FACT- No possums are in the United States.

[@prtmanprtGod]

That wasn't a possum in your trash can, that was an opossum.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

I know. It’s hard to change the name. 😜

[@helens.8816]

OH WOW!!!!! I REALLY REALLY LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY!!! I am from Louisiana, and l always called them possums. I really love this teacher.❤

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

You are so welcome!

[@OfficerSuperman_she-her]

Louisianan here, as well! Born and raised here in Baton Rouge! ✊🏾💪🏾🩵💯

[@deemo7868]

I learned something new, today. I blame the old television series "The Beverly Hillbillies" for the misinformation 🤣🤣🤣

[@Tigerhead83]

I agree 😂

[@SistahRev]

Yes, Granny did this to us!! 😂😂😂

[@spiritualjoy721]

And geography😊

[@gwenniegirl50]

Don’t blame Granny. People have been saying 'possum forever, at least in my neck of the woods. Yes, I’m from the South.

[@Tigerhead83]

@@gwenniegirl50 For some of us who didn't grow up in the South, she was the first exposure we had to that type of lifestyle and culture.😀 We took her words to be law! Yes, I know her words were written by some script writers in Hollywood! I wonder what her possum pie recipe consisted of? 👍😀🥧🥧🥧

[@BadBoyBobby85]

When Science meets English 👍

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Yes✅✅✅

[@imParisthoee]

I’m sure this has to do with linguistics, a sound change specifically. Saying “an opossum” fast can over time just sound like a-possum, canceling out the “n”and “o”. I don’t think it’s because we’ve been confusing the two animals

[@Jewknow]

I know you want to sound right and want to come up with "theories" but, that ain't it. Most words stay the same and don't lose there "linguistics" over time especially in animals that we see everyday. I can't imagine a word like "Opossum" losing its "O" overtime ,especially seeing how so frequently we see them. Either way even if I was to play into you "Theory" ,it would still show the flaw in education for not correcting it when it first began.

[@imParisthoee]

@ okay?

[@lovejones0686]

I definitely learned something new today. I miss this type of learning.

[@AliRisings]

I appreciate this lesson! Thank you❣️

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

I'm glad you learned something! 😊

[@madameshuggadrosenbloom1111]

68 years young...I be darned, I just learnt something. I never, ever knew "opossum" was a real word. I've always heard the slang "play dead like a possume," but I didn't know possums / opossums really play dead. So, NA would say "play dead like a opossum." 😅 Thanks for the lesson and story.

[@QueenGail]

An opossum not a 😂I just learned that from this channel and I’m older than you Blessings 💚💜

[@unorthodox7945]

I was taught similar things as a child. Now as a man I wish that lecture time had been spent on FICO, credit score, taxes, how to handle money, investments, stock market. You have a good teaching style Im sure they'll enjoy those topics as well.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Thanks for sharing! Fun fact. I teach English but won an award for incorporating economics into my ELA lessons. 😜

[@unorthodox7945]

@iamthatenglishteacher Oh, wow! Congratulations, and thank you for educating and empowering our young people!!

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

My pleasure.

[@Heyu7her3]

🙄 Knowing what those things are still will not make you rich. Policy _(language)_ and greed do that.

[@gailjones7044]

​@@Heyu7her3Exactly

[@ellieteixeira3621]

Opossum soup, oh no 😂😂

[@Chutney1luv]

Well I had an opossum walking down my driveway in broad day light, with her babies on her back. She turned around and looked at me as if to say, "What are you looking at?" And kept on walking Shw did not run or jump! I was shocked! They nest up in trees that I thought were squirrels and birds nest! 🫢🐦

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

👀😳😳😳

[@QueenGail]

Say it ain’t so😮 now I have to stay away from trees 😢 Blessings 💜💚

[@veen0610]

Lol yeeeeah they gives no cares! They just slow bop through life lol

[@KimTheGoodGirl]

I am very passionate about this animal fact.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

❤️

[@ComenowLordJesus]

Beverly hillbillies had it wrong all that time. Thanks😂

[@Scholar_1]

Grandson? I thought you were 20 yrs old Teacher☺️😌. I learned something new today. 🤗🤗🤗🇨🇦

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

I am almost 60. 😜

[@jeep128]

Today years old when I learned this 😂

[@brazyboytazz]

I just learned this today lol ❤❤❤ thank you

[@sosoulmomma5001]

I love your content. Just a little note, The Common brushtail possum from Australia was released in New Zealand about 1870. They have had a detrimental effect on the environment. Cheers.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Thank you! That is really interesting.

