Engrish is funny!

One source of endless amusement for ESL teachers is Engrish.com, a website devoted to only the best of mangled English phrases in packaging, advertising and signage.

A few well-chosen examples from this site can be used as neat little icebreakers for your lesson. Students will attempt to figure out why the backwards syntax is actually funny and hopefully share a laugh in the process.

A word of warning, though: some images that will immediately strike native English speakers as hilarious will only leave ESL students frustrated that they can't share in the joke. Worse, they may be made to feel as though the teacher is making fun of their countrymen's earnest efforts to accomodate English speakers in their native country.

This can be an excellent source of interesting and humorous activities, but use with caution.

tags: Engrish, ESL, teacher, student, native speakers, advertising