on my keyboardi have i guess what they call a international keyboard and i am needing help to get it back to normal conmands

so this is how it is for a few examples:
i have my normal keys for lettering.
but on ce i get into the shift button every thing changes
here is what i have for a key board that is now working for me
after downloading ubuntu 8.o4

at the top with all the numbers, normally i hit shift and the 2 button and now i get now this( ") where i should be getting (@) press the 3 button and i should get number sign and i get this( / ) this symbals the normal key color for the @ button should be blue but i am getting the red side of the button I have alot of red,blur double blue double red that i have never used before ex. shift +question mark in the blue color i get the É. upper right corner beside my right shift button in red in color
i have no clue to fix this .the only way i can get the @ button is by pressing the small red alt
                                                                                                                                             car buttion by the space bar
can some one help this issue sooner would be better;
but i take you for any information possable

P.s took it a comp. store and they said it is likily that the keyboard was not on genaric 1 keyboad canada . so i got him to check.that was not the issue
please help

............jeff............