[@SisKrys]

Either way, they're still trash pandas!!😂

[@juanitaabernathy5590]

Help us, you just made that so interesting. I hope a young mind is stimulated!

[@calebmcgowan2493]

My buddy dates snow possums but he calls them bunnies 😂

[@carmelitacarter3913]

I learned something today ❤❤❤❤

[@bman7452]

Yeah…no buffaloes either😂

[@YOUR-WORD-IS-YOUR-BOND]

There were bufflos here! Just like there were lions, tigers, and panthers...

[@francisforney6356]

​@@YOUR-WORD-IS-YOUR-BONDand camels

[@fvrrljr]

*in my 60's ever since Jr. High when i heard of 'possum stew, i would like to try*

[@JOMBA-k8f]

Wow she looks like TI's wife, Tiny!

[@rachaelfitzgerald8073]

Opossum I'm north America, possums in Australia

[@gwenniegirl50]

I was taught about opossum in grade school. We learned that the O is often dropped when speaking of the animal. Also, that there is no S on the end. Why people today don’t know that, I can’t be sure.

[@spiritualjoy721]

I always thought opossum was pronounced possum; so, I thought there was no such “critter”😊 as a possum. I love her story. I do not like rodents either and she would have had to catch up with me. They are indeed creepy looking. My former neighbor told me the next time I saw one to let him know-he had a nine gauge waiting.😬

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Glad you enjoyed the story.

[@Margatatials]

Possums aren't rodents they are marsupials, I don't know about opossum though

[@Bigez4sheezy]

O-o-o-opossum!

[@QueenofWands3333]

Wow. Until today, I thought the two were interchangeable. I just recently started saying opossum in jest because I thought the O was silent 🤦🏾‍♀️😂😂😂😂😂. Thank you ❤.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

You are not alone!😂

[@veen0610]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@profc4766]

I was today years old when I learned the difference between a possum and an opossum. Thanks American education system. 🤦🏽‍♂️ 🙄

[@lalaland2107]

I’ve heard of both but never knew there was a species in Australia. When I would see the word “possum” I thought, “oh, so it’s not ‘opossum’ “.

[@111dubyaeej]

You’re amazing. Can you please instruct on the sentence diagram or is it still a thing for writing?

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Not a thing.

[@DanaeLaurenTolbert]

Lol. Yaaay and they look totally different there.

[@Seeing_it_as_it_is]

You know it almost 48 years old I tell even my mother as long as you're not afraid to learn your brain will stay sharp thank you for this new lesson. I will be calling them opossums until I don't know my hand to my butt because in Texas everybody wants to call it a possum No sorry it's a opossum

[@MsTexas73]

Both are marsupials

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

*see description

[@MsTexas73]

@@iamthatenglishteacherI saw it. I was trying to be to edit when the video changed. Was including details that they are good for the yard as they help keep pests like snakes, ticks, and small rodents out.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Wow. I’m scared of them.

[@MsTexas73]

@ I know right. I don’t wanna be up and close with them either. But I’d rather they be in the yard than some of the other critters.

[@charlenemcgill2961]

Years ago, my motion light came on, when I looked out of the window, there was an opossum on my fence.It scared me so bad, that I looked it up and found out that it was called an Opossum as opposed to an possum.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

✅❤️

[@sobeit3356]

What is with the use of the word unalived? Why can't we just say dead?

[@chrism9294]

Based on what I’ve read, certain words will get your comment and or video flagged. So to avoid that people use alternative words or phrases.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

✅✅

[@peteroutlaw7207]

Thank you for the opossum. I saw one several times when I went walking. He was weird walking and growling. My brother thought he might be sick. Some neighbor kids saw him and warned them he might be sick. A week later he walked up to my window making a strange sound almost like crying. I knew they could play possum or opossum, but he bloody stiff and not moving for over two days in my yard. I bagged it and put him out. I felt so bad for it. I think a cat or other animal ate bites out him.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

😳

[@Rosyid2040]

This section here more like a biology class than English 😂

[@lostinmyimagination7485]

Not me being 49 y/o feeling stupid. I hate them all.

[@ilianaingram5931]

Why a person that make the point to teach us that we use possum instead of a opossum use the word unalive instead dead?

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Some words get flagged as not appropriate for children. 🧐

[@43xoxo2]

KZbin will flag the KZbinrs content.

