"I’m no speek English": Artist Olana Janfa doesn't let bad English hold him back

Ivan Aristeguieta is obsessed with dialects, comparing them to the myriad different ways people have of making Bolognese. Guest Olana Janfa (who designed our podcast art) throws the menu out the window. He’s a self-taught artist and clothing designer from Ethiopia via Norway who refuses to be limited by 'bad English'. He won't hold himself back for want of perfect pronunciation or grammar. For Olana, speaking a second language is all about expression - doing it your own way. English language teacher Ai-Lin Bhugun tries to interest him and Ivan in the correct use of verbs.

Ethiopian Norwegian artist Olana Janfa created the podcast artwork for Bad English Credit: Peter Tarasiuk

I don't speak good English... I just speak. I dont see the language as a level of intelligence. I don't value it that way.

Olana Janfa

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"I’m no speek English": Artist Olana Janfa doesn't let bad English hold him back

SBS Audio

31:19English

Bad English is a comedy podcast from SBS Audio about the lows of learning the world's most widely spoken and studied language. Host Ivan Aristeguieta, English expert Ai-Lin Bhugun and special guests share their learning journeys, and hit back at the illogical rules and infuriating exceptions that govern the language. If you've ever wanted to vent your frustrations with learning English, this is the podcast for you.

Follow Bad English in the SBS Audio app, or wherever you get your podcasts, to catch all seven episodes in the series.

Host: Ivan Aristeguieta

Executive Producer: Ian Walker

Producers: Beź Zewdie

Sound design and edit: Tiffany Dimmack