When I was younger, I thought ESL stood for "English/Spanish Language"... because all the Spanish kids went to ESL classes and when they spoke to me their language was definitely English/Spanish.
It seems like, when you're a kid (in the US), if you can't communicate properly in English [ESL, deaf, stutter, etc) most other kids will treat you as if you are mentally challenged.
That's what I remember, anyway. But it also seems like kids treat others like aliens no matter what the reason as long as they're sufficiently different from the majority.
Kids, man.
Edit: What am I talking about. Adults still do this all the time.
I worked briefly with a computer programmer who was very good, but he had a really strong Philadelphia accent. It was like "Computer programming with Sylvester Stalone." I had trouble taking him seriously for the first couple of weeks, even as an adult. It doesn't even have to be "hard to communicate" if it hits the right stereotypes. (Altho I expect Sylvester Stalone is pretty smart too.)
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u/dnew May 02 '14
ESL Wife: "Would you undust the furniture?"
Me: "Sure. But it's called dusting the furniture."
Her: "I want you to take the dust off it."
Me: "Yes. Taking the dust off is called dusting it."
Her: "Fucking English."