English Corner

By Ms.Vara Agustina, S.Pd

Taking the Right Time to Speak

               Talking with someone is a common thing we do, but talking with foreigner is something different. We commonly get nervous and hard to speak. How poor you!

               Actually, it’s not a difficult thing to do. We just need a braveness and self confident. Although we have bad English it’s not a big problem guys!. Looking back to my experience when I was travelling with my big families of MIM Pasir Lor. At the moment, our first object was Borobudur. I enjoyed the phanoramas and the air there. I stepped to every floor of Borobudur and took some photos. The last floor was the highest place that I could see the surroundings obviously. It was amazing!

               In the top of Borobudur, the situation was little bit crowded. It made Borobudur like as a market. Although it was crowded, it did not make me difficult to find a foreigner. Firstly, I saw a foreigner who standing alone, then directly I greeted him. Later on, my students joined me to have a chat with the foreigner. His name was Jeremy, and his nickname was Jerry. Let’s check our happy chat, come on!

Me           : Excuse me Sir.

Jerry      : Yes..

Me           : May I have your time Sir?? I just wanna have a talk with you. Just a small talk Sir..

Jerry      : Oh Okay! (he smiled at me)

Me           : Do you mind?

Jerry      : Oh no..just ask it. (he smiled again)

Me           : Oh Thanks. My name is Vara and I’m not alone here. I take my families and my students here. Look! She is my mommy (I pointed at my mommy), and he is my friend, Mr. Zuhri, he’s Mr. Sony and she is Mrs. Titi and her niece. And of course they are my students. (my students said hello and waved their hands happily to Jerry).

Jerry      : (laughed at me)

Me           : (I asked to my students who wanted to ask some questions to Jerry) Okay guys! Let’s ask some questions to him. But please don’t ask about his economy and his status. Okay!

Jerry      : (he waited to be asked by us)

Ofi          : What is your name?

Jerry      : My name is Jeremy.

Me           : Okay good dear! Well next question! (I searched my students who wanted to ask).

Arum       : Nickname?

Me           : Well Sir..she asks about your nickname?

Jerry      : My nickname is Jerry...like Tom and Jerry.

               Then we laughed together and continued our chat.

Me           : So...where do you come from Sir?

Jerry      : New York.

Me           : Wow! It’s amazing Sir! and what is your job Sir?

Jerry      : Actually I like teaching but I’m not a teacher. I just selling clothes.

Me           : Really? Then are you travelling alone here?

Jerry      : Nope. I’m with my mom. She’s my mom. (He pointed at his mommy).

Me           : Oh yaa.. ( I turned my head to her and said “Hello”) Hello Mom!

Jerry’s Mom : Hi... ( smiled at me and my students too)

Jerry      : How older your sister is?

Me           : Eleven years old Sir.

Jerry      : Then, guess my age!

Me           : Pardon.

Jerry      : How old am I?

Me           : Hemm.......Thirty?

Jerry      : Almost close..

Me           : emm..... (I thought hard)

Jerry      : I’m twenty nine. (he smiled at me)

Me           : (feeling happy and exciting) oh ya Sir..have you been in Bali? You know that Bali it’s very exciting island.

Jerry      : Actually, I will be there next two days. I will meet my sisters there.

Me           : Then..Can you speak Bahasa Indonesia? If yes, show me Sir?

Jerry      : Just a little.. like “Selamat Siang, Sama- sama, Terima kasih”

Me           : Wow! Okay...hemm..what about speaking Javanese? Can you speak Javanese?

Jerry      : Can you show me? Give me example.

Me           : Sugeng enjing. Let’s try Sir!

Jerry      : Sungeng..

Me           : No Sir...”Sugeng”. Follow me “Sugeng”. ( I laughed to him)

Jerry      : Sunggeng..

Me           : No Sir...like it “Sugeng”.

Jerry      : Sugeng!

Me           : Yaa..that’s right Sir. You got it! ( I laughed to him and touched his arm)

Jerry      : Wow!! It’s very hard. ( He smiled at me)

Me           : Yaa... I see.

Jerry      : Okay, I think I will go with my mom.

Me           : Oh Okay Sir, it’s nice to have a chat with you. Thank you very much and Bye Sir.

Jerry      : okay Bye..

               That’s our happy chat guys! Before leaving, my friends and I took some photos with him. He was so handsome and he looked good in his sunglasses. Okay guys! Will you do same thing like me when you are travelling? Come on! It’s not hard. I have some tips to you guys! Here are the tips :

1.     Look the foreigners first. What activities are they doing?. If they are not in hurry, let’s greet them and give your warm welcome to them.

2.    Be brave to speak although your English is bad. Show your confident when you speak to them.

3.    Make a small talk with them such as : asking the name, hometown, job, favorite book, film or hobby, tourism places etc. Don’t ask about age, economic status, and marital status.

4.    If you feel really hard to speak, create some gestures to help you in explaining. They will understand about what you are speaking.

5.    Ask them first about their willingness to have a chat with you.

6.    Don’t force them if there is a rejecting signal.

7.    Don’t forget to say “Thank you” and give them some compliments.

8.    The last, before ending your chat ask them to take a photo. It will be the unforgetable picture and experience when you are talking to the foreigners successfully.

               Well guys! That’s all for the story and the tips. Have a good trial yay!!