Page 15 - Language and Literacy Project Stories Revised

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“Hey, Chewbacca, I have a question.” I rolled my eyes
and turned around towards the snickers coming from the
desks behind me. Ryan was wholly unoriginal;
“Chewbacca” had been his favorite way to poke fun at my
name for months now. Usually I wouldn’t humor the
boy’s comments, but I was feeling relatively generous on
this day in particular.

“What is it this time, Ryan?” I was already
apprehensively awaiting the punchline inevitably aimed at
my expense. His best friend was intently listening in on
our conversation, probably already ready to laugh in
Ryan’s support. I began wishing desperately that my
Math III teacher would walk in and begin class early.

“I’ve heard that African languages are, like, pretty cool,
right?” Ryan began, “And since you’re Nigerian, you
probably know how to speak African, or whatever.”

This was interesting. This seemed like it would be a
rare chance for one of Ryan’s interactions with me to come
from a place of naïve ignorance, rather than ridicule.

“Yeah.” I say in response, my voice soft. “I speak a
little bit. My home language is called Igbo.”

“That’s cool, whatever.” He brushed aside my
comment almost immediately; my heart sank as I realized

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