Most came with English aliases: Davy, Helen, Vincent, Susan, Mike, Wendy.
Some of those aliases were unusual: Rhea, Leo, Flower, Tiger, Rainy, Music.
“Wait right there,” I objected when Music reported his name. “You can’t call yourself Music.”
“Yes, this is my English name.”
“No, it can’t be. Music isn’t a name. Does your Chinese name mean music?”
“No, but I like music you see, so I choose this name.” He was so insistent I left it alone – and later came to love it. For someone so kind-spirited, so perpetually ready to laugh with his classmates, the name fit.
Three girls came with inadvertently suggestive names, though I didn’t know how to tell them: Honey, Jelly and Cherry. “Those words can’t be names.”
“Why not?”
Imagining them arriving in America for graduate studies, I said, “They just can’t.” But this prim answer failed to persuade them against years of identifying with sweet condiments, so their names stayed.
I taught three sections of graduate students who needed foreign language credits, and one section of professionals who needed English for their careers. Nearly all had learned grammar and vocabulary from primary through secondary school, but they lacked conversational fluency. What did English really sound like? Could they interact effectively, putting knowledge into practice? The rote memorization necessary for learning Chinese characters tended to bleed into other disciplines, including foreign languages – a disservice to their speaking and listening skills.
A number of students, hoping to study abroad, had registered to take the GRE. I felt daunted for them. The GRE was tough enough without taking it in a foreign language. One student, Jesse, actually stopped coming to class so he could devote his time to memorizing vocabulary and taking practice GREs. I admired his determination and ambition, so powerful they worked against his culture, propelling him out of the authoritative classroom structure and away from his peers. Still, it was sad to watch Jesse fall behind as his classmates passed him in speaking ability.
January 24, 2008 at 5:10 am
I think some of the quirkiest names are the best. They sum up that person’s character far better than Jane or John. I knew someone who, upon learning he needed an English name, flipped open a dictionary and christened himself the first word he saw - canning.