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Ask for help > Bathroom or toilet ?
Bathroom or toilet ?

Pretty3
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Bathroom or toilet ?
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Hi,
Can you tell me which better to learn sts to say in school
Can I go to the bathroom ?
or
Can I go to the toilet?
I think it �s better to say Can I go to the toilet?
but I don �t know in the text books always we see Can I go to the bathroom ?
What do you think ???
Regards,
Pretty
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26 Sep 2011
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elenillatop20
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I �d always go for �toilet � in a school context. Better yet, I think �may � would be the appropriate modal. Have you ever heard of this?:
Student: Can I go to the toilet? Teacher: Of course you can, but you may not.
Have a nice day.
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26 Sep 2011
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Pinky Makus
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It depends what type of English you are teaching, American or British. In Canada, asking to go to the toilet may get you a funny look. We usually use the words washroom, bathroom, ladies room or men �s room. Here the word toilet refers to the thing you sit on not the room that it is in.
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26 Sep 2011
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ueslteacher
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may is very formal, don �t you think? I did teach my ss to use it though... My ss usually ask: may I go out? (sort of not to mention what is obvious:) Sophia |
26 Sep 2011
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lizsantiago
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i teach american english and they say may i go to the restrooms? since bathroom is what you have at home and restrooms refers to the public one. |
26 Sep 2011
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Pauline Burke MSc
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In Ireland we had to say "Do I have permission to go to the toilet please?" in Gaeilge (Irish), which is very formal, or we didn�t go. Here, in Spain, my students usually say "can I go to the toilet please?". I think �may I go�is better English but try explaining that to elementary students! Going to the bathroom has come from America, I even think it with an American accent. Personally, I don�t know why we force children to ask. If they need to go, they need to go. Why can�t they just say excuse me and leave the room. |
27 Sep 2011
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zailda
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The students usually say: "Can I go out?", I prefer they don �t mention where they go (drink water or use the restroom) because it may be embarrassing for shy students. I �d not ask them to use "toilet", I �d rather use "restroom" if they wanted to state exactly where they go. |
27 Sep 2011
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Rumeisa
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HI
i usually teach students "may i go to the restroom/bathroom,please?". Now they prefer not to mention what are they going to do there, because some would make fun of others if they ask to go there. I also try to teach them to use break time for going there instead of lesson, because it disturbs everybody.
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27 Sep 2011
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joy2bill
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Here in Australia we "call a spade a spade � so we would say �toilet �. Cheers Joy ps �to call a spade a spade � is to say exactly what something is and not pretend it is something else |
27 Sep 2011
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Redbull
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All these comments and no English teacher has said "LOO" I always ask my students to say loo, it �s an informal word for lavatory. "Toilet" being soooo common in the English language.
British English.
My I go/be excused......... to/for.......... the loo.
Loo being the Queen�s English and used by upper class people.
REDBULL GIVES YOU WINGS YOU KNOW
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27 Sep 2011
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libertybelle
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After living in Europe for so long - I �ve learned that Americans are very embarrassed about bodily functions - that �s why they never ask to go to the toilet - but the bathroom, where the toilet is situated. This doesn �t seem to be a problem for Europeans at all.
Or as Liz write - the restrooms - which are public facilities. we also use lavatory - but European ask to go to the toilet or loo.
Weird because everyone has got to go!!
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27 Sep 2011
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