English as a Second Language

“You speak good English, how long have you been in Canada for?”

I cannot tell you the number of times this has been said to me…in addition to “you have accent, where are you from?”

I have battled with these two questions for a long time. Not because I am embarrassed about my background, culture and who I am, but because of the level of ignorance from some individuals who pose these questions. Yes, ignorance! Ignorance because of the way the so-called curiosity is portrayed. It is not always from a genuine desire to learn about me or my culture, but to point out that being in Canada has taught me or advanced my English-speaking skills.

Now, do not get me wrong, I do understand that having an accent or to speak English is not only about the words I say, but also a bridge to an experience or perspective that I bring to the conversation. When asked with genuine interest to learn about me, I am patient and willing to intentionally engage in the conversation as it opens doors for one to learn about the other person’s life, background, culture, and journey.

What I find intriguing is that so often when I respond to the above noted questions, rarely does the conversation continue. Which makes me wonder what value these questions add to the conversation. Did I mention that we were colonized by the British and English is one of the main languages spoken in my home country daily? Yes, I learnt to speak English from when I was a child. No, not every tongue can assimilate to pronouncing certain English words as one’s preconceived notion of how English ought to sound.

 I shared this on my Facebook page before, I will share it here too:

 Knowing enough of a second language to be understood is amazing.

Go ahead, try it. Learn a second language. Speaking a language with an accent is a sign of bravery.

 Oh…and when you can’t think of a word, just say “I can’t remember the English word for it.” That way people will know that you are bi/multilingual instead of judging you as a dummy:).

 ENGLISH IS A LANGUAGE, NOT A MEASURE OF INTELLIGENCE!

 We all have an accent. It tells a story of who an individual is and fosters an understanding of diversity that makes up our global community. When the above noted questions are asked with genuine interest to learn about diversity and one’s uniqueness, it leads to patience, empathy, and improved communication skills as it reminds the speaker to be cognizant of the other person’s interests. So, the next time you consider asking an individual about their accent or level of your understanding of their English, let's strive for meaningful and valuable interactions.

 #AccentStories
#GlobalCommunity🌏
#EmbraceDiversity

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