Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h1QIQNP24191; Wed, 26 Feb 2003 13:26:23 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 13:26:23 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.0.20030226122228.00a3ea70@mail.etop.org> 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: Lorraine Gardner <lad-oh@etop.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:8650] Re: Don Antonio The Doorman X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1 Status: O Content-Length: 5054 Lines: 103 What a wonderful story, Gabriela! Thank you for sharing this--I will definitely pass the story (and the message) along to others. Lorraine Gardner Academic/Workplace Skills Instructor Omaha, NE lad-oh@etop.org At 12:03 PM 2/26/03 -0500, you wrote: >The following story is for those who are involved in teaching ESL, GED, >reading, writing, citizenship, etc. to adult learners. > >I applied for a job in January of this year with Literacy Volunteers of >America - Laredo, now Pro-Literacy Worldwide. Four members of the board of >directors interviewed me. At the end of the interview, I told them the >following story about Don Antonio the Doorman. I hope you can find the time >to read all of it and share it with your students. > >A very long time ago, there was a man named Don Antonio who lived in a small >town. He worked as a doorman in the town's only hotel. One day, some >business visitors arrived to town and became interested in purchasing the >hotel in an effort to boost tourism. Eventually, they did buy the hotel and >remodeled it. > >A member of the management team approached Don Antonio one day. All >employees were asked to remain working with the hotel. The manager began >telling Don Antonio about his new duties as a doorman. Now, he would have to >keep a log of all the people arriving and departing the hotel. Don Antonio >stopped the manager in mid-sentence and explained to him he did not know how >to read or write. The manager futher explained that this needed to be done >for the hotel. Don Antonio humbly stated to the manager that since he did >not know how to read or write, he would go ahead and resign his position. >The manager accepted. > >Don Antonio went home and thought of how he would now make ends meet. He >took the little money he had saved, got on his donkey, and traveled for two >days to the next town. There he purchased a set of carpentry tools. He >returned on his donkey traveling another two days back home. > >Now that he was home, he went door to door offering his services to build >wooden furniture or fix things around the house. > >Word got around about Don Antonio having a set of carpentry tools. His >compadre arrived to his small home and asked Don Antonio if he would sell >him his carpentry tools. At first, Don Antonio said he could not sell his >tools because he was using them to make a living. Don Antonio also told him >about the four-day travel time it took him. His compadre said he would pay >him for the tools plus the travel time. Don Antonio then agree and sold his >tools to his compadre. > >Later that week, Don Antonio made another trip and bought another set of >tools. Slowly, word got around town, and before he know it, he was traveling >back and forth buying and selling all kinds of tools. > >The years went by and Don Antonio continued traveling, buying and selling >tools to the local citizens on his town. His business grew into a profitable >one. He earned a lot of money and became one of the richest men in town. His >small business grew into a distributorship of tools and was the most >successful business in town. Don Antonio became a very wealthy, well-known, >powerful man. > >Don Antonio's success reached far. the governor of the state heard of his >success. One day, Don Antonio was invited to attend the governor's annual >reception of successful businessmen. Many businessmen traveled and attended >from all over the state. Don Antonio agreed to attend. > >Once he was there, an aide of the governor approached him. The aide told Don >Antonio that the governor would greatly appreciate it if he could read a >speech at the reception. Don Antonio didn't know what to say. He was, of >course, flattered by the request. The aide then told him that before reading >the speech, Don Antonio would have to sign a couple of documents for the >governor. Don Antonio stated at the papers before him. > >Don Antonio then placed his hand on the young man's shoulder and said to >him, "I'm sorry, son. Please tell the governor that I will be unable to sign >these papers and read this speech." > >The young man was surprised to hear that Don Antonio was denying reading the >speech and signing the documents. He was perplexed. > >Don Antonio saw the expression on the young man's face and stated to him, >"I'm sorry but I don't know how to read or write." > >The young man then said to Don Antonio, "What do you mean you don't know how >to read or write? You are a very successful businessman. You are the richest >and most powerful man, not only of your town, but also of the state. This is >why the governor wants you to read this speech. Don Antonio, how can a >successful businessman like yourself not know how to read or write? Imagine >your greater success if you did know how to read and write." > >Don Antonio smiles and said to the young man, "Mi hijo, if I knew how to >read and write, I would still be a doorman." > >The End~ > > >Thank you, >Gabriela D. Rodriguez >Executive Director >Literacy Volunteers of Laredo >(Pro-Literacy Worldwide Affiliate)
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