I loved watching her as a figure skater and I respect her in her role as judge. I'm still stunned DOI managed to secure her to be honest - I hope she becomes a permanent fixture.
And I had no problem understanding her whatsoever. I thought she was very articulate.
I really like her. I understand her perfectly well and I think her constructive criticism is very professional even if I disagree with her or find her a bit too harsh at times. I think for her first show she did especially well. It's great to have a panel where every judge knows what they're talking about and has a successful career of their own to back it up. Even Louie Spence is doing well and I can't stand him normally!
And isn't it refreshing having a panel of people who all know what they're talking about and are genuinely passionate about their subject, rather than pretty faces like Emma Bunton or so-called "personalities" like Jason?
She's brilliant. She obviously knows her stuff and carries a lot of credibility as a skater, but she was very articulate, was able to express herself clearly and use a varied and precise vocabulary to explain what she liked, or didn't like, and did so with personality.
I had no issues with her accent at all. I'm amazed anyone did.
I loved watching her as a figure skater and I respect her in her role as judge. I'm still stunned DOI managed to secure her to be honest - I hope she becomes a permanent fixture.
And I had no problem understanding her whatsoever. I thought she was very articulate.
She gets a 6.0 from Sid!
Me too! I did a sort of dropped jaw gasp and said excitedly 'That's Katarina Witt!' I think the cat was impressed...
She is practically perfect in every way and I loved her articulate, fair and constructive comments, even when I didn't necessarily agree with them. She even managed humour, FFS, which is definitely not easy in a second language.
I am amazed that some people found her hard to understand.
I had no problems understanding everything Katarina said.
I couldn't understand a word Jorgie said in her VT, however, Jorgie's performance more than made up for that
Another vote for Katarina here. She knows what she's talking about unlike some previous judges, and as others have pointed out, she speaks English better than many English people.
BIB: I couldn't either, glad it's not just me. I agree about her (Jorgie's) performance which was beautiful.
I had no problems understanding everything Katarina said.
I couldn't understand a word Jorgie said in her VT, however, Jorgie's performance more than made up for that
In terms of foreigners speaking English it depends where/by whom they were taught. In terms of accents of natives I think we can all point to those we find easier to understand than others, no matter what our own accent is.
I am old enough to remember her skating competitively. I think she makes a positive contribution to the panel. It was a good move to appoint her.
Those who claim(?) to not be able to understand her are just being lazy. As someone who has worked all over the UK and Europe, I have been humbled by the trouble people from other countries go to to speak MY language. A little effort on my part to understand them is no big deal.
As for UK dialects, I once had to explain to a Scot from Airdrie what another Scot, from Elgin was saying. They are only about 150 miles apart!
With all due respect, like fairplay to her for her ice dancing career and acheivments .. but lads i could barely understand what she said .. i didn't think she gave good constructive criticism and she brings nothing to the panel .. Karen barber would have been waaaay better
I had absolutely no problem in understanding Katarina.
With all due respect, like fairplay to her for her ice dancing career and acheivments .. but lads i could barely understand what she said .. i didn't think she gave good constructive criticism and she brings nothing to the panel .. Karen barber would have been waaaay better
What?
I thought Katarina was excellent and her English is amazing! I didn't have the slightest problem understanding her.
You know what comes to mind... That Little Britain sketch, Fat Club? Where the woman can't understand anything 'a foreigner' says, not because they have a thick accent, but because they are foreign.
You know what comes to mind... That Little Britain sketch, Fat Club? Where the woman can't understand anything 'a foreigner' says, not because they have a thick accent, but because they are foreign.
Snap, the same thing comes to my mind whenever I read a comment stating ' I can't understand a word he/she is saying' about regional or foreign presenters. Often I find the comments are thinly veiled or that the posters lack tolerance.
It's nice to have a female judge who isn't touted as "bitchy" or "Ice queen" or anything like that.
She seems genuinley nice.
