Letter: Proper English is not taught

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 | 5:29 a.m.

I am sponsoring an exchange student from Germany for his senior year in high school. One of his goals is to speak better English.

We have discussed phrases such as "like, you know," "n' stuff," "you guys" (to females), "really," etc. He said all of his teachers used these expressions.

He came home the next day and said he counted nine "you knows" in a fragmented sentence delivered by one of his teachers. He had lost track of the noun and verb. No wonder our own children can't speak proper English.

You know, really. 'Nuff said.

RENA MOORE

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