One day back in middle school, a teacher asked me to show a new ESOL student around the school since she was still new to the country. Of course the teacher would ask me because A, I’m a girl, and B I know how to speak Spanish. So naturally after class I walked her to her next class and explained to her how things work. I talked to her about how much time we had in between classes, how the room numbers descended, the lockers, and much more when I suddenly got interrupted by a teacher.
She told me to stop speaking in Spanish and switch to English. I didn’t get mad and calmly told the teacher that she was new to the country and could only speak Spanish. The teacher then told me that that this was not true that she had been here for a while and that she had fine English skills. I instantly got annoyed and asked her how long she had been here. She told me she has only been here for a couple of weeks. This further pissed off the teacher who then said, “Hey! I said no Spanish you guys can speak in English this is America.”
I was getting really mad and told the teacher that she had only been here a couple of weeks and that I was selected to show her around the school. The teacher then told me that she didn’t care and that in order for her to learn English I had to speak to her in English. I then asked her how could she possibly understand me of she still didn’t know the language. And she said she can do it. I got so infuriated at her ignorance of the situation that I just grabbed the new student’s hand and marched off.
I was so angry at the teacher and after I explained it to the new transfer student she couldn’t believe how mean she was. I don’t see how I could have changed my behavior since I acted as calm and collected as any 14 year old could in that situation. I think I did quite well considering my position and age. Maybe I would have tried to understand why my teacher felt that way (logically thinking). Looking back on it I want to sock that teacher in the face as alleviation for all the other times people have told to stop speaking Spanish. As if my skills were that great any ways. >.>
I still do not honestly know why people get so annoyed with other people speaking other languages that you do not understand. You don’t see me yelling at a group of French people to stop speaking French at the grocery line just because I do not understand what they are saying. I believe that if people think they can take advantage of a situation in order soothe some weird personal vendetta against something they will.
People get so paranoid and assume that if you’re speaking in other language in front of them that you are speaking about them. Talk about narcissistic.
When I am doing my job and helping efficiency by speaking to MY coworkers in Spanish, customers get annoyed and think that we should all just speak English to further soothe THEM while shopping. Puh leeze. It’s like going to McDonalds and wanting everyone there to speak English while working no matter what. Why should it matter if they yell out dos hamburguesas, ニハンバーガー、or zwei hamburgers? Nothing has changed and you get your end product.
Now this social experiment is the real question.
What would you do?
It was interesting to me that you brought up ESOL. When I first came to this country and got put in the school system, I had to go to ESOL too. I only had to be in there for a month, but the experience was not so bad. I guess in the end it helped me transition to the customs of this country. Your entry brought me back to this transitioning phase of my life and I also remember teachers in my other classes telling me to write my letters (handwriting) in the "American" way, which hurt my feelings because I could not understand the significance of the distinction between how I used to write in Honduras and how I was supposed to write in America.
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!! That racial shopping experiment was so cool. I hope everyone reads your blog and watches that video. It was so powerful. And your childhood school story was riveting. I think the issue with speaking spanish is that the racist sector of america feels inferior and powerless to control that particular ethnic group so they demand that you speak in a language that does not exclude them.
ReplyDeleteOMG the video pissed me off! I have been discriminated against when I go to more "upscale" stores in Georgetown and Friendship Heights, but the things that the manager(actress) was saying were so rude I honestly think that if I were to be put in that sitaution that I would punch her in the face and MOST DEFINETLEY file a complaint, I have before. lol. I can't believe that so many people just stood there and witnessed that racism and discriminatiion and didn't do a damn thing! I was in complete shock. I'm glad that people did stick up for her though. =)
ReplyDeleteAs far as your middle school experience goes, how is she a teacher, she sounded so ignorant. Things like these furstrate me so much! It sucks to know that racsism still exists and perhaps will exist forever.