn’t exist in the US. Perhaps one of the reason is that American society seems to be more open and immigrants can assimilate more easily. This is a custom in the US that local communities’ members take care of newcomers and support them in their every day life and cultural assimilation. But apart from that, there is no justification for those who are unable to appreciate what they have been given in the UK. On a lighter note, I am surprised that Japanese like to create a foreign atmosphere for Japanese people – it sounds so familiar for those living in Poland! We love to use English words and expressions (such as cool, sorry, wow and lots of business words and phrases) or combination of Polish and English (for example: ‘looknij’ which means ‘look up’ and is a combination of English root: look, Polish suffix: nij ). But to be fair this is mainly to the fact that English is an idiomatic language – that is why this is so big fun to learn it!

Myga, thank you for a nice comment. By the way, a vietnamese "general goods" shop (not a street market with illegal stuff) near the place where I live is absolutely great! Lovely, very polite people who ALWAYS smile. Czechs should learn customer service from them. I admire their ability to learn Czech, they are getting better every day, I would not be able to pronounce any Vietnamese word probably :-)

hi Lewis It is an interesting topic indeed. I have lived in japan for most of my life but always wondered how our Japanese-grown English sounds to natives English speakers. For our sake, I have to mention that we DO actually know that we are using 'wrong' English on signs, in songs etc but Japanese people probably prefer the 'bad' but 'original' English. Our history is a bit like yours. Getting inspired by a foreign culture and mixing everything up. A long time ago, someone in Japan saw a wall covered with leather in England and tried to make it with japanese paper with oil.. It sounds silly but a foreign culture is always the best inspiration for a new creation. I lost a word when I tried a English-sushi in London. I guess you like original stuff too.. I think that was special!