Mother Tongue, Brother guidance

No, I'm not talking ranks in a convent or producing an alternative to Sound of Music. I'm talking about meeting individuals who are new to London.

In my favourite tea shop (I promise this isn't a plug, it is an actual obsession) I come across many different customers who look to try new things. Maybe it's these people that I'm attracted to for conversation because a) they found this place and b) they're in to find something different other than resort to our American takeover equivalents (cough Starbucks). Sometimes these customers engage in chat with me about different things. On Monday it was about Time as a currency (when I know more I'll discuss) and today it was a Turkish national studying here to improve his English. Both converastions ensued over 30 minutes and flower-tea but the Turkish chap captured something in me that I have an innate desire to do. Help!

Can (pronounced Chan) is London to improve his language, something he has a desire to do seeing as thought "every country requires you to speak it". Maybe this isn't true and perhaps just an exaggeration but still, our language is everywhere and therefore almost global speak. He is living with his Aunty over here who has kindly provided him the residence and he is working in a restaurant to provide himself more opportunity to engage with English. I did point out that only 30% of people in London are actually English (according to my former conversant), but hey, it's a start. He described to me in his surprisingly good English how he struggles because he still thinks in Turkish but would like to be able to have some thoughts in English. We delved into topics of the English language, accents and dialects, colloquialisms and why people find me hard to understand because I have a words-per-minute statistic faster than Busta Rhymes, (Yeah, he didn't know him either!). He disagreed and liked my communication style, describing me as clear and easy to talk with. We spoke around others but I then suggested ways in which he could improve his overall English by getting to know the people and culture by attending events, using gum-tree to do a language exchange with an English person wanting to learn Turkish and perhaps starting written conversations in chat forums and then taing it to verbal communication when he's confident.

Our conversation inspired me. His drive to learn English motivated me and I became a fire of energy and willingness to help. See I love languages and I love different cultures. When someone is finding it hard in London to become integrated, I want to know why and then how this can change just by making small steps. If he was to stay on I would help him produce a CV, work with him to find an apporpriate job and introduce him to suitable people who may be of interest to him. A chance where his language will just be a skill on his CV and not a barrier for his employment opportunities.

I will no doubt see him again, and I look forward to hearing what he has done since our chat and since I helped him correct his action plan with a small English lesson.