Working in an ESL environment frequently means interpreting the student's version of English into a real meaning of some sort. The funniest times are when the student has gotten a word that means basically what they want to say, but without the nuance or with an added nuance. It is frequently a frustrating occurrence for the student, since I must determine what he is intending to say instead of what he is saying. Several days ago, one of my students presented me with this situation.
Student raises hand during homework time, and I acknowledge him.
"Mrs. Smith, may I go to my cupboard?" I was momentarily perplexed by this. I thought I knew what he meant, but I had to make sure.
"Where would you like to go?" I asked.
By the way, this is the same student that wasn't sure what class he was in at the beginning of the year.
"To my cupboard," he replied.
"What do you mean, your cupboard?"
"The place where we keep our things with the blue door." Now I was certain of what he was trying to say because at SCS the student lockers have blue doors.
"Do you mean your locker?"
"Yes, my cupboard," the student replied, apparently not even noticing that I had used a different word.
Locker, cupboard--same thing, right?
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