Job Discussion Forums

[thelmadatter]

Im just wondering if this is still done where you are. When I first studied Spanish way back when (1978, high school), they would insist on changing our first names to the Spanish equivalent. If that couldn't be done, they created something Spanish-like (as they did in my case).

Personally, I hated it. My name is my name. I thought maybe things has changed as they did not do that when I studied for my bachelors in Spanish in 95. However, in my grad program, all the Chinese foreign students had "English" names. While they came over with these names and used them at the beginning, once they realized that we could handle their Chinese names, most went back to them. They told me they were taught that they would not be able to use their Chinese names in the States ... that they were too strange for us.

Is this the case where you are? Personally, I would never think to anglicize any of my (Mexican) students' names although to a few, who have English names (like Jennifer), I ask them whether they want the name pronounced the English way or the Spanish way ("j" --> "y" in the case of "Jennifer" for lack of IPA) depending on their preference.

OK I admit calling my boyfriend "Arthur Henry" from time to time but thats only to annoy him

[joshua2004]

Generally, I always use the student's real names and how they are pronounced. However, I once had a Russian student while I was teaching math at a community college in the states that insisted I called him by his Americanized name. So I would say go with thier real name unless they ask for otherwise, like you do.

I think its a matter of respect to call somone the name they normally use and pronounce it that way. When people can�t pronounce my name correctly I am not too bothered, except when they don�t even want to try.

[distiller]

Just call people whatever they want to be called. Many Chinese, especially, Hong Kong and Western Chinese have a western name. Sometimes it is given at birth and sometimes it is chosen by the kid themselves later. So it not always as terrible as all that. I have Chinese friends that ask that everyone call them by their western name and other who insist on the Chinese name. Just call people whatever they want to be called. I've know Chinese kids named Jamaica, Pencil and Apple but I let them have whatever name they want, however daft.

[spidey]

When I was teaching in South Korea, back in the day, all the students there had English "nicknames." Some were given these names in their respective public schools. But most received them after they joined a "hagwan" or private english school. Us as teachers found this to be very convenient for the fact that it was much easier to remember our own native language names than it was to remember foreign names. This I learned after coming to Japan. Assigning "nicknames" turned out to be rather fun...for example: I had classes with student names like...Beaver, Larry, Curly and Moe, Tom and Jerry, Hulk Hogan, just to name a few...

S

[cujobytes]

I once had a student somebody had named 'Dogfart'. He refused to change it, so Dogfart it was, and probably still is.

[kev7161]

I have very few that only use their Chinese names in my class. The Chinese names are so very similar that it is difficult for me to remember one from the next. Some of my kids have some really unusual English names, but nothing obscene, thank goodness. If I DO have to give someone an English name (which I hate, it seems like I'm naming a pet), then I try and find an equivalent that is close to their Chinese name: Zhou = Joe, for example.

[lajzar]

Its kind of interesting. When I was teaching in Korea, one hagwon insisted I only use their English names, to the point of walking in and taking teh list of Korean names I was trying to make. To me, taking away their real name meant taking away a part of their identity.

But then last summer I went on holiday to Australia, and I got to speak with some leaders of several aboriginal communities. It seems that they adopt English names for Englis class and for contact with the outside world. The idea is that those that have to contact the outside world can more easily maintain the two halves of their lives as separate, so as to better preserve their own culture.

I no longer have a strong opinion on the matter, but I would probably not choose to work in a place where they couldnt give a good justification for taking an English name. "immersing themselves in an English environment for language learning" doesnt count.

[Celeste]

Spanish speakers usually pronounce my name in Spanish. Italian speakers in Italian. French speakers in French. Japanese speakers usually have a somewhat spanish pronunciation of my name. I will respond to any of the above. I don't think that I would wish to rename myself for every language that I have studied, but I am not averse to the pronunciation of my name being a little off.

[gtidey]

I havent had the chance to do that yet but if I was asked to name the students and they couldnt think of anything I'd be more than happy to!

"And you are... hmm... Fonzarelli. Yes and you are.... Shredder! Erm, you can be... Puff Daddy!"

Well theres no pension is there?

[Roger]

Well, as a sort of permanent resident in China I too have a foreign name - my Chinese one that's been foisted on me!
The problem is that I don't feel comfortable when other people decide on what name I must bear; a Chinese equivalent is never even close to your real name.
Not that the Chinese don't know the ABC. It's just a kind of reverse discrimination, I guess.
But it is more tricky since their order of names is inverse to ours: Surname, given name; unfortunately, when they hear your name they don't realise which name is your surname, and which is your first one. Thus, I have documents that claim my first name as surname, and others where the order is correct according to what actually is my surname and what is my first name.

As for my CHinese students' use of English names: I don't choose those names for them. However, I do feel they come handy. I do roll-calls in every class (I feel I must!). Reading those romanised CHinese names is nauseating!@ Not infrequently, I prompt some snickering noise, followed by guffaws - you easily hit the wrong tone and then, their name suddenly has a slightly embarrassing connotation!

[Ailian]

I have a Chinese name that I use for paperwork, but the majority of my Chinese friends call me a nickname based off of my birth name. For my students, I tell them that I'll call them whatever they want me to call them, granted that they can actually remember their names. Keeping it under that rule, I now have about ten students with "English" names -- everyone else is simply referred to by their Chinese name. Easier on everyone. (Personally, I'd rather that they use their Chnese names until they're old enough to pick a name on their own that isn't after Jay Chou or a member of S.H.E.)

[ouyang]

[matttheboy]

Spanish speakers will translate any name they can into Spanish. I find it faintly ridiculous when i read about la reina Isabel and el principe Carlos. I mean these are world famous figures and they have different names in Spanish speaking countries. I can't remember ever reading about King John Charles of Spain. I even saw an article about Roberto (Robbie) Williams in Argentina the other day! As for my name, Matt is apparently a bit hard to pronounce in South America and i'm almost universally known as Max...

[amandajoy99]

English speakers are guilty of the same thing! christopher columbus's real name was cristofero columbo (though i might have spelled it wrong), and ferdinand magellan's real name (in portuguese) was fernao de magalhaes. silly. but people do it in every language.

[matttheboy]

Very true Amanda. But at least we change the name so it at least resembles the original-Elizabeth to Isabel? Eh? Isabel's used as an English name in its own right...and as for Columbus, it took me 4 months (when i first came to South America i didn't speak any Spanish) to work out who the hell this Cristobal Colon, who had roads and buildings named after him all over the shop, was!!!