All aboard for lesson in Mickey Mouse English

There are many types of English usage, including the Queen's English and American English. And then there is Disney English, or at least a franchised audio and video programme for young children under the World of English series.

I love Disney cartoons. My kids pick up many English words from watching Mickey Mouse and The Little Mermaid.

I was even once tempted to buy the English-language teaching series, until I found they cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, promoted by salespeople well-versed in the dark art of the city's beauty salon sales tactics.

But recently, their RoadShow TV ads on buses helped me make up my mind. One segment teaches about lunch, dinner and snacks. All very well, and the hostess speaks perfect English, until you look at the subtitles. When the presenter says 'Get dressed', it becomes 'Get dress' in the subtitles, while 'Time for some snacks' becomes 'Time for some snakes'. The latter is arguably correct, since we Chinese do make snake soup in winter.

When an office colleague heard about this, it finally dawned on him what a waitress was saying to him at a Japanese restaurant in Hokkaido where he took his family for a winter vacation. 'Want some snakes?' she asked.

Want some Disney English?