While being given anaesthesia, an anesthesiologist asked, “Why can’t you speak German yet?”😨 💦 “I understand it well and speak a little, but I didn’t think this was the best time to test my German,” I responded before drifting off. 💤 🧠 I studied German intensively for the first two years. 🧠 I struggled with everything, so it all became “la-la-la.” 🧠 Pronunciation is tricky. 🧠 I forget words.:) While it’s one of my priorities, it’s not my top priority—yet. Mastering a language requires time, energy, and consistency. English wasn’t easy for me either, and I had to get creative to improve at each stage of the learning curve. I’m sure the young anesthesiologist was genuinely curious about my 7 years in Berlin, but he probably wasn’t expecting to hear about my language struggles. Given the timing and setting—in an operating theatre surrounded by medical staff under anaesthesia—it was annoying and funny. 🤔 Next time, I’ll be ready with a witty, concise answer. It’s a bit dull to just say, “I am trying, but German is hard.” p.s. Any idea for a clever comeback?
📌 Which language was most challenging for you to learn?
📌 By the way, I’ve finally restarted learning German—three weeks in! I’ll tell you about it another time. :)
Well your response was accurate, it’s not the right time to test your language skills. …. But having lived 7 years in the country without fully integrating and learning the language must be hard. Probably when you step over a language barrier anything you’d reply in German would suffice as a “witty and concise” answer —> because the doctor doesn’t really care whether you can / can’t learn the language. He’s just not happy that people in his country move there without respecting its people, society and language. Probably Japan is the same. Clever comeback would be to wake up from anesthesia and say «im schlaf ist mir eingefallen, dass ich ihnen eigentlich mit "danke für ihre sorge - aber ich bin mit dem sprachenlernen gut vorangekommen" antworten wollte.» 🙂
I don’t understand why there is such a debate about to learn or not the German language. Everywhere in the world you are being expected to learn the local language when you plan a long term settlement, e.g. in the UK. And referring to your last name, in Japan they would have no tolerance for not learning Japanese. And besides that expectations: Do you folks really enjoy a life where you don’t understand 80% of the conversations next to you? After all you are excluding yourself from society.
I wonder if that question was asked to make you drift off quicker. Either way, not funny and insensitive, even for an anesthesiologist. It gives the vibe of a "hit and run" kind of person, who knew this hurts and did not have to face consequences. Free yourself from this thought, learn for yourself, not to prove a rando wrong. You know your own worth, the German language is a skill, not a value. In life we thrive based on our values, not skills which can be learned, forgotten or easily replaced.
You are too kind and polite. Personally I think “Why can’t you speak German yet?” should be added to the list of taboo questions that decent human beings don't ask each other. With some exceptions, it is one of the most rude things you can ask someone akin to "What's your age?", "How much do you earn?", "Did you gain some weight?" and "When will you complete your PhD?" 😅
What was said to you could have been like you suggested a genuine curious mind or one with a veiled air of disdain, I have encountered both whilst living in Poland, but I'm Irish so don't care what people think 😅 I must laugh though as I often say to those who clearly are trying in English that "Don't worry, your English is much better than my Polish" and that is a fact and why I respect anyone who tries, that's all we can do and at times… that's enough and that's OK ✌
I am sorry, people really should mind their own business. I write about this topic, just started a series opening several aspects of this issue(next exiting in a language and language ideologies all with german examples) . Maybe you find some ideas backed by science in this post: https://substack.com/home/post/p-149889547?r=tho0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
omfg…this is wild and feels like a bad joke - like when you’re about to bungee jump, and the guy handling the ropes goes, “Oops, did I forget something?” just as you leap! I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Junko… but I’m glad you’re back to tell the tale! 😁
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2mo📌 And please don’t say your German is better than my Japanese unless you know some Japanese words! It’s not offensive, but you’ll just lead to an awkward smile.:)