Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.3/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id QAA20735; Tue, 16 May 2000 16:06:48 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 16:06:48 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <3921A89F.9ED3DFD9@interaccess.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Aliza Becker <alzbec@interaccess.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:4468] Re: Changing peoples names X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I) Status: O Content-Length: 2679 Lines: 53 I believe that the whole issue of names is a potent topic for conversation in an ESOL/EFL classroom, regardless of whether students are given the option to take on on names commonly used in the target language culture. The omnipresence of U.S. culture all over the world extends to names and it is not uncommon for people to take on "U.S." names regardless of whether or not they are in a foreign language class. The role of names in a culture and the decision of whether or not to maintain or reclaim older naming raditions is one that is potent for discussion. In the U.S. those of us with names that sound foreign have to regularly explain ourselves in some fashion. I think it can be particularly difficult for immigrants striving for acceptance in the U.S. (The issue of what is a "U.S. name" is another conversation.) My personal experience bears witness to this. I was born 42 years ago and raised in the U.S. with a Hebrew name that at one time was popular in Israel--Aliza. It is similar to more commonly found U.S. names such as Lisa and Eliza but is pronounced differently. As a child my teachers and classmates regularly mispronounced my name and the burden was on me to correct them. I frequently went home in tears wishing I had a name like Jane or Susan. I think that had I been a person of color or foreign-born, I might have heard more derogatory comments including encouragement to change it. Instead, my main frustration was that I regularly had to (and still have to) tell people the correct pronunciation and spelling. If people try to call me something more familiar to their ears, which happens frequently, I correct them with a smile. Aliza Becker Sjesl@aol.com wrote: > Nice that we all have our own opinions on this. How many of these opinions > are based on actually asking students their thoughts on changing or having > their name changed? Also, let us be clear that even without a direct request > from an instructor, there are plenty of pressures from other sources to > change or Americanize names. I remember the Iranian-American who got no job > interviews until, at the suggestion of a friend who had experienced the same > thing, he changed his name to an "American" one. This is one of those > discussions which truly has no meaning without student voices. If you have > specifically, intentionally, and explicitly discussed this with your > students, I would like to hear from you. > > Christopher J. Koehler, Program Director > St. James ESL Program > 804 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 > 206-382-4510 206-382-4511 > sjesl@aol.com -- Aliza Becker Phone: (773) 267-0746 Fax (773) 478-5091 E-mail alzbec@interaccess.com
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