[Albion] Awful interview questions.

[Mental Lental]

Maybe it's because of my TESL background but I really can't watch any interview with RDZ these days without wanting to vomit blood at the complete and total lack of ability of seemingly any football journalist to realise that they may not be speaking to somebody whose first language isn't English. It's particularly bad in the microcosm of football jargon but when I hear questions like "are you licking your lips at the prospect of taking on Manchester United again?" I want to die inside. Just look at RDZ looking over at his interpreter when he's clearly trying his best and doing great with how good his level of English is given the time he's been at the club. Seriously how hard is it to understand that you have to just grade down your language just a little bit? It's not rocket science.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

I always hate ‘where do you want to be in 5 years time ?’
Oh, you mean football..well, he does have an interpreter as well and his English will improve when he goes home to google the questions.

 

[B-right-on]

Maybe it's because of my TESL background but I really can't watch any interview with RDZ these days without wanting to vomit blood at the complete and total lack of ability of seemingly any football journalist to realise that they may not be speaking to somebody whose first language isn't English. It's particularly bad in the microcosm of football jargon but when I hear questions like "are you licking your lips at the prospect of taking on Manchester United again?" and then look at RDZ looking over at his interpreter when he's clearly trying his best and doing great with how good his level of English is given the time he's been at the club. Seriously how hard is it to understand that you have to just grade down your language just a little bit? It's not rocket science.

Especially to someone who basically couldn't speak one word of English 6-7 months ago.

Yes Pep, Arteta, Kipperty etc... who have been here years probably get it but not someone who still needs an interpreter occasionally. It's not as if he's doing a Bielsa and refusing to speak English.

Still, Journos aren't known for their intellectual brilliance, as a general statement.

 

[Bridcutt]

Maybe it's because of my TESL background but I really can't watch any interview with RDZ these days without wanting to vomit blood at the complete and total lack of ability of seemingly any football journalist to realise that they may not be speaking to somebody whose first language isn't English. It's particularly bad in the microcosm of football jargon but when I hear questions like "are you licking your lips at the prospect of taking on Manchester United again?" and then look at RDZ looking over at his interpreter when he's clearly trying his best and doing great with how good his level of English is given the time he's been at the club. Seriously how hard is it to understand that you have to just grade down your language just a little bit? It's not rocket science.

Unfortunately this is common in everyday life. British people go abroad and speak to people whose English isn't perfect and they say stupid expressions that only British people would understand, not even American or Australians would understand some of the things we say yet it's an issue still.

It's really not difficult to just say simple sentences instead of "licking your lips" etc, it takes no effort but still happens all the time. Arrogance maybe

 

[Littlemo]

Sadly I remember my friend and I talking about this very thing, about 10 years ago. They never got any better it seems.

 

[dadams2k11]

6-0 win and your moaning about post match Interview.

I'm moaning because my Parents decided to have my brother 40 years ago today and I was preoccupied with that and missed the game. Also had a family event for the Chelsea win.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I always hate ‘where do you want to be in 5 years time ?’
Oh, you mean football..well, he does have an interpreter as well and his English will improve when he goes home to google the questions.

 

[Shooting Star]

Unfortunately this is common in everyday life. British people go abroad and speak to people whose English isn't perfect and they say stupid expressions that only British people would understand, not even American or Australians would understand some of the things we say yet it's an issue still.

It's really not difficult to just say simple sentences instead of "licking your lips" etc, it takes no effort but still happens all the time. Arrogance maybe

Yep. It only takes a Brit to make a semi-concerted attempt to learn another language to realise that using idioms and useless phrases make it so much harder for a non-native to understand. Make your questions clear and concise. It should be one of the first things journalists learn in the Prem considering how many international managers there are.

 

[timbha]

? It's not rocket science.

Would you expect him to understand that?

 

[Bakero]

Maybe it's because of my TESL background but I really can't watch any interview with RDZ these days without wanting to vomit blood at the complete and total lack of ability of seemingly any football journalist to realise that they may not be speaking to somebody whose first language isn't English. It's particularly bad in the microcosm of football jargon but when I hear questions like "are you licking your lips at the prospect of taking on Manchester United again?" I want to die inside. Just look at RDZ looking over at his interpreter when he's clearly trying his best and doing great with how good his level of English is given the time he's been at the club. Seriously how hard is it to understand that you have to just grade down your language just a little bit? It's not rocket science.

Funnily enough, my partner and I were discussing this pre-match. We both have TEFL backgrounds too.

They could try to grade their language but in the long run it's probably beneficial for RDZ to be exposed to the colloquial language and clichés of football. The interpreter is on hand and he'll pick it up slowly but surely.

As for interviewers, I'm not sure many of them would understand what it means to grade your language. England's monolingualism often means native speakers see language learning as a binary thing. How many interviewers are even aware of what a phrasal verb or idiom is?

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Have said exactly the same before, so many UK football interviewers are idiots, using jargon with foreign managers and talking too fast. Can they honestly not step back and see it, although I guess the pressure to nail a quick interview is probably a factor, but even so.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Especially to someone who basically couldn't speak one word of English 6-7 months ago.

Yes Pep, Arteta, Kipperty etc... who have been here years probably get it but not someone who still needs an interpreter occasionally. It's not as if he's doing a Bielsa and refusing to speak English.

Still, Journos aren't known for their intellectual brilliance, as a general statement.

Tapping fingers awaiting couple of NSC regular journos to finish off a great day (but probably still out somewhere on the piss)

And I'm not denying it was a f***ing stupid question, which was the first thing I thought at the time

 

[Muzzman]

Should have told the journo to make sense or he’ll be “sleeping with the fishes…”

 

[Winker]

I was impressed by Undav's level of English when watching his interview on the Seagull's website.

For some bizarre reason, I assumed his English would be on par with his footballing ability!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Just SHOUT at him

 

[Eeyore]

I think it's okay, as long as questions are sensible. RDZ must have got his 'big balls' from somewhere.

His English is getting much, much better. But he still needs his interpreter to clarify questions. He may quite like that, as he learns more. The phrase 'licking your lips' is a new one to his bow. As long as he doesn't get that mixed up when using his 'big balls' quip.

 

[Midget]

Works in his favour though. I'm sure sometimes when they ask a really dumb question, he just says what he planned to say anyway and doesn't answer it.

Usually including:
fantastic
quality
my players
DNA
style
honour
and err...
(mmmm...)
balls
no?



I utterly love this guy

 

[Coalburner]

6-0 win and your moaning about post match Interview.

I'm moaning because my Parents decided to have my brother 40 years ago today and I was preoccupied with that and missed the game. Also had a family event for the Chelsea win.

You're, not your

 

[Sepulveda]

To be fair "licking your lips" is also used as an expression in Italian, though usually not in football. Maybe he didn't expect to find it in English as well, but I don't think that's it; most of his (and our) struggles come from understanding the words themselves through the fast enunciation and different pronunciation rules you have for all the new words.

 

[nsclurker]

6-0 win and your moaning about post match Interview.

I'm moaning because my Parents decided to have my brother 40 years ago today and I was preoccupied with that and missed the game. Also had a family event for the Chelsea win.

Get a new family?