In June 2007 a Polish airliner carrying 89 passengers nearly collided with another aeroplane over Heathrow Airport because the captain and the crew had problems communicating in English. The pilots had configured their navigational systems incorrectly and they had to rely on coordinates given to them by the English air traffic controllers. They could hardly understand what was being said, and several times they “turned the aeroplane in the opposite direction given by controllers” – causing an oncoming aeroplane to have to change course in order to avoid a catastrophic mid-air collision.
Like it or not, English has become the de facto language for many industries, including the aviation industry. The story above illustrates the importance of clear English communication in today’s world.
Thankfully, English miscommunication doesn’t always lead to fatal air accidents. In day-to-day affairs, however, it can lead to some embarrassing or funny situations. Check out the video we posted above to see an example of a truly disastrous instance of misunderstanding.
Do you have an embarrassing or funny experience to share about misunderstandings in English? Post it below and you could win one of the following prizes:
The first person to send a story will receive 4 Telephone Coaching sessions.
The best story will receive a 6 month subscription to The English Works Club.
The contest ends May 31st, so hurry up!
3 comments ↓
Hello Babelcom,
20 years ago in a pizza restaurant downtown London, a waitress served me a cold pizza.
With my best English, I asked her (intenting to have the pizza warmed-up):
Could you please eat it ?
She was stunned … especially since she didn’t realize that for me HEAT and EAT had the same pronounciation !
She ignored me of course and rather ashamed and disappointed I finished my cold pizza.
Eric
Ufffff.. some time ago before I start with Babelcom my husband and I went to Oxford to visit our daughter who has a boyfriend from there. We made a visit to the parents of her boyfriend and they invited us for a dinner. When we left I remembered my handy English phrases from my pocket Espasa guidebook and said “Thank you for your hostility.”. Of course I mean to say “hospitality”. My embarrassed daughter told me later of my mistake. Thanks god they were a nice and charming couple! Now I am happy my English is much better and I am not so “hostile” anymore.
Nice stories, both of you!
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