Found in Translation

This morning I went down to the front office to make some copies. While I was there our Turkish secretary had one of our 3rd grade Korean students translating to a parent. I might mention, I know this third grader, and her English has improved, but still has problems. Hicran, the secretary, slowly explained in English what was wrong with the sick kindergartener to Cherry, the third grader, who then translated into Korean to the mother.

It's so funny how dependent we are on children to translate here. Yesterday I had one of my Korean students translate in Korean the directions for one of our new Korean students, who I'm not convinced knows any English at this point. My students help me often to call or handle something in Turkish for me. Interesting role reversal, how dependent we are on them.