"No, Mama." "Yes, Papi."

Why is it that when someone realizes that you speak Spanish, they throw in "Mama", "Mami" or "Papi" into the conversation? I get, and see, a lot of that. "No, Mama, you can't do that. This is how you do it." And non-Spanish speaking people will throw in an Spanish accent. I know this guy who has a heavy accent (not Spanish), and when he says "Mami", he throws in this HEAVY Spanish accent. Even Spanish speaking people will quickly switch accents in mid-sentence. I'm not sure if they're trying to relate, or make a connection, or if they feel they "need to". But sometimes it feels a bit awkward.

Better yet, is when a "non-native" speaker suddenly talks in Spanish in mid-conversation. "So I went to see that new movie I was telling you about, and it was EXCELLENT. But I didn't like the actress. She's... I don't know, too tall or something. Tu sabes? Maybe someone shorter would have been better. Me entiendes? Algien mas bonita."

Just because I speak Spanish, and you have some knowledge of it, doesn't mean you should/could speak it.

"It's just a practice test!"
 
Why do we always have to prove steroetypes to be true? Today I was covering for another teacher, I didn't have to teach anything, just give them a practice exam. Again, a PRACTICE exam. I overheard a few talking about "sharing" their answers. I reminded them that it's just a practice exam, and that the score doesn't really affect them, because it's just a practice for the real test. I also told them that it would help them build confidence.
 
But sure enough, I caught a couple sharing answers. "I was just helping her understand this question." Riiiiiight.
 

At least make an effort

One thing that really bothers me, is after I tell my students the rules and they don't even make an effort while breaking them. Like most computer labs in the world, eating and drinking isn't allowed at the computers. After I told everyone, I know a few might have either forgotten or maybe it just slipped their mind.

The other day, I see someone drinking from a soda bottle and eating chips, I remind her of the rules. She closes her bottle and puts it in her bag, and closes a shopping bag where she had her chips. Not three minutes later, she's eating and drinking again! And it's obvious, because I can hear the fizz of the soda as she opens the bottle, I can hear the crinkling of the bag as she opens it to get another chip, and I can OBVIOUSLY hear the crunch as she's eating the chip. Especially since I'm helping someone RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER. So I turn around and remind her that it's not allowed. She says "Oh, sorry." in way that would have seemed sincere if I hadn't just reminded her THREE MINUTES AGO.

Then, not even five minutes after that, I hear those familiar sounds again. Crinkle, crinkle.. Crunch, crunch.. Fsssss.. I was a bit shocked at her boldness. So I again, remind her, this time I add "Damn, at least make an effort to hide it from me." She replied "What do you mean?" Hmmm? What could I have meant by that? I MUST have meant for her to continue eating, but to make sure I couldn't see the Pringles can she was eating from, because not five minutes later she was eating again. I had to tell her to put the bag away, and put her soda on the table at the front of the class, "to avoid temptation". She actually griped about "being treated like a baby." Amazing, simply amazing.

Another gripe I have is when someone is watching a music video on the internet with the volume all the way up. Isn't it obvious that other people can hear it? Especially after I asked you to turn it off. Or how about when, in the middle of class, the student is listening to the music, which I can also hear, and then starts dancing in her seat. And then turns to the student next to her to say "This is my song!", and she says it loud because she's wearing headphones and listening to loud music.

Seriously, if you're going to break a rule, at least make an effort. It only makes you look VERY foolish.