My Favorite Conversation Of The Week
Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 6:00AM The school where I work became a hub this year for students who are not native English speakers. Our district labels them ELL (English Language Learners) and it has made this first week of school very interesting.
Very.
Hugely.
Amazingly.
Interesting.
And by "interesting" I mean "crazy".
But we'll adjust! That's what schools do. Kids are kids and their basic needs are the same. Heck if the ELL kids can adjust to a different culture and language, the least we can do is adjust to having them here.
We are the grown ups after all.
A large number of the ELL kids are originally from Sudan. At recess this week, I was talking with a Sudanese third grade boy. His grasp of English is pretty good actually. I introduced myself and he told me his name which I can't pronounce. For the purposes of this post I'll call him G. G and I had the best conversation. Understand that his tone of voice for this entire exchange was one of total nonchalance.
G: Are you the office lady?
Me: No, actually I'm the security monitor.
G: So what are you going to do if a guy comes in shooting a gun?
Me: Well, I suppose I'll duck and then call the police.
G: Yeah? Well what if he shoots you first?
Me: I'm sure someone will hear it and then they'll call the police.
G: But you'll be dead.
Me: I suppose I will.
G: I guess I'll come to your funeral.
Me: Wow, would you? That's really nice.
G: It's ok. I don't have anything better to do. My TV is out.
And that my friends is why I keep showing up for work. Priceless.
School Stories
Reader Comments (19)
Hahaha wow! I love the funny things that kids say! Usually it's not about someone being shot though.... lol
You can't make that stuff up. I LOVE kids.
And wow, what a culture wake up. It makes me really appreciate our daily life here. I hope we get to hear more about these kids along the way, SO informative and interesting. Do you know how your particular town was selected for their immigration? Are they refugees?
hilarious! i have a feeling next summer you will be taking that one to a movie. i know it was a crazy 3 days, official lady, but i hope it will settle down next week. except for jack will be back!
I love it!!!! Hilarious!! Although I hope you don't actually get shot, it sure made for a funny story!! ;)
Ha ha! What a great way to start my saturday morning! Sleeping in till 10AM was pretty awesome too :o)
That is awesome! I just love the perspective of kids. We, too, have a high number of ELL kids and they are just too precious. THey have a appreciation for a lot of things we don't. I hope you have a great school year!
Great story! Sounds like you are off to a very interesting school year. Enjoy the ride and please continue to share your stories.
Cheers,
Ardee-ann
That is priceless! I'll be laughing all day.
One of my kindergarten students asked me what they are building in the lunch room (our room addition). Before I could answer he quickly said, "I'm pretty sure it's a merry-go-round."
My comment was...I sure hope so. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Hahahahahaha!!!
The sad thing is that he probably has had to think about that kind of thing his whole life in Sudan. For real. I love how you were also nonchalant and didn't make a big promise you couldn't keep (i.e. that would NEVER happen here.) and didn't act all offended by the suggestion. You're awesome! I wonder if he wonders why you, as security personnel, don't carry an automatic weapon of some sort.
LOL LOL LOL LOL
After reading this I had to call my husband into the room to read it too. That's too funny! Kids say the funniest things :)
Mindee, welcome to my world. My classroom is an all ELL classroom, things like this happens almost daily! Enjoy, it really is lots of fun!
lol.....kids, you gotta love them...... atleast until they're 13.
Rock on…
He sounds like he could be a Joey.
LOL. I just found your site and it's great! From the mouths of babes...
I guess it's not just American kids who say the darndest things...
~ Katie
www.marriageconfessions.com
One of the favorite books I have ever read is a french language young adult book about a boy who moves to Canada from a war torn country. The things the boy says and does freak out his classmates, but then we see what he has lived and seen in his lifetime. It's a great book because it highlights why immigrants sometimes have a hard time adapting to our way of life.
While we think of someone showing up at a school with a gun, it's quite possible that to this boy it was a normal occurrence. It's actually something I find very interesting in social conversations with people.
Glad it's unlikely that something that horrible will happen to you.
Haha. I'm behind Mindee, but I love this post. Really. It's super great.
Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com