I AM TRANSFERRING MY FACEBOOK NOTES TO MY BLOG .... PLEASE FORGIVE IF YOU HAVE ALREADY READ!
FROM --- DECEMBER 9 2010
Last Tuesday I was called to speak at a Cubs scout meeting.
Topic: Communicating with someone who cannot speak in English
My Qualification: I can speak more than one language (and translate into English)
Audience: 4th and 5th grader boys
I was actually nervous. Kids that age can ask and say the darnest things! (in Cosby's language). I agreed to do this as a favor for a colleague whose son is part of the scouts. I have admired Thomas' participation in his sons scout activities.
As I was driving to Fort Smallwood Elementary - I had several desires to call in sick. I am glad I did not because I had a blast.
When I walked in - they were all curious. Then they were all giggly, then they were all distracted, then they were all talkative, then they were all interested and finally when I walked out they were all quiet. I left the room with lots of hands still raised for questions. But alas we had run out of time.
Some excerpts from the meeting
1. Boy: What religion are you?
Me: What religions do you know of?
Boy: Well there are Christians, Buddists, The salvation army
2. Me: I am going to teach you three important phrases in Hindi. Can you tell me three important phrases in English?
Boy1: Whats up?
Boy2: Hot Dog
[ I was going for please, sorry and thank you]
3. Me: (with a picture in my hand) The peacock is the national bird of India -- What is the national bird of the US?
Boy: oooo - The Orioles
[for those who do not know the Orioles are the Baseball team of Baltimore and also a bird]
4. Boy: How much is the dollar worth in Indian money
Me: (shocked that a 10 year old thought about currency and glad that I had checked the conversion rate that day) $1 = 44 rupees
5. Boy: Why did you come to the US?
Me: I wonder why every day!
6. Parent: When you first came here was there anything that gave you a culture shock?
Me: Yes purple colored hair
Boy : Oh they probably colored it!
Parent: You think?
7. This is probably my favorite one - because we Indians pride ourselves on knowing many Indian languages but few of us have ventured into other nation languages
Boy: Do you know any other languages other than Indian languages
Me: I learnt a little French in school
Boy: So what is 'Hello' in Italian?
Me: huh!
8. Boy: Did you find any word difficult in English
Me: Wolleyball (Yes with a W)
[Thomas had to explain this one to them]
9. Boy: How old are you
Whole crowd -- booo
Me: Why dont you guess?
Parent: Be careful they have no concept of age!
Boy1: 20
Boy2: 40
Lets call it a night :)
Cant wait for Isaac too join the scouts!
FROM --- DECEMBER 9 2010
Last Tuesday I was called to speak at a Cubs scout meeting.
Topic: Communicating with someone who cannot speak in English
My Qualification: I can speak more than one language (and translate into English)
Audience: 4th and 5th grader boys
I was actually nervous. Kids that age can ask and say the darnest things! (in Cosby's language). I agreed to do this as a favor for a colleague whose son is part of the scouts. I have admired Thomas' participation in his sons scout activities.
As I was driving to Fort Smallwood Elementary - I had several desires to call in sick. I am glad I did not because I had a blast.
When I walked in - they were all curious. Then they were all giggly, then they were all distracted, then they were all talkative, then they were all interested and finally when I walked out they were all quiet. I left the room with lots of hands still raised for questions. But alas we had run out of time.
Some excerpts from the meeting
1. Boy: What religion are you?
Me: What religions do you know of?
Boy: Well there are Christians, Buddists, The salvation army
2. Me: I am going to teach you three important phrases in Hindi. Can you tell me three important phrases in English?
Boy1: Whats up?
Boy2: Hot Dog
[ I was going for please, sorry and thank you]
3. Me: (with a picture in my hand) The peacock is the national bird of India -- What is the national bird of the US?
Boy: oooo - The Orioles
[for those who do not know the Orioles are the Baseball team of Baltimore and also a bird]
4. Boy: How much is the dollar worth in Indian money
Me: (shocked that a 10 year old thought about currency and glad that I had checked the conversion rate that day) $1 = 44 rupees
5. Boy: Why did you come to the US?
Me: I wonder why every day!
6. Parent: When you first came here was there anything that gave you a culture shock?
Me: Yes purple colored hair
Boy : Oh they probably colored it!
Parent: You think?
7. This is probably my favorite one - because we Indians pride ourselves on knowing many Indian languages but few of us have ventured into other nation languages
Boy: Do you know any other languages other than Indian languages
Me: I learnt a little French in school
Boy: So what is 'Hello' in Italian?
Me: huh!
8. Boy: Did you find any word difficult in English
Me: Wolleyball (Yes with a W)
[Thomas had to explain this one to them]
9. Boy: How old are you
Whole crowd -- booo
Me: Why dont you guess?
Parent: Be careful they have no concept of age!
Boy1: 20
Boy2: 40
Lets call it a night :)
Cant wait for Isaac too join the scouts!
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