Monday, December 26, 2005

Word is out: Immigrants on road to success polish English skills in intensive U. class

It is sad that so many people think someone with an accent is uneducated. They should realize that it means this person know at least two languages and English is not the first one. People in this country do not realize how difficult it is to learn another language. DP

Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt LakeTribune : Marie F. Gomez knows there are people who think she is stupid.

   It's in their snide looks and comments after they hear her speak English with an accent. Gomez, a lawyer who moved here from Venezuela in 2001, says she doesn't understand why some people automatically assume she's uneducated if she stumbles on a few words.

    "Some people think you are not smart enough if you don't speak English properly," she says. "You know the difference between those people who are having a bad day and those who want to hurt your feelings."

    Determined to improve her English pronunciation, Gomez applied and was accepted into the Zions Bank-English Language Institute Scholarship Program at the University of Utah.

Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

No comments: