Q. When you think to yourself, do you think in your language or English?
Her A. "You know, it’s funny, but I am thinking in English, I don’t know whether cause now I speak English all the time. The only chance I have to speak Arabic is when I’m calling my friends or my family which is really once or twice a week, so I’m so use to English that I’m speaking even to myself in English. I only count in Arabic, I don’t know, I still feel more comfortable with doing that, but when I’m thinking of what I’m going to do next or I’m feeling, it’s mainly in English."
My response: I enjoyed this quote because I was always curious to know if people from other countries thought in English or their native tongue. I found it interesting to know that she has gained the ability to decipher words by thinking in English instead of relating English words to her own language. I think this is a common characteristic of people who have learned English as their second language.
Q. Do you ever feel embarrassed or self-conscious about something you said, maybe you used a word in English that was wrong?
Her A: "Yeah, sometimes I want to say a word, I know it in my head (points to head), I know how to write it, but it’s a little bit difficult how to pronounce it. It’s not embarrassing, I understand it’s a little bit early for me to be really fluent in English but I’m getting use to it. Little better."
Q. Any embarrassing stories when talking to a boy/someone you were trying to impress?
Her A. (Laughs) "Embarrassing no, sorry I can’t think of anything embarrassing, but when you mentioned a boy, it is difficult for me to explain my emotions in English so I hope I will not date an American person, (laughs) yeah I think that when you are speaking about your emotions its um, you really have to pick the right words and so on."
My response: I was surprised that my cousin had not felt embarrassed with mispronouncing or using words incorrectly. I would think it would feel overwhelming when communicating with the American society because some American people rush when speaking and usually don't have patience with non-native speakers. I thought it was interesting to learn about her feelings.
Q. When you came to the U.S. did you find the English you know difficult to apply to conversations?
Her A. "It was difficult, a little bit, to start speaking by myself English, especially being in a conversation. I noticed that the native American speak very fast for me, so I had to ask them, a little bit if they can speak a little more slower for me until I really start to understand more and more.With time I got use to it. Nothing what you read, the English in the textbook is really is not what people speak all the time and there is some sentences and some expressions you won’t see them at all in textbook."
My response: I found her response very insightful because I wondered whether or not it was easy to jump into an American conversation even if she learned English. I think it will be interesting to compare this to my other interviewees' responses.