How to Talk to Foreigners

After a discussion with an old high-school friend about things that should be taught in public schools in order to insure a well-informed citizenry, two big things were lacking from our public education experience: how to fill out important forms, such as job applications and taxes, and how to best communicate with foreigners. How to fill out forms is a pretty concrete subject, but speaking with non-native speakers is more open to opinion, interpretation, and an individual’s skills.

Then I realized I am in the perfect position to develop a lesson on the matter, being a second language learner as well as a teacher. I am also in a great community to develop this lesson.

Before I (sway) your opinion with my thoughts on the matter (and I have about 5 pages worth of stuff to say on the matter), I want to hear what you all believe are good strategies for speaking to foreigners (or, perhaps it would be best to say “non-native speakers”), and what should be avoided.

So, please leave a comment, or email me, or message me, or come have a chat with me! You can answer from either point of view: as someone speaking to a foreigner, or as a foreigner and how you'd like to be spoken to. My first lesson will be this Thursday, October 18th.