Comments on: Here Comes the Sun

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:32:05 +0000

Gabriella, I can only hope it'll do some good. I've taught foreigners English for the last 8 years. I volunteer. I would hope someone in another country would do the same for me or someone like me. You said it exactly: No one deserves to be treated that way. My student thanked me. She said that's why she won't go out in public and order food, buy groceries, etc. She's come across the same attitude - and she's trying like hell to learn the language. And frankly, her langauge skills are pretty darned good. Her pronunciation is off, but her understanding and translation is mid-level.

Katharine, it's that blase attitude that bugs me. These are people who automatically assume the world will adapt to English. I would love to see any one of them dropped into Brazil for one day. Hell, one hour would have them thinking twice about how they treat foreigners here.

Devon, that's common courtesy, and you're a good egg for attempting the language. :) Unlike some Americans, people do appreciate the effort.

By: Katharine Swan

Katharine Swan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:21:37 +0000

Lori, I've done the same thing -- stick up for non-English-speaking foreigners, I mean. English is a very difficult language to learn, especially when you have no formal training -- and let's be honest, how many of these immigrants have the money for English lessons? They're coming over here because they're poor, and are trying to make a better life for themselves.

As for Americans learning the language when they visit foreign countries -- you're right, most don't. I remember a lady I used to babysit for telling me I should travel Europe after college. I told her, "But I don't know any of the languages," and she said, "You don't need to! Everyone over there speaks English anyway." It's very nonchalant, this attitude that everyone ought to speak English for our convenience, but it certainly isn't limited to immigrants.

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:16:17 +0000

Lori, I don't have much to say on writing as teaching (I think we do that every day), but I want to say that you did a good thing writing that letter and casually confronting the clerk. Not many people would have. I only wish the Spanish-speaking customer would have been there to hear it. Nobody deserves to be treated that way.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:47:39 +0000

I leave for Prague next Monday, and they will think I'm SO nice because I'll be asking everyone how they are and wishing them a nice day, which is all I've managed to learn so far!

I'm going to seem far more polite in the Czech Republic than I do here!

I have to learn "please" and "thank you', but i have a feeling that's about as much as I'll retain in the next few days.

I can understand more than that when I read, but that's all I can speak in Czech.

I am VERY uncomfortable going into a place and not knowing any of the language, so I always try to learn at least a little bit.

I love really good writing that teaches me something new. I don't know if I've ever actually taught anyone -- if I'm enthusiastic about a concept, I try to communicate it, and I think there are certain things like social justice that are more effectively communicated in fiction and genre fiction than in non-fiction. But has anyone learned anything from me? You'd have to ask my readers.