Monday, 1 June 2015

Simplistic but effective communication (Singapore)


An ex-student, Sheila, British, was teaching English at a secondary school in Singapore.  One day, she walked into a clothes shop.  This was the conversation between Sheila and the shop assistant:

Sheila:  (pointing at one of the dresses on the clothes rack)  Can?  (for trying on)
Shop Assistant:  Can!

Sheila went off to the changing room, and upon emerging,

Shop Assistant:  Can?
Sheila:  Can!

Sheila paid and left.


(Singapore, 1980s)

1 comment:

  1. Lol. Only when I exited the store did I realised the exchange had been so short. Not quite an ex-student yet, I'll hit 80 later in the year, fingers crossed. The last 30 have been enhanced by Mandarin studies, for which you deserve much of the credit.

    ReplyDelete