Believe me: She's not nice. :eek:
Katarina Witt is one of the most annoying celebrities we've got in Germany. She always wears the same fake smile, and I guess she would be ready to sell her own grandmother if the price was right.
In the 80s, she was one of the most privileged athletes in the GDR, she praised the socialist system, she even held a speech in the East German parliament ("What I have achieved - I owe it all to the GDR"). A few years later, she immediately blended in with the new capitalist system, using her good looks and her Olympic medals as a door opener. Katarine Witt is probably the only East German "Wendehals" (turncoat) that got away with this kind of opportunism. All other celebrities and politicians who tried to do this have failed in one way or another.
Katarina Witt is one of the most annoying celebrities we've got in Germany. She always wears the same fake smile, and I guess she would be ready to sell her own grandmother if the price was right.
In the 80s, she was one of the most privileged athletes in the GDR, she praised the socialist system, she even held a speech in the East German parliament ("What I have achieved - I owe it all to the GDR"). A few years later, she immediately blended in with the new capitalist system, using her good looks and her Olympic medals as a door opener. Katarine Witt is probably the only East German "Wendehals" (turncoat) that got away with this kind of opportunism. All other celebrities and politicians who tried to do this have failed in one way or another.
Oh come on, get real. How on earth could anyone have been a major sports star in the GDR and criticise the system?
Comments
I loved watching her as a figure skater and I respect her in her role as judge. I'm still stunned DOI managed to secure her to be honest - I hope she becomes a permanent fixture.
And I had no problem understanding her whatsoever. I thought she was very articulate.
She gets a 6.0 from Sid!
i though this aswell, i think she is a great addition to the show and is more than qualified to judge this competition.
Completely fabulous and gave what was a vacuous show last year a little touch of dignity. (helped by the dollie with the huge... not being there)
I had no issues with her accent at all. I'm amazed anyone did.
I couldn't understand a word Jorgie said in her VT, however, Jorgie's performance more than made up for that
She seems genuinley nice.
Me too! I did a sort of dropped jaw gasp and said excitedly 'That's Katarina Witt!' I think the cat was impressed...
She is practically perfect in every way and I loved her articulate, fair and constructive comments, even when I didn't necessarily agree with them. She even managed humour, FFS, which is definitely not easy in a second language.
I am amazed that some people found her hard to understand.
Another vote for Katarina here. She knows what she's talking about unlike some previous judges, and as others have pointed out, she speaks English better than many English people.
BIB: I couldn't either, glad it's not just me. I agree about her (Jorgie's) performance which was beautiful.
In terms of foreigners speaking English it depends where/by whom they were taught. In terms of accents of natives I think we can all point to those we find easier to understand than others, no matter what our own accent is.
Those who claim(?) to not be able to understand her are just being lazy. As someone who has worked all over the UK and Europe, I have been humbled by the trouble people from other countries go to to speak MY language. A little effort on my part to understand them is no big deal.
As for UK dialects, I once had to explain to a Scot from Airdrie what another Scot, from Elgin was saying. They are only about 150 miles apart!
What's not to understand?!
What?
I thought Katarina was excellent and her English is amazing! I didn't have the slightest problem understanding her.
Snap, the same thing comes to my mind whenever I read a comment stating ' I can't understand a word he/she is saying' about regional or foreign presenters. Often I find the comments are thinly veiled or that the posters lack tolerance.
Katarina Witt is one of the most annoying celebrities we've got in Germany. She always wears the same fake smile, and I guess she would be ready to sell her own grandmother if the price was right.
In the 80s, she was one of the most privileged athletes in the GDR, she praised the socialist system, she even held a speech in the East German parliament ("What I have achieved - I owe it all to the GDR"). A few years later, she immediately blended in with the new capitalist system, using her good looks and her Olympic medals as a door opener. Katarine Witt is probably the only East German "Wendehals" (turncoat) that got away with this kind of opportunism. All other celebrities and politicians who tried to do this have failed in one way or another.
Oh come on, get real. How on earth could anyone have been a major sports star in the GDR and criticise the system?