Here’s a great story I was told from a mother who grew up in Queens in a Brazilian household, and is now raising a family in the Maryland suburbs.
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We would like your daughter to take ESL again this year. |
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Why? |
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(nervously) Well, it’s because of her Portuguese. |
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That’s stupid. |
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I’m sorry? |
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I speak Portuguese. |
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Yes. |
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My daughter doesn’t speak Portuguese. |
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Ah… |
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You made her take ESL last year, but she hardly spoke any Portuguese then, either. |
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Yes, but… |
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She doesn’t speak any Portuguese at all anymore. |
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Yes, I understand. Uh, I’m not quite sure how to put this. |
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Put what? |
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The thing with your daughter… is… well, your daughter… |
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What is it about my daughter? |
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The problem with your daughter, you see, is that she talks, … |
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She talks what? |
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She talks with a Brooklyn accent. |
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…! |
-
Jenifer
