English For Non-Americans In The LPGA
The Ladies Professional Golf Associaton (LPGA) in the U.S. is requiring its players to learn English. There are many non-Americans playing on the LPGA tour, including the Philippines' Jennifer Rosales. I've heard Jenny speak in an interview and she has no problem with English, but the new requirement seems geared more toward other non-Americans who don't have the same grasp of the language as Jenny does. The largest group of non-Americans are from South Korea (and boy, can they play)!
[Aside] I like the way Jenny sometimes lights up a cigarette while walking the course. Yes, I know cigarettes are bad for the health, but after whacking the ball a mile she would do what very few else on the tour does and light one up. The way she cups her hand around her lighter as she lights up, her lips grimacing in a pucker, or when that white stick is dangling from her mouth as she lines up her putt, well...let's just say you don't see this often in professional American sports nowadays. Sort of labels her as the girl with the "attitude" on the tour. [aside ends]
I'm glad that all these players seem to be taking a positive attitude to this mandate. Se Ri Pak, a top player from South Korea, agrees that when one wins the speech should be given in English. She says though that when one is so excited at winning one doesn't think in English. Another player, Seon-Hwa Lee, does her best to brush up on her English because "The economy is bad. We are losing sponsors. Everybody understands." In other words, being able to communicate in English helps narrow the gap between the players and the fans. This is reflected in what the president of the Player Executive Committee, Hilary Lunke, said, "The bottom line is, we don't have a job if we don't entertain. In my mind, that's as big a part of the job as shooting under par."
Beginning next year, all players must pass an oral evaluation of their English skills. Failure means suspension, but the LPGA tour also takes a supportive stance: "Hopefully what we're talking about is something that will not happen," said Libba Galloway, the tour's deputy commissioner, of possible suspensions. "If it does, we wouldn't just say, 'Come back next year.' What we would do is work with them on where they fell short, provide them the resources they need, the tutoring ... and when we feel like they need to be evaluated again, we would evaluate."
There is a charm to the way non-native English speakers carry the language, though the pressure to speak perfect English can numb one into fearful silence. Jeong Jang, another player, said that she used to think perfect English was necessary before speaking to the media, but she now realizes that this was not expected of her and the others, and feels more comfortable attempting to speak in English. Good attitude!
With constant use and practice, and the gentle correction of errors, one can only get better at English. Or with golf. Or with anything else, for that matter.
[Aside] I like the way Jenny sometimes lights up a cigarette while walking the course. Yes, I know cigarettes are bad for the health, but after whacking the ball a mile she would do what very few else on the tour does and light one up. The way she cups her hand around her lighter as she lights up, her lips grimacing in a pucker, or when that white stick is dangling from her mouth as she lines up her putt, well...let's just say you don't see this often in professional American sports nowadays. Sort of labels her as the girl with the "attitude" on the tour. [aside ends]
I'm glad that all these players seem to be taking a positive attitude to this mandate. Se Ri Pak, a top player from South Korea, agrees that when one wins the speech should be given in English. She says though that when one is so excited at winning one doesn't think in English. Another player, Seon-Hwa Lee, does her best to brush up on her English because "The economy is bad. We are losing sponsors. Everybody understands." In other words, being able to communicate in English helps narrow the gap between the players and the fans. This is reflected in what the president of the Player Executive Committee, Hilary Lunke, said, "The bottom line is, we don't have a job if we don't entertain. In my mind, that's as big a part of the job as shooting under par."
Beginning next year, all players must pass an oral evaluation of their English skills. Failure means suspension, but the LPGA tour also takes a supportive stance: "Hopefully what we're talking about is something that will not happen," said Libba Galloway, the tour's deputy commissioner, of possible suspensions. "If it does, we wouldn't just say, 'Come back next year.' What we would do is work with them on where they fell short, provide them the resources they need, the tutoring ... and when we feel like they need to be evaluated again, we would evaluate."
There is a charm to the way non-native English speakers carry the language, though the pressure to speak perfect English can numb one into fearful silence. Jeong Jang, another player, said that she used to think perfect English was necessary before speaking to the media, but she now realizes that this was not expected of her and the others, and feels more comfortable attempting to speak in English. Good attitude!
With constant use and practice, and the gentle correction of errors, one can only get better at English. Or with golf. Or with anything else, for that matter.
posted by pgenrestories at 11:23 AM
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