Out of the Mouths of Babes, "Me and the Spanish Kids"
Well, it's June and now is the time of the year when my ESL class puts out its annual ESL Magazine. This year's edition, our 8th, is called "Our Immigrant Stories" and once again it's filled with some great and unique works by my imaginative and honest students. We published the magazine yesterday and already it's received rave reviews from fellow teachers, staff and even some of the other kids in school.
As I've done in the past, this year I'll be sharing some of my favorite essays and poems from this year's young writers. Some of them are sad, others make you think, and still more make you laugh. The following piece is one of my favorites from this year's magazine. It was written by an 8th grade Turkish student in my class named Emre. Emre won this year's ESL Awards for 'ËœBest Personality" and "Funniest" and this short, humorous essay demonstrates a little of his very endearing personality, as well as some profound insight. I hope it gives you a chuckle or two --
Me and the Spanish Kids
In one of my ESL classes I am the only one who doesn't speak Spanish and it drives me crazy! Being the only Turkish kid has its ups and downs. The thing I don't like the most is when they all speak Spanish and I don't know what the heck they're saying. Sometimes I think they're talking about me, but that's okay. I'm not shy and I really don't care.
Being the only kid in a class full of Spanish kids, I can't help but to learn some Spanish words and expressions myself. For example:
"Chica loca" means "crazy girl." I get to use that one a lot when the girls in my class are being so hyper.
"Que pasa mi amigo?" means "what's up my friend?'
"Si se±or" means "yes sir."
"Callate loca" means "be quiet."
My favorite one is "papi chulo." That means "sexy daddy." That's me!
These are some of the Spanish words I learned from the kids in my ESL class. Speaking Spanish all the time is bad, because when you do you're not going to learn English if you do that. When I was here my first year, it was only me and my ESL teacher in the class and that's why I learned English so fast. I have nobody to speak to in Turkish, either.
A lot of the Spanish kids in my class take a long time to learn English. That's because they speak Spanish all the time and then it takes them like four years to speak English. So that would be my advice to them. Speak English!
To read more in this series, check out:
Out of the Mouths of Babes: The Voices of Immigrant Children, Part 1
Out of the Mouths of Babes: The Voices of Immigrant Children, Part 2
Out of the Mouths of Babes: The Voices of Immigrant Children, Part 3
Out of the Mouths of Babes: The Voices of Immigrant Children, Part 4
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 5: The Voices of Haitian Immigrant Children
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 6: First Crush
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 7
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 8 : Kids Say the Darndest Things
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 9: Student of the Month
As I've done in the past, this year I'll be sharing some of my favorite essays and poems from this year's young writers. Some of them are sad, others make you think, and still more make you laugh. The following piece is one of my favorites from this year's magazine. It was written by an 8th grade Turkish student in my class named Emre. Emre won this year's ESL Awards for 'ËœBest Personality" and "Funniest" and this short, humorous essay demonstrates a little of his very endearing personality, as well as some profound insight. I hope it gives you a chuckle or two --
Me and the Spanish Kids
In one of my ESL classes I am the only one who doesn't speak Spanish and it drives me crazy! Being the only Turkish kid has its ups and downs. The thing I don't like the most is when they all speak Spanish and I don't know what the heck they're saying. Sometimes I think they're talking about me, but that's okay. I'm not shy and I really don't care.
Being the only kid in a class full of Spanish kids, I can't help but to learn some Spanish words and expressions myself. For example:
"Chica loca" means "crazy girl." I get to use that one a lot when the girls in my class are being so hyper.
"Que pasa mi amigo?" means "what's up my friend?'
"Si se±or" means "yes sir."
"Callate loca" means "be quiet."
My favorite one is "papi chulo." That means "sexy daddy." That's me!
These are some of the Spanish words I learned from the kids in my ESL class. Speaking Spanish all the time is bad, because when you do you're not going to learn English if you do that. When I was here my first year, it was only me and my ESL teacher in the class and that's why I learned English so fast. I have nobody to speak to in Turkish, either.
A lot of the Spanish kids in my class take a long time to learn English. That's because they speak Spanish all the time and then it takes them like four years to speak English. So that would be my advice to them. Speak English!
To read more in this series, check out:
Out of the Mouths of Babes: The Voices of Immigrant Children, Part 1
Out of the Mouths of Babes: The Voices of Immigrant Children, Part 2
Out of the Mouths of Babes: The Voices of Immigrant Children, Part 3
Out of the Mouths of Babes: The Voices of Immigrant Children, Part 4
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 5: The Voices of Haitian Immigrant Children
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 6: First Crush
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 7
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 8 : Kids Say the Darndest Things
Out of the Mouths of Babes, Part 9: Student of the Month
Published by John Myers
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21 Comments
Post a CommentI enjoyed this article and the insight of your student. Very good!
Great! You are doing a great job with your students.
I learned something new today! Papi chulo. Mama likes. ;-)
This is a great read from this student!
I love what kids say. They are so uncensored.
LOL, loved!! :-)
Kids are funny creatures!
Your magazine sound wonderful.
Sweet!
Emre has got talent and is wise beyond his years. You need to nurture him along, John - siva