Growing up in Germany, I started learning English in 5th grade. By the time I reached 8th grade I was reading Alistair McLean’s trashy spy thrillers (‘The Guns of Navarone’) in English, thinking of myself as quite sophisticated and cosmopolitan compared to my classmates. Yet when my parents and I moved to Arizona in the middle of 9th grade, I was still very self-conscious of my lack of fluency in English and the first few essays I wrote in my English class came back full of red marks and lines, but they also were accompanied by patient explanations and comments encouraging me to persevere.
A young arrival to America faces his first spelling quiz.
When our teacher announced a pop spelling quiz, the entire class groaned and my hands grew clammy. In Germany, all tests are scheduled ahead of time to allow for plenty of preparation for the rigorous examinations. So a surprise 10-word spelling quiz was something entirely new to me. Our teacher read the words one by one and although I felt ok, I peered at my neighbor’s sheet after the last word had been read, hoping to get some confirmation of my efforts. The last word was ‘AWESOME’ and my neighbor, presumably thinking of ‘OPPOSSUM,’ had spelled it ‘OSSUM.’
I exhaled a deep breath, stretched out my legs and waited for my paper to be collected. I realized that I would do just fine in this new country.
Lutz BraumEver since I penned my first short story (a detective story) aboard a train in Germany as a 10-year-old boy, I've considered myself an aspiring writer. I still do, 40 years later. And I still enjoy the process of writing immensely, even if nobody else reads my work (but secretly I hope someone does).
Great story, Lutz. It must have been very reassuring to see that you were a better speller than your neighbor. I bet reading those trashy spy thrillers actually helped with your English vocabulary and spelling.
I can’t imagine moving to a different country, needing to learn a new language at your age, Lutz. I think you did a brilliant job! It is clear that you cared and persevered, probably more than those for whom English was their natural language. I love that you knew and could spell “awesome” when your neighbor not only didn’t recognize the word, but misspelled the word he THOUGHT it was! Awesome, indeed!
I’m guessing that, by the time you took that pop quiz, your command of English surpassed your native-born peers. My son-in-law, who came here at age six only speaking Korean, is now a terrific writer.
You are to be commended, Lutz, for your diligence and attention. I wish native speakers here in the U.S. were as dedicated. I often am in a position to help scientists from other countries with their professional writing, and they are my favorite students. They love learning and are grateful for assistance.
Love this, especially how you were confident in your knowledge that your neighbor was incorrect, not you. Immigrants, am I right? You get the job done.
I especially enjoyed the humor and hint of sarcasm in your ending.
I’m so glad your instructors were patient and encouraging…we have them to thank for the pleasure we here at Retrospect share in reading your stories today. Thanks, Lutz!
Thank you!
You’re awesome Lutz, glad to see you on Retrospect!
Thank you for reading my story!