Not Mrs. Whatcha-ma-doodle

Vocabulary

to insist

startled

an incident

sensitive

virtually

a thicker skin

to handle something

Factual questions

1. Why does this woman's friend call her "Mrs. Whatcha-ma-doodle"? What does "whatcha-ma-doodle" mean?

2. Do all her friends call her by this name?

3. Why was her friend's mother-in-law startled?

4. How did the writer correct her friend?

5. What did another friend tell her about this incident?

Cultural notes

A glance through any telephone book for any city in the United States will show the variety of last names and the range of languages and countries they represent. Yet many immigrants have changed their names. What reasons can you think of to keep or change one's name?

Discussion

1. Do you agree with the writer—that, with a little effort, any name can be pronounced more or less correctly?

2. Have you ever had your name mispronounced by a foreigner? What was your reaction? Did you draw attention to it and try to correct it? What was his or her reaction?

3. Have you ever mispronounced someone's name and then been corrected? How did you feel? Did you make an honest effort to remember the name and to pronounce it correctly?

4. What strategy do you use to hold in your memory a name that you find difficult to remember, to spell or to pronounce?

Writing

Write a letter to Not Mrs. Whatcha-ma-doodle, as if you were Ann Landers, and advise her how to handle this situation.

From the desk ofAnn Landers

Discussion

1. Do you agree that the "clod" is letting the woman know that she isn't worth the trouble? What other reasons might there be for her inability to pronounce the name?

2. Do you think Ann Landers' suggestion will work? Why or why not? What should Not Mrs. do if it doesn't?

SITUATION 2.

Doesn't Care to Share

Dear Ann Landers,

Recently my husband and I had dinner at a Japanese steak house with two other couples. As is customary, we were seated around the

cooking area enjoying ourselves. We all ordered a glass of plum wine. A young woman seated nearby asked if the wine was good. I replied, "Yes." She then asked me, "May I taste yours?" I hesitated, reluctant to share my glass with her. Another woman in our group then passed her wine. The stranger took a sip, said, "Thank you, it's delicious," then passed the glass back.

My husband felt I was ungracious for not sharing my glass with her and told me, "Mrs. C really showed you up." Was I impolite, as my husband claims?

Mrs. X

Vocabulary

customary

plum wine

to hesitate

reluctant

a sip

ungracious

to show someone up

impolite

Factual questions

1. Where did this incident take place?

2. Who asked to taste Mrs. X's plum wine?

3. Why did Mrs. X hesitate?

4. Who offered the stranger a sip of the wine?

5. What did Mr. X think about what happened?

Cultural note

In many Japanese restaurants in the United States, it is possible for about eight people to sit around a large table. In the center is a heated flat surface where the food is cooked in a special Japanese way. The elaborate cooking ceremony and the close seating arrangement often result in friendly discussion among strangers. Does this occur in other restaurants?

Discussion

1. Why do you suppose Mrs. X was reluctant to share her glass with the stranger?

2. What do you think Mrs. X's response would have been if Mrs. C had asked to taste her wine? Or if her own husband had asked?

3. Do you agree or disagree with Mr. X?

4. What would you have done in her situation?

Writing

Write a reply to Mrs. X, as if you were Ann Landers, and answer the question in her letter.

From the desk ofAnn Landers

Vocabulary

rude

tactful

SITUATION 3.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 924