Whilst in a Savannah middle school my Scottish son was asked when he learned to speak English

Question

I have to add he was asked this by his history teacher. Do you think US schools would benefit from a more worldly education?

Answer 1

well maybe this teacher should be!

most people do not know much about other country's sadly so just don't take it personally they just do not know any better,maybe educate them with a few worldly facts! good luck!

Answer 2

Hope his answer was - I dinna speak English I speak Scottish.

Many Soctsman have classed their language as different to English - Henryson - Dunbar and of course Robbie Burns - show that at the very least Scots is a dialect - rather than true English.

English as it is spoken today is thought to have emanated from the Midlands of England.  Prior to the time of Chaucer the lingua franca was Latin or French for the literate ruling classes and no one really understands how we got from Anglo Saxon to Chaucerian English.

The first person to write in the language of the peasant classes is often said to be Geoffrey Chaucer - although there are a few other references.  Frankly you and your son might try to take this as a compliment - it would take the teacher aback a little and perhaps educate her.

Answer 3

its a good job he is scottish and not geordie (from newcastle upon tyne england) i dont even get understanding from fellow englishmen! but then again geordies are often described by the scots as scotsmen with their brains kicked oot!.......ha ha .probably one step ahead of a southerner.

Answer 4

Don't you just wanna hit their heads off brick walls!?! We're not that hard to understand! Maybe your son's level of English would be moe acceptable if he spoke more nasally and adopted a twang! lol

Answer 5

thats pretty funni you shulld go to his school and say lots of random words to your son and say its scottish language lol

Answer 6

Why? what language do people usually speak in Savannah, Georgia? I thought it was English. So either I'm wrong or that teacher is off her head. Tell him to speak to her in scottish slag & tell her its his native language lol. Teachers an idiot.

Answer 7

Jeez, that's pretty darned sad.  

Answer 8

The pure ignorance of Americans never ceases to amaze me. I doubt very much if that teacher even could place Scotland on a map, the President certainly could not. Do you really think that you have done the correct thing in coming here or did you perhaps marry an American. Dont let your son become too disheartened, like Carnigie before him, he will prevail.

I spend a lot of time in the UK and from experience I find the the education in the UK is first class, regardless of what they say about it. I wish I could bring our UK staff here. I know as do you that the universities of Scotland are world class and world beaters. Good luck.