Ezzat Yaseen
Which is better off to be foucused on(formal English or slang English)?
Apr 21, 2018 7:45 PM
Comments · 5
9

Neither!

You should not focus on formal English or slang until your English has reached an advanced level. If, for example, you go to study in an English-speaking country, you may need formal English for academic essays, and you may need to familiarise yourself with some slang expressions that you'll hear in your daily life there.

For the moment, however, you need to focus on STANDARD English. This is the straightforward everyday language that is used by English speakers 99% of the time. It's the English that you'll find in your textbooks, on TV,  in TED talks, and in the English-speaking world in general.  Not formal and not slang.  Just ordinary English.

Of course, if you come across examples of formal language or slang as you're learning English, it does no harm to find out what these words and expressions mean and remember them. But you shouldn't focus on either of these extremes of language until you've mastered standard English. 

You need to build a solid house before you start decorating it with fancy fixtures and fittings.

April 21, 2018
5
I ageee with Su.Ki., you need to learn the standard language first, and to high level, even before attempting to use slang.  Formel language is not useful in the real world since people don’t use it anyway, at least not on a day to day basis. In specific studies at a university, formal language might be necessary, but it’s not in ordinary speech. I always tell non-natives to inderstand slang, which is fine, but NEVER use it yourself until you reach a near native level of fluency, accent free or virtually accent free, and know the ins and outs of the slang first. Slang is very nuanced and very regional. And, if a non-native uses slang improperly , you’re likely to get either some funny looks, at the least,  or just be laughed at at the worst, and embarass yourself. Foreign speakers of English who use slang, even when used properly, just sound comical to a native listener. It’s an odd phenomenon that’s been used in comedy routines in the US for years. The foreign guy with the heavy accent who uses slang to try and sound native. It’s hilarious and doesn’t work out well for the non-native. Plus, you don’t need to use slang anyway. Just use the traditional words. I’m a native speaker of English and I never use slang, not to know knowledge. I have no reason to need it. So, understand slang, but don’t use it. 
April 21, 2018
5
There's no reason to focus on one or the other, but you don't have to wait until you're an advanced speaker to learn aspects of both. When you learn new words and phrases, it is a good idea to know if it is slang or formal so that you know what situation to use it in. My advice is learn whatever comes your way, but know how and when to use it.
April 21, 2018
4
Oh, and don’t confuse slang with idioms. Idioms are not slang.  Understand idioms and only use them when you know the language pretty well, and that’s fine. I use idioms all the time and don’t even think about it; but, I’m not that crazy about slang, so I don’t use it myself. Not that I’m aware of. 
April 21, 2018
2
Not to mention, using slang is not just about memorizing a word or phrase. Its knowing HOW to say it. Which syllable of the slang word gets a certain stress, what body language is used when the slang word is said. All of this comes very natural to native speakers but can come across completely wrong if not said properly and in the right context. Honestly, English is my first language and even I dont really use slang that often. Especially what the kids are using now, I guess that just means I'm getting old. Hahaha. Good luck. Dont stress over it. Learning a language should be as fun as possible .
April 22, 2018