Early one morning in Vientiane I was on my daily walk in the square in front of Wat That Luang, Laos’ iconic stupa, when a man sidled up to me.
‘Excuse me, what your name?’ he asked. I told him, ‘oh, very good, very good,’ he replied.
I asked him his name and he answered.
‘What your job?’
‘I’m a teacher,’ I replied.
‘Very good, very good,’ he said.
I asked him what he did, and he told me that he taught Lao at the National University of Laos.
Despite his limited English, he was friendly and I thought I’d take the opportunity to practise my Lao. I asked him a question but in fractured English he told me that he wanted to practise his English. I was sure he was having trouble understanding my mutilations of his very tonal language.
As we passed a group of joggers he asked at the top of his voice, ‘where you live?’
‘In Ban Nongbone,’ I replied.
‘Very good, very good,’ he repeated. ‘You married?’ he continued.
‘No, I’m not,’ I said.
‘Very good, very good,’ he exclaimed. ‘You have girlfriend?’
‘Yes, I do,’ I smiled.
‘Very good, very good,’ he answered.
He was about chest high and so I lengthened my strides and quickened my pace to get away from this very limited conversation but he trotted alongside me.
‘Girlfriend yours, she is Lao?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Very good, very good,’ he repeated. ‘She is beautiful?’
‘Yes.’
‘Very good, very good,’ he panted, struggling to keep up with me.
‘Excuse me, your father what he do, he teacher too?’ he asked breathlessly.
‘My father’s dead,’ I replied.
‘Very good, very good,’ he shouted after me.
COMMENTS
Very good, very good. Interesting especially to those who have been to Laos and understand the level of English of the local teachers.
Devinder
jansan52
“Wat that Luang”?? A Temple? And “Ban Nong Bone”?? Maybe I should pay you a visit!
Jan
B ^^
Hello and Sabaidee Percy !! I really like this story !! it’s very funny !! and very interesting ! I like it !! Ha !ha ! very good very good!!!
B ^^
pAo
hahaha….thats funny!!you should write a book…..i like it:)
pAo
Sunami
The story “very good” is funny , but if we look the other way that is pity of his poor English. I think he tried to practise his English with a foreigner. Yes, he is teacher in university, but he has less chance to speak/communicate with foreigner (speak English)
Sunami
KEO
Haha… Very good very good story Percy !!!!
Pop
Ohhh it’s good experience about you and him. This story teaches me that everybody should have confidence. Don’t be shy to speak the language you’re learning . Although your language or pronunciation may be wrong, it’s okay. Try again and again and learn from mistakes.
Jay Lattanavilod
Haha it’s very funny.
Phonemaly Khattiya
I read the article and I agree that
speaking other’s language can be very difficult, to understand and
to communicate with others. Sometimes there are funny conversations and
sometimes there are not.
Touk
Alisa – GI3B
Thanks Percy! It was described a lots of local Lao Education by the vocabulary that we handle less than we should know. Laotian are always friendly, we’re interested to speak with foreigner to improve English skills.
In my opinion, I would like to say he’s very good, very good to try and don’t be shy to speak up even it wasn’t good enough but he was worked for it.
Alisa – GI3B
This story describes the situation when beginners practice a new language. Usually we are interested but shy to show our English skills especially at speaking, In this situation, I would like to say he was very good, very good in not being afraid to practice his English with a foreigner. I’m sure that he will improve his skills by learning from his mistakes.
Yer
Learning languages is difficult especially for the beginner. It seems that he has a quite low level of English but he is eager to practice it in any situation.
Anyway, very good very good
Yer
Ann
Umm…very good very good..!!
Baramy
This story is very funny. I think i was in his situation many years ago but that is the only way to practice speaking with foreigners but it’s very funny that he always answers ”very good , very good”
B
The story ‘very good very good’ is very funny ! I like it. This man is trying to practice communicating with a foreigner, I think is a good way to practice English by not being shy but we need to understand the meaning because sometimes it’s not funny at all.
Sodo Phunyathiboud
The story is really funny. But I can see if we can only reply “very good” that will make conversation uncomfortable. I think in future this man will develop more and more.
This is a very funny because this guy just answers with ‘very good very good’ for everything, even the bad things.
Penny
The last sentences surprised me.
Noy
This’s a funny story!!! with his answer Very good Very good. And even the last sentence he should have answered that way but it made me laugh. 🤣
I’ve observed that this is a very common interaction among locals and foreigners, which I think is a very good thing. It should happen more often. It indicates that nowadays locals are not afraid or intimidated by foreigners anymore. Although his vocabulary was very limited he did not hesitate to start a conversation. When situations and interactions like this happen it makes me happy, as I am aware that people, especially youth, often make fun of each other because of accents, etc. I strongly dislike this as it discourages learners. I’m very glad that people are more open and accepting of others now.
© Percy Aaron
Wow Laos 