self-cryptography and self-immolation

One of the things that is most difficult about the Japanese language is that they have borrowed so many English words and then adapted them into their language. This would be fine if, like, say, in America someone came up and told you they did 'ka-ra-te' without mangling it the usual American way of 'ka-rot-y'--you would get get it, right? Not the same here. I have just stopped saying anything at this point because it seems impossible for anyone to cross the English-Japanized English divide, myself included. 8 times out of 10 the thing I am looking for has the English word as its name, but it doesn't matter because no one understands it when I say it. 'Magnet' and several mimed gestures later and then a showing of the product produces 'Oh! You mean magneto.' Really? No one can hear the similarities of magnet and magneto? I feel like if I just add a vowel onto the end of a word I might end up with what I want....like that time my dad claimed he was fluent in Spanish and just added el to the beginning and -o to the end. Yeah. As in pass me that el towel-o. However, I am just as guilty. I am baffled when holding the other end of the stick. Today my principal was trying to help me read something and explaining the words I didn't know and we got to this part about aisu education.

'You at least know what aisu is, don't you?'
'....Aisu?'
'Yes, aisu. You know, aisu. Many people die.'
'....'
'In Africa.'
'[quizzical head turn. I have animal language down.]'
'Of the sex. You know.'
'OH! AIDS!'
'Yes. Aisu.'
Then he patted me on the back and walked away.