4/26/10

Guess What? I'm STILL confused.


Today in centers while I was working with one of my reading groups and I couldn’t resist asking John (aka Jae-hyun) about what language he spoke at home. Of course, I KNOW that he speaks Korean, but I always take an opportunity to encourage him to practice English.


“John, your Mommy and Daddy told me that you don’t like to practice your English at home. You even have your sister Susie – who speaks PERFECT English- to help, but you won’t practice with her. Is that right?”


“I don’t know to speak English.” He replied.


“John, we are speaking English right now.” I said with a big smile.


“No, I don’t know English!”


Me: “This IS English. You ARE speaking English.”


John: “I don’t know English. What is English?”


“THIS is English. We. Are. Speaking. English.”


John. “No. I don’t know dat.”


And at that point I wasn't even sure I WAS speaking English.


(You can’t find a better way to start a Monday. Can you?)


30 comments:

  1. thenextmarthaApril 26, 2010 at 7:33 PM

    Que Dice?

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  2. Brian MillerApril 26, 2010 at 7:37 PM

    no i am american...i speak it too...unless of course i am not...and yeah i am confused...

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  3. Jules AFApril 26, 2010 at 7:38 PM

    haha I just want to give him a hug and rub his back.

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  4. AnonymousApril 26, 2010 at 7:41 PM

    He's speaking American. It's a whole 'nother thing, entirely.

    Yep, yep.

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  5. JoanieApril 26, 2010 at 7:46 PM

    i agree with Titanium... definitely speaking American.

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  6. Sprite's KeeperApril 26, 2010 at 8:05 PM

    I don't think anyone speaks proper English on a Monday..
    :-)

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  7. Anna Whiston-DonaldsonApril 26, 2010 at 8:07 PM

    how cute is that? i'd be thoroughly confused, too.

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  8. AnonymousApril 26, 2010 at 8:23 PM

    my class gets that way when they don't realize they are actually reading. i have the same conversation- yes you are reading! eventually a lightbulb goes off and they understand- hey i'm reading. goofy kids.

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  9. Kate HanleyApril 26, 2010 at 8:51 PM

    Well, it had me laughing and yes it sounds exactly like "Who's on first?"

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  10. Everyday GoddessApril 26, 2010 at 8:51 PM

    I think he is speaking Manspeak.

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  11. Frogs in my formulaApril 26, 2010 at 8:51 PM

    Maybe a pop on the knuckles would help jog his noggin. Oh wait, they don't do that anymore in school. My bad.

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  12. anonymouseducatorApril 26, 2010 at 8:54 PM

    They do in Korea!

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  13. Captain DumbassApril 26, 2010 at 9:00 PM

    There's so many kids in my oldest son's class who speak Cantonese as their first language that they are not allowed to speak it in class.

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  14. MellodeeApril 26, 2010 at 9:16 PM

    There's a definite disconnect going on somewhere in his head, one day it will snap in place, but this wasn't the day!!

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  15. AnonymousApril 26, 2010 at 9:40 PM

    So, he does not push 1 on the phone dial? Does he push 2 for Korean?

    Di
    The Blue Ridge Gal

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  16. AlexandraApril 26, 2010 at 10:05 PM

    And that's what makes teaching Kindergarten so very much fun!!!

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  17. DawnApril 26, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    Well...at least he is a kindergartener.

    Last week, one of my fellow teachers said, "I can't go to Canada until I learn to speak Canadian."
    We all looked at her.
    "What??!!" she said. "Oh...they speak French, don't they?"
    We have all signed up to take her 'Canadian Language Lessons' when offered. LOL

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  18. SuzyApril 26, 2010 at 10:49 PM

    ***And at that point I wasn't even sure I WAS speaking English.***

    heh heh

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  19. JenApril 26, 2010 at 11:10 PM

    Too funny! As a literacy coach it makes me happy to read you do centers and work with small groups! Wish more of my teachers would do the same thing!!

    Thanks for helping me celebrate my SITS day!!

    Jen

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  20. UnknownApril 26, 2010 at 11:15 PM

    Now you sound like me trying to get through a customers head what "How deep will you be digging" means! I swear sometimes I think I switxhed to Korean half way through the call!.

    John sounds adorable, even if he can't speak English

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  21. Wild ChildApril 26, 2010 at 11:17 PM

    Yes, that was a tough Monday to start. I had sunny skies and relatively easy problems to tackle, like finding someone to cover for a staff member who DID not find someone to cover for himself, even though that's the policy. I feel like I supervise kindergarteners at times. Except I think yours are easier to manage. Business parenting, anyone?

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  22. Mrs4444April 26, 2010 at 11:31 PM

    Absolutely not. I love this; it reminds me of some eyebrow-raising conversations I've had this year. So funny...

    Thanks for the sweet, sweet birthday wish, my friend :)

    And hey, be sure to read my post tomorrow; you will love it! :)

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  23. chocolatecovereddaydreams.blogspot.comApril 27, 2010 at 12:47 AM

    It definitely made sense to him! What a cutie!

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  24. mo.stoneskinApril 27, 2010 at 3:17 AM

    I don't speak English either. I've never managed to pick it up.

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  25. Lynn from For Love or FunnyApril 27, 2010 at 6:11 AM

    Sometimes, I wonder if I'm thinking in English...

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  26. The Good CookApril 27, 2010 at 10:50 AM

    I think that is one of the sweetest, funniest things I've heard in a long time..

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  27. WeaselMommaApril 27, 2010 at 12:08 PM

    Thanks for this sweet little smile today. I needed it.

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  28. nataleeApril 27, 2010 at 9:53 PM

    LOL!!!!

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  29. ShaunaInKoreaApril 28, 2010 at 4:25 AM

    Heheheh, such a cute story... sometimes, 'what are you gonna say??'!

    I'm happy John's got a teacher who'll trytrytry to help him figure out which way is up, thanks for sharing the smile!

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  30. MrsDixonApril 29, 2010 at 6:55 PM

    Oh my gosh! I bet you had a hard time not laughing!!

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Come on people, make me laugh. I dare ya.