Comments on: Getting Teased About Having an Accent

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By: Chantilly Patiño

Chantilly Patiño — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:05:01 +0000

Great post! I love your story and the moral given here. There is a lot of teasing that goes on when it comes to accents, even between adults. My husband has dyslexia and it’s often made pronunciation difficult for him. Since he was a child he’s been teased, even by his parents, and it’s always made language difficult for him…both in English and Spanish. Many people automatically assume that he’s unintelligent or their just flat out rude like you mentioned here. I like your father’s policy! You’re most definitely right that it’s something that shouldn’t be tolerated…and good going on the part of that teacher! Thanks for sharing your story with us.

By: Teresa

Teresa — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:43:12 +0000

Like Beth said: it’s inevitable that kids tease, but when they get older they start to correct your pronutation instead of teasing… That is my case. I am working on my accent, but Spanish is my first language and it is something that I have to live with,, and live happy… Actually I do have some issues with my youngest son in terms of Grammatic and Spelling in Spanish. That is our world. Spanglisg Babies, Spanglish World. Very interesting issue.

By: Keen

Keen — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:31:49 +0000

Edna, it’s interesting–I’m an interpreter and I’ve had people assume that I must be a great interpreter because I don’t have an accent when I speak English, or that my native Spanish-speaking colleagues must be better than I am because they do have an accent. Amazing how some people will assume things based on an accent!

By: Keen

Keen — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:29:20 +0000

Thanks for the comment! I love that your daughters are your teachers.

By: Keen

Keen — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:26:45 +0000

Interesting point! I agree that dealing with the teasing early on made it easier for me to laugh it off later.

By: edna

edna — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:43:12 +0000

Thanks for your post Kimberly. I have the same problem in the opposite direction too, my first language is Spanish and I learned English as a teenager. I went to college in the USA, got bachelor and master degrees and still have “a Spanish accent”. I never bothered to get rid of the accent by taking accent reduction classes and luckily I’ve been very successful despite that.

Like Beth noted, the adults that never seem to grow up are the ones that stare at me when I speak. I’m pretty sure I was denied job offers because of the accent, but I truly never gave it a second thought and always managed to land some other job that valued my technical skills and experience.

By: BethO

BethO — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:14:59 +0000

I think it’s inevitable that kids tease, and unfortunately some people never seem to grow up, either. It’s tough being different but I would never go back and change it. If we’re in that position we get the opportunity to work through some important lessons in life survival while our parents are right there to help us through. I feel sorrier for people who actually fit in perfectly with the Middle-School crowd, and have no clue. As adults later on, when something totally arbritrary, unfair, and painful rocks their world (as it eventually will) they are like lambs before wolves.

By: Eli Bravo

Eli Bravo — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:04:16 +0000

I have a similar problem… in the oposite direction. Born and raised in Venezuela, when I speak english the accent is there. My two daughters, bilingual kids born and raised in Miami, have become my teachers. Some nights, at bedtime reading, they will correct a word with a smiles. Somehow, the same smile I use for them when I guide them into spanish. Bottom line: you can have two languages, two accents and an open heart to who you are. Thanks for your post, Kimberly.