What's in a name?


Chinese students' choice of English names is a topic of endless fascination for foreign teachers.

There is even a certain degree of competition over whose student has the wackiest name. I've suggested we have an official contest to see whose student has the most bizarre name (since I feel sure I'll win).

On the first day of my speaking class for graduate students, I had them introduce themselves and I distinctly heard one student say his English name was "Toilet." I said, "Excuse me?" and when he repeated it, again I heard "Toilet." I was afraid if I pursued it I would burst out laughing. Later I learned his name is Twilight (and oh boy does he have pronunciation problems). Without saying why, I persuaded him to become Steven.

But the class monitor, the alpha male, the equivalent of the class president of the entire graduate student body named himself "Cute Cow." I got him to abandon that name and he just uses his Chinese name, which is fine.

Posted: Tue - October 14, 2003 at 10:10 PM    


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