Does this Sound Normal? Common Mistakes in Taiwanese English

As an English teacher in Taiwan, I've noticed certain classroom habits that impact fluency. The rule is clear—students must speak English at all times—but when they talk among themselves, they often repeat localized English phrases that may seem natural yet reinforce incorrect habits.

Like any regional English variation, Taiwanese English carries influences from the native language, similar to Singlish (Singaporean English) or Chinglish (Chinese-English blends). These phrases feel normal because everyone around them uses them, but that’s also why they persist over time.

Taiwanese English Examples

❌ "I go to shopping." (Incorrect)  

✅ "I go shopping." (Correct—'shopping' is an activity, not a place!) ❌ "You say what?" (Direct translation from 你說什麼)   ✅ "What did you say?" (Correct English phrasing) ❌ "She/he very like____." (Direct translation from 他很喜歡)  

✅ "She/he really likes ____." (Correct structure with subject-verb agreement) ❌ "Wait me a second." (Incorrect)  

✅ "Give me a second." or "Can you wait for me?" (Correct)

❌ "Are you sick? Drink more water." (Incorrect)   ✅ "Are you sick? Make sure you drink plenty of water." (Correct)

❌ "Do you want to eat some cookie?" (Incorrect—cookie should be plural)   ✅ "Do you want a cookie?" or "Would you like some cookies?" (Correct)

❌ "I ride motorcycle." (Incorrect—missing article)   ✅ "I ride a motorbike/scooter." (Correct)

❌ "There have many people." (Incorrect—wrong verb structure)   ✅ "There are a lot of people there." (Correct)

❌ "I need to eat medicine." (Incorrect—medicine is taken, not eaten)   ✅ "I need to take my medicine." (Correct)

❌ "My English is so poor." (Incorrect—unnatural phrasing)   ✅ "I don’t speak English very well." (Correct)

These phrases sound normal in Taiwan because they are reinforced in daily conversations, but they can limit fluency when speaking with native English speakers

How Can You Fix This?

✔ Listen to native English conversations and notice how sentences flow.

✔ Practice speaking with fluent speakers who correct mistakes. ✔ Teach your peers the correct phrasing, so everyone improves together!

Want more Taiwanese-English examples and ways to sound more natural? Check out my custom English learning resources!