[mesmark]

So, I was in class when one of my students came up to me and told me I was wrong. I did my usual no I didn't spell that word wrong you must have uh.. um.. copied it down wrong preparation, but she told me people don't say "I'm good." or "I'm great." in Canada, in response to "How are you?"

So, more to the point, I teach everyone to respond to How are you? with "I'm good, thanks." or "I'm great, thank you." Someone at my student's elementary school came in and told them the above and that they should respond with "I'm fine, thank you."

I know it's in the textbooks (although the better textbooks have I'm just fine.) But, I never used that response until I came to japan (when no other response registered.)

How are you? I'm fine, thank you. drives me nuts. Do you teach this? Did it seem strange to you the first time you heard it?