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?)
