How to Respond When They Say: You Speak English So Well
How to Respond When They Say: You Speak English So Well

How to Respond When They Say: You Speak English So Well

Happy Monday!! Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every Monday to unpack our thoughts from our weekly Brown Table Talk Podcast Season 2. Our podcast which is now part of the LinkedIn Podcast Network! WOHOO!

Here are 3 compliments I have received in my career ??????

???? You speak English so well!

???? Wow, I don’t hear any accent at all!

???? I’m really impressed with how well you speak.

In this week’s episode Brown Table Talk, we tackle this very topic: How to Respond When They Say: You Speak English So Well. And well this episode caused quite THE STIR. I received many messages from individuals thanking me for addressing this topic:

“Thank you for saying this. I can relate.”

“So true! I have heard all of these as well! How did you learn such good English, when did you learn? Where did you learn?”

“Wow. And the sad thing here is that your experience is the norm, not the exception. We need to do better."

And I also received comments from individuals who said the following:

People are too quick to see the worst in those making compliments. What happened to clarifications and giving the benefit of the doubt? Not everything is a micro-aggression.?

I worked abroad for years and being complimented on my Japanese was always one of the bright points of my day. It's nice when people notice and appreciate the effort. That's how normal, non-brainwashed people think and feel.

You should say thank you, and stop being over sensitive. It might also be a good idea to get some therapy instead of manufacturing crises where none exist.

Stop making such a big fuss about everything and try to look at the bright side. If folks compliment your English just take it with stride and do not hold a grudge against the person giving you the compliment.

As a Brown woman who was born and raised in the U.S., many make judgements about me before I have even opened my mouth. I walk into a room and they have already made their assessment. And too often in my career, they have assumed, simply because of how I look, I wouldn’t speak English very well. That I would have trouble communicating. That I wouldn’t be a very good presenter. Much to their surprise, I speak English very, very well. I am a very strong communicator. And I am a powerful storyteller.

I was taken aback by many of the comments about this podcast gaslighting me: telling me I should accept the compliment, stop complaining and move on. As Dee and I texted over the weekend about this, I realized that this is the very reason why we need Brown Table Talk. Because we need more people to understand the perspectives of Women of Color and our experiences in Corporate America. Because if you don’t understand our context and don't listen to our stories, you won’t understand what it might be like to walk in our shoes. And without attempting to build empathy for an experience that’s not your own, you can’t be on a journey to be an ally.

As always, you have a standing invitation to join us at the Brown Table Talk Podcast. Take a listen to this episode and share it with someone who is open to hearing a different perspective today.

Because change requires tough conversations. Tough conversations like these.? And we can’t change what we won’t discuss.

With Much Love and Gratitude, Mita & Dee

Priya Tshering Kabo

Field HR Business Partner, Employee Engagement & Communications

2 年

This episode was everything! Again I can’t thank you and Dee for the incredible work you are doing for WOC! ?? ?? ??

回复
Dr.Shivani Sharma

1 MILLION+Instagram|Linkedin Top Voice|2xTEDx&Josh Talks|Executive Presence Coach |Communication & Soft skills |Faculty Masters’Union Command presence:Embody credibility in VISION, VOICE&VERBIAGE Drive Influence & Impact

2 年

Incredible share

回复
Deepti Advani

PFP? | MBA | M.Com | Business rainmaker | Strategic Sales & Client Relationship Management

2 年

I am always sooo tempted to mention English as my native language !! I see no reason why not. That is the language I have been exposed to / conversed in all my life, much more than my native language.

Irma A. González - MBA,

Business Development Director | Central Texas | Austin & San Antonio | Strategic Relationship Builder / Developer & Connector

2 年

I too have heard similar comments. Although I was born and raised in Texas and think of myself as a true Texican, I don't pay much mind to statements like that. Being multilingual is always a magnet for comments of all types!! Thanks Dee C. Marshall & Mita Mallick for posting! Mil gracias, Obrigada, Danke sch?n, Merci Beaucoup, Salamat, Kamsahamnida!!

Janki DePalma, FSMPS, CPSM, LEED AP

Helping connect people in the AEC community | Director of Business Development W.E. O'Neil Construction | 2023 SMPS Chapter President of the Year | Eldest Daughter

2 年

Yes to this all. I will say that in the article someone talked about speaking Japanese and getting these compliments. I studied in Japan. My teacher(nonnative speaker) told me that you know your Japanese is good when people stop commenting on it. It’s that “otherness” that you touch on that is the point. Same with the intense interest in my genealogy. I once had a client argue (full on) that I wasn’t Indian- because I didn’t look like what he thought. I didn’t have a 23/me on hand to dispute him.

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Mita Mallick的更多文章

  • How to Survive a Toxic Boss

    How to Survive a Toxic Boss

    Welcome to our LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be sharing our thoughts from our weekly Brown…

    48 条评论
  • Here Are the Signs You’re Being Demoted

    Here Are the Signs You’re Being Demoted

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    13 条评论
  • Have you ever been set-up for a fake interview?

    Have you ever been set-up for a fake interview?

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    55 条评论
  • Are you a lazy girl?

    Are you a lazy girl?

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    12 条评论
  • Should I give two weeks notice?

    Should I give two weeks notice?

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    21 条评论
  • Why Are Companies Sending Their Employees to Charm School?

    Why Are Companies Sending Their Employees to Charm School?

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    33 条评论
  • Why do people record their layoffs?

    Why do people record their layoffs?

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    17 条评论
  • Sounds Like You Want My Ideas For Free...AGAIN!

    Sounds Like You Want My Ideas For Free...AGAIN!

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    37 条评论
  • Not All Feedback Is Good Feedback!

    Not All Feedback Is Good Feedback!

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    26 条评论
  • Just Stop Misspelling My Name!

    Just Stop Misspelling My Name!

    Welcome to our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Join us at Brown Table Talk. We will be publishing every week to unpack our…

    50 条评论

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了