Everyday English for New Immigrants

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Teaching English as a second language, should take into consideration ‘fringe English’ that does not fall neatly into verbs, nouns, adverbs, adjectives, present past and future tenses. For example:

‘I want to see you in my office ASAP’.

English teachers in Africa taught me ‘as soon as possible’ but I was at a loss when I found it in Canada condensed into ASAP. I later realized that what it means, but I’m still angry at myself for keeping quiet.

I did not ask what it meant for fear of being laughed at, or labeled an ignorant immigrant. Not knowing something does not mean you are stupid. Exposure. That is it. You have not been exposed to ASAP some food, sports or waiting in line.

For example, people who are born in Canada or have been in the country longer, get mad when people dressed in their cultural attire go the door of the bus and ignore the line. It might not be intentional. Maybe they come from countries where survival of the fittest is the norm: pushing to get into the bus or taxi. Therefore, ‘waiting in line’  could be identified as fringe English.

NUMBERS
Your store card number, Manitoba health card number, social insurance number (SIN), hydro number etc. are very important in Canada. In your old country, it might have been normal to say: ‘My name is Baphi Zondo. I’m …..’ In Europe and North America the first question from the dentist receptionist or government worker is: ‘What’s your number?’

Service Canada, the federal government department that processes immigration, passport renewals, being laid off at work, applying for unemployment money etc. uses numbers. You are given a number and you wait until it is called.

It’s frustrating if you don’t understand the number system. For example, it is quite common for someone to complain that the woman in the blue dress was called first when she has just come in. Who knows why she was outside? Maybe she went out to talk on her phone and came back just when her number was called.

CONCLUSION
Immigrants should be armed with ‘Fringe English’ they will use in daily activities like shopping, taking the bus, applying for a job and laughing at jokes. It is even more important in paying bills online. If families do not understand English, how do they register for online banking to pay for water and electricity, during COVID-19?

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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