[lit-ideas] Re: speaking of libraries in the United States of Earth
- From: JimKandJulieB@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 06:18:11 EDT
I think there are all kinds of circumstances that don't get addressed by the
wide brush you guys are painting with. When I was in my 20's I did a
volunteer stint at a local church teaching ESL to people from all over the
world.
(Truth be told, I primarily wanted to learn *their* languages.) I was
invited to the home of a couple from Tunisia and served some of the most
delicious
food I've ever had. We (at the church) tried to do something "social" so as
not to be merely sitting around using textbooks, but using English in
everyday life-type situations. We once made taffy and pulled it. A couple of
young
women from ........god, I've forgotten now......somewhere Asian, I think,
started cracking up when we began to eat it. We gradually got it out of them
that they made something very similar in their kitchens but instead of eating
it spread it on their arms, let it dry, and ripped it off, to "shave". I met
and made very good friends with a woman from Spain. She was 20 something
with a beautiful 2 yr. old son. She was here because her husband was
studying
at the University. He spoke flawless English. She spoke absolutely none.
He never let her out of his sight (he was a bit of a jealous type and she
*was* gorgeous, tall, slender, blond hair waving to the waist), and he simply
translated for her whenever communication was necessary. She and I ended up
hanging out a lot, and I became very fluent in Spanish (which I had studied
formally for years, but never had the opportunity to use outside of literature
and class) and she learned some English. My sister-in-law's parents are
from the Dominican Republic. They moved to NY (I *think* they're in
Manhattan,
but I couldn't swear to it) mid-life, and Milagros (Millie for short) and her
sister were born in the states. Millie & sis are both fluent in both
languages, but their parents are limited in their use of English. They've
lived in
the States for many years, but the brain is an interesting machine. It does
not always so easily and well learn new tricks mid-way through life. Try
teaching a 4 year old multiple languages. It will exceed all your
expectations. Thirty or forty, the brain has some fairly ingrained patterns
and doesn't
adapt as well as a kiddo's to new ideas and language formations. Okay, I'm
through rambling, I think. This insomnia thing has got to stop.
Julie Krueger
who still dreams in Spanish sometimes
========Original Message======== Subj: [lit-ideas] Re: speaking of
libraries in the United States of Earth Date: 8/6/05 10:52:53 P.M. Central
Daylight Time From: _mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxxx (mailto:mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx)
To:
_lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Sent on:
Mike: Surely a hospital can have on hand a Spanish translator since
a large minority of Americans speak Spanish only. How provincial!
How "fuck you!" to the rest of the world.
___
Provincial, ah here's the rub! My friend is NOT a native American
but learned English to pass the USMLE to practice here, then learned
Spanish to communicate with those who refuse to learn our language.
It's the Spanish speakers who are saying fuck you by refusing to
learn our language.
Furthermore, it's not parochialism. You may be comfortable with the
creation of an American slave caste who cannot speak English. I want
everyone to speak English so they are not forced to be slaves.
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