One of My African Students Went on A Rant About America Today. It Was Hilarious and Fitting

[ProudLib72]

First, some background. In this particular class is a row of three students from Africa. One is from Uganda. Another is from Cote d'Ivoire, and the last is from Togo.

After class this morning, I was outside the building talking to my student from Togo when the Ugandan student raced up and began ranting. First he wanted to know why American schools didn't make students wear uniforms. I told him that a few did but not all. He said that, in Uganda, all students had to wear school uniforms and cut their hair a certain way or they wouldn't be allowed in the school. "It makes them learn how to dress properly," he stated with the conviction of a curmudgeonly old man making observations about "today's kids". Next my student ranted about how Americans spoke English. "What is with you guys saying 'I'm gunna' or 'I wanna'; how do you even spell that?" He made it very clear that, in Uganda, everyone grows up speaking proper British English, not like in American where everyone is lazy and doesn't enunciate each word correctly. The student from Togo proceeded to tell a joke about the complexity of English in America. They both laughed at how seemingly uncultured Americans are.

All I could think of during this was "This is 'MURICA", speak English", and "shithole countries". Did I ever mention that I love teaching at this community college where the population is extremely diverse and everyone feels free to speak their minds?

[hlthe2b]

1. They are right.. For a country demanding everyone to speak "English," compared to other

English-speaking countries, we are dismal at speaking and writing in proper grammatical English... Slang is one thing, but when ordinary people that live in poverty in other English-speaking nations can speak pristine (Queen's) English (and frequently multiple other languages) and the average person in US can not, that is very telling.

[ProudLib72]

2. It makes me sad to think that they would be disrespected because of their accents

It doesn't matter that they grew up speaking the Queen's English. All that matters to the deplorables is that they are black and have heavy accents. That's why I relished this morning's opportunity to hear what an African really thinks about American culture (or lack thereof). I don't think we hear enough of this perspective.

[ProudLib72]

3. Kicking for the evening crowd

[SharonClark]

4. I'm confused by the purpose of your OP but...

the 3 students sound immature and privileged.

It must have been an entertaining conversation.

[ProudLib72]

5. The point is that they are from what Rump called "shithole countries"

These are black, African immigrants here on school visas, the very people Rump wants to kick out of our country. Yet their analysis of flaws in American culture would certainly put Rump and his cult to shame.

[lunasun]

6. So many are privileged at those community colleges IKR!

[EffieBlack]

7. That's what you got out of the OP?

I heard astute observations about our culture from people who are in it but not of it and have much more world exposure than most Americans (particularly those who look down on them) and, thus, bring a very knowledgeable and interesting perspective.