Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: BEACH (12/05/19)
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TITLE: Language Woes | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Custer
12/12/19 -
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One incident always comes to mind when we think of language ‘goofs’. My fellow worker, Suko, went with me to the Immigration Office to secure the proper permits for me to teach in that country. After making two previous trips to the Office, a clerk informed us that we still needed another document filled out. Suko was obviously annoyed as we returned to the waiting area where fifteen to twenty others waited as well.
Having finished filling in the paper, Suko turned to my husband and said, “Last weekend my husband took me to the ‘bich’.” With a confused look on his face, he asked her to repeat what she had said. She got up, pointed to a beach area on a map on the wall, and repeated what she had said.
He chuckled as he said, “Suko, the word is ‘beach’.” Then he went on to explain to her that the word she was saying, was not used politely in the United States. He tried to explain discreetly just how it was used when you didn’t think much of someone.
She thought a minute, then tossed her head towards the immigration clerk and stated, “She is a ‘bich’.” (Yep, Suko was a fast learner.) As our faces turned red, others in the room smiled or tried to hide chuckles. We were grateful the clerk had not heard. Or did not understand. We quickly turned in the document and made a quick exit.
A few weeks later, Suko saw me at school and proudly told me, “This weekend my husband and I are going to the Be-e-e ch”.
“Great,” I answered. “And you said it correctly.”
Yes, learning another language is hard, and often frustrating; but spending time with native speakers is extremely helpful. For us, having a friend like Suko made language-learning ‘a beach’.
Based on a true story.
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I'm glad your husband and friend were able to get away before any harm was done.
It is so difficult to learn a language so I admire your characters perserance in learning.