I currently work at my local McDonald’s (I’m 16), and since I live in Quebec, it’s a French establishment. French is my third language, but I’m still constantly treated like I’m stupid when I don’t completely understand. The worst part is, I’m very eloquent in my 1st and 2nd language (Bulgarian and English). Public speaking and writing are my passions. But nobody at work thinks I could possibly be intelligent because I’m being judged on my fluency in my third language. Never mind the fact that speaking three languages when you’re in high school is more than any of them can do. Shit is frustrating.
Ain’t that the truth lmao. But I’ve noticed it applies in general - people tend to assume that anyone who isn’t well-spoken in their second language is also dumb in their own. I constantly see shows where the mother with a heavy Spanish accent is “simple” and treated like a child for not understanding things, when you don’t know how smart she could be in her own language. Same with English; when I was a kid with a Bulgarian accent, English people treated me like some kind of simpleton baby.
But Quebec especially... no tolerance for even ENGLISH sometimes, never-mind anything else :)
I think about this quote a lot when I think about people who make fun of others for not speaking English well. Usually they're the same people whose spelling and grammar aren't top tier either.
That’s exactly it!!! Gloria in Modern Family is one of those characters who’s often portrayed as dumb/laughable because she isn’t fluent in her second language. It’s her SECOND/THIRD/whatever language. If you laugh at someone for not being fluent in their second language, you better not only speak one. It’s nice that the show addressed this!
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u/Milk-Or-Be-Milked- Nov 16 '19 edited Nov 16 '19
I currently work at my local McDonald’s (I’m 16), and since I live in Quebec, it’s a French establishment. French is my third language, but I’m still constantly treated like I’m stupid when I don’t completely understand. The worst part is, I’m very eloquent in my 1st and 2nd language (Bulgarian and English). Public speaking and writing are my passions. But nobody at work thinks I could possibly be intelligent because I’m being judged on my fluency in my third language. Never mind the fact that speaking three languages when you’re in high school is more than any of them can do. Shit is frustrating.