[@skriabinfly]

Because the Irish brought over the O'Possums 😂

[@TruthAndLight4995]

Wow 🤯

[@nataliegerdano6028]

Am still a little confused is the only difference the name the place they call it. Like is the only difference the name changed. Is it the same animal just different name?

[@rueben44]

How can they do a comparison when they never knew that one existed or what it is....period. just playing this is amazing i never knew that.

[@monalisa542]

Unalive? Just said dead.

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Get blocked. No. I’ll pass.

[@veen0610]

I can't believe it's so many adults in the comments that didn't know this 😂

[@TheIllusionofAmerica]

Thank you! A few years ago, I went to take out the trash one morning-when I lifted up the lid, an opposum jumped out, nearly scared me half to death, ran around my yard, and plopped down right in front of my door on the porch. I was too freaked out to try and step over it/around it to get back inside, so I called animal control to come pick it up. So, as I'm explaining what happened to the person on the other end, she interrupted me and was like, "Hold on ma'am, "o" possum?? I *think* you mean "possum," the "o" is silent." I was like, "No, I meant "opposum," and I *think* you need to bring somebody out here, instead of trying to correct me. Thank you! 😘" So crazy when people try to pick apart something you've said, when they have no idea what they're talking about 🤦🏽‍♀️ Edit: typo

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

That’s hilarious! I would have been terrified too.

[@roee78]

Wow. I learned something new today. I did not know that there were two different critters!! I had a possum ...I mean an opossum in my fenced townhouse backyard and immediately became hysterical 😂. I had already in my mind packed everything to move because surely it would find its way into my house.😂 I called animal control and was informed a trap could be dropped off and I could trap it...I was like, "What you talking about Willis?" So I called a coworker and he and another brother came to investigate. By this time it was under my deck. They had to get the waterhose to flush it out. It turned out to be a female as it had babies on its tail. It scaled the fence and catwalked the fence as they chased it. Babies falling off. I of course was screaming 😂, get it get it! It ran into nearby wooded area. They retrived the babies because they said she would come back for them. Uggg. My coworker laughed til tears came from his eyes as he said being from some part of Florida (we were in Northern VA) his family would have had that possum...I mean opossum for dinner with some cornbread dressing and yams. I was done😂😂. Conclusion of the matter I literally did not go in my backyard to sit on deck for 2 yesrs.😂😂 I do not do critters of any sort. Thanks for the lesson and flashback.😂 You are an educator through and through. Love it!!

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

That is hilarious! Thanks for sharing. 😂

[@QueenGail]

😂😂😂 we are the same person 😂😂😂 thanks for sharing Blessings 💜💚

[@Rose-qh4qh]

Teacher HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your lovely students 🥂🎊🎉🥳💥🤩💥🥰🌟. That lesson was very educational and scary 😬 all at the same time. I hope that you'll never have to go through that experience again 🙏

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Happy New Year. I will always have a good story.

[@jaytee2642]

Ok now...I need some clarification here. Do opossums play "possum" or "opossum"?🤔

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

Possum I guess.

[@thecalinurse1146]

❤️🖤💚👑

[@iamsaved7]

It is not wrong to call the North American animal a possum. The Australian animal was named "possum" in English because it resembled what English explorers had found in North America. Possum is simply a shortening of opossum and the two words have been used interchangeably in North America for many generations. (O)possum is actually an Algonquian (Native American) word. When it comes to language, it's better to speak about tradition, standard vs. non-standard, etc., than it is to talk about RIGHT and WRONG. Possum has been a common variant of the word in North America for hundreds of years. It is not wrong.

[@Terrywitme2]

Oh

[@BKAlexander53]

MISLEADING: Opossums are found across the Americas; North, South, and Central. While the text bubble did clarify, please provide citation and notify your students. Additionally, this title should be reworded to emphasize the native origin of the species. The statement is a generalization, which overlooks potential non-native animals. Didelphis spp. opossums and their parasites in the Americas: A One Health perspective. Arthropods and Medical Entomology - Review, Open access, Published: 31 March 2021 Subscribed and looking forward to more content. ❤

[@iamthatenglishteacher]

I appreciate your attentiveness.

[@Themma129]

You are the BEST!

[@candicecfcl2971]

You can also make Opposum stew and curry. 😅😅😅 In the Caribbean they are called manicou!!

[@YAHSCHILD82]

That is unclean meat🤮🤮🤮