My Spanish isn't so good. In fact it is what I affectionately explain as, "me Español es muy malo." Generally, this causes more laughter than I would wish, and an accompanying compliment or a great deal of patience.
In recent months I have been given a great opportunity to practice Spanish, both in my work and in an ESL (English as a Second Language) class that I am co-teaching. I am the only native English speaker in the class. Fortunately all my students speak Spanish, so even when I do not understand what they are saying amongst themselves, I can at least follow along tolerably well. At least for the most part. I also try not to laugh at my students as they are learning and I am the teacher. This is the story of one of those occasions where I couldn't stop the hilarity that ensued.
Mary is a great student. (I have several of them in my class so I don't have to worry too much about anyone pinning this to one person.) She studies hard before and after class and is an active participant, never misses a class, and always does her homework.
Last week we were going through some exercises of arranging a present tense verb into a past participle within a sentence. What Mary said was, "Oh really? Do I usually talk to you in your dreams?" I turned about face and walked away before I started busting up laughing. So did my co-teacher, Carlos, who prattled off something to her in Spanish. Everyone in the class, including Mary, started laughing. I was blushing terribly.
What she meant to say was, "Do you usually talk in your sleep?"
Mary is a great student. (I have several of them in my class so I don't have to worry too much about anyone pinning this to one person.) She studies hard before and after class and is an active participant, never misses a class, and always does her homework.
Last week we were going through some exercises of arranging a present tense verb into a past participle within a sentence. What Mary said was, "Oh really? Do I usually talk to you in your dreams?" I turned about face and walked away before I started busting up laughing. So did my co-teacher, Carlos, who prattled off something to her in Spanish. Everyone in the class, including Mary, started laughing. I was blushing terribly.
What she meant to say was, "Do you usually talk in your sleep?"
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