English language learners should beware of saying ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’

Yeah Yeah Yeahs is a popular indie band, but “Yeah, yeah, yeah” is a problematic response to job interview questions.

“In common use almost every word has many shades of meaning, and therefore needs to be interpreted by the context.”

Television personalities, celebrities, and basketball players often respond to questions with “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” In fact, there’s a popular indie band called the “Yeah Yeah Yeahs.” Many English language learners mimic this phrase, partly because they want to sound like the “typical” American. It’s a good instinct.

TONE MATTERS

Yet this casual expression can also be a profound mistake in more formal settings, like job interviews. It’s one thing when a professional basketball player who has just scored 45 points in a game and makes $25 million a year, is asked “Do you feel good about your performance tonight?” It’s another when a student is asked a verifying question such as “You have been studying English for five years, correct?” saying “Yeah, yeah, yeah” in response can be viewed as disrespectful. This snappy response has become a personal pet peeve of mine when interviewing international students for their language skills. Perhaps they think they’re just confirming the fact in a casual manner. Alas, “yeah, yeah, yeah” sends a less friendly message.

I’ve often discussed the importance of informational interviews, and it would be a shame that a students’ misunderstanding could reflect unfavorably upon them to potential employers. “Yeah, yeah, yeah” can sound condescending and even snarky. (Snarky, by the way, denotes a sharp, cutting and caustic tone).

Context almost always counts. Let’s clearly distinguish the casual and professional setting to make students aware of boundaries. “Yeah, yeah, yeah” sounds perfect if you want to accept a friend’s invitation to a beach party. You can also inadvertently offend a potential employer by repeating the same phrase. Be aware; be careful.

What are some of your pet peeves in daily conversations? How do you teach the importance of tone in your English classes?

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Eric

Eric H. Roth teaches international graduate students the pleasures and perils of academic writing and public speaking in English at the University of Southern California (USC). He also co-authors of the ELT fluency-focused Compelling Conversations series. Roth co-authored Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics in 2006 to help English language learners increase their English fluency. Recommended by English Teaching Professional magazine, the advanced ESL textbook has been used in over 50 countries in English classrooms and conversation clubs. Easy English Times, an adult literacy newspaper, published a monthly column, “Instant Conversation Activities,” based on the book for over a decade. The first specific version for a particular country, Vietnam, was published in 2011, followed by 2012's "Compelling American Conversations". A title for Japanese learners, "Compelling Conversations – Japan", was released in 2015, and a second edition of "Compelling Conversations – Vietnam" in 2016. "Creating Compelling Conversations: Reproducible Search and Share Activities for English Teachers" (2019) reflects his educational philosophy that students deserve a choice and a voice in their English classes. Eric enjoys sharing reflections, resources, and teaching tips on this blog. Many intelligent followers of many related hashtags - #ESL #EFL #ELF #CATESOL #TESOL #ELT - might find enjoy these posts.