I was waiting for the van outside on the steps at the entrance to a nucleo reading my book when I saw across the way a father pointing note-by-note to his son's music as he played the recorder. The son approached me and attempted to say "How are you?" or "What's your name?" (I'm still uncertain which) but his words were inarticulate so I spoke to him in Spanish.
He wanted me to sing the colors song in English, so I began to sing Raffi and very quickly noted this wasn't the song to which he was referring. I then asked him to sing it and he did. He explained to me how he had the opportunity to learn English at his school every day, but they charged by the class and his family didn't have money to have him attend classes. It was very evident how proud he was of knowing his colors and his father coaxed him along in trying to speak to me in English, but never got further than "My name is Moasis."
I told him (in Spanish) I'd be happy to give him a "regalito" (little gift) of teaching him any word he wanted. He immediately responded, "All of them." I explained that wouldn't be possible in a day so after thinking for a bit, he responded, "I want to learn the English word for Dudamel." This demonstrates the fame and love this man has attained even in a six-year-old's mind, that of any word in English a musician was his choice word. I dare you to find a child in the US who could say the same. After chuckling to myself, I explained that names were the same in English and asked him again. He responded by telling me he knew another color, "anaranjado. Orange."
And then, as I've seen many children do here, so precocious for their age, he politely excused himself saying he had to go to class.
Continue reading on my personal blog.
Sara Zanussi
Sistema Fellow '13
He wanted me to sing the colors song in English, so I began to sing Raffi and very quickly noted this wasn't the song to which he was referring. I then asked him to sing it and he did. He explained to me how he had the opportunity to learn English at his school every day, but they charged by the class and his family didn't have money to have him attend classes. It was very evident how proud he was of knowing his colors and his father coaxed him along in trying to speak to me in English, but never got further than "My name is Moasis."
I told him (in Spanish) I'd be happy to give him a "regalito" (little gift) of teaching him any word he wanted. He immediately responded, "All of them." I explained that wouldn't be possible in a day so after thinking for a bit, he responded, "I want to learn the English word for Dudamel." This demonstrates the fame and love this man has attained even in a six-year-old's mind, that of any word in English a musician was his choice word. I dare you to find a child in the US who could say the same. After chuckling to myself, I explained that names were the same in English and asked him again. He responded by telling me he knew another color, "anaranjado. Orange."
And then, as I've seen many children do here, so precocious for their age, he politely excused himself saying he had to go to class.
Continue reading on my personal blog.
Sara Zanussi
Sistema Fellow '13
Comments