Growing up as an EAL speaker in Australia

When Serena arrived in Australia in 2012, she came alone. A teenage girl in a new country, barely speaking a word of English. She still remembers her first day at Avalon College, the language school she attended. Everyone was given burgers for lunch. She wanted to say no, but couldn't find the words. That moment, standing there, stomach grumbling, hands trembling, and voice caught somewhere in her throat. 

Later that year, in year nine English, her class was asked to analyse Shakespeare's language in Romeo and Juliet. Serena had no idea what it meant but gave it her best shot. When she stood up in front of the whole class with her 'Wikipedia' language analysis, read it out with a thick accent but the tiniest voice. The world fell silent. Her teacher removed her glasses, looked straight at her, and asked:

"What are you talking about?"

It was one of the most humiliating moments in her life, and yet, it became the starting point of her journey towards finding her voice.

Serena had started paying closer attention to how the local kids spoke. 'Hello' was not 'hello', it was 'hellor'. And 'no' was not 'no', it was 'naur'.

Turned out her English teachers in China had been teaching her the wrong thing this whole time!

Every time before she wanted to say something, her brain went into overdrive. First, think it in Mandarin. Then, flip it around, nouns and time and all. Then, slowly let the words crawl out of her mouth in English.

'Morning good is good morning', she reminded herself.

But the true horror? Answering the phone.

Every call felt like a high-speed rollercoaster she didn't buy tickets for.

'Hi, I'm Susan from Telstra, I am calling today regarding your payment for your SIM card.'

'Sorry, where?'

She was already lost completely after the third word.

That was not it.