No es igual ser bilingüe que ser bicultural

Conocer a Teresa y trabajar con ella nos ha hecho conocer que no solo hay que ser competente en otra lengua sino que los ragos cultuarles que matizan la lengua son fundamentales para entender eso giros, dobles sentidos o bromas.

Es bien sabido que la cultura británica es muy "polite" con determinado tipo de chiste  ¿verde? o con determinado tipo de bromas. Pues bien, Teresa es bicultural, con un acento andaluz y con un precioso acento inglés que embelesa los alumnos cuando les lee cuentos y...Si escucha una broma entre españoles "subidilla de tono" se ruboriza (por el lado británico) pero se rie a carcajadas con nostoras (por el lado de su abuela la llanita)

¿Qué pasaba en Gibraltar cuando en España no se estudiaban idiomas, ni se doblaba el cine, ni se viajaba sin permiso al extranjero...?

How lucky I am to have been born in Gibraltar in the ‘60s and to have had a bilingual upbringing. At school all the lessons were in English and I had to speak English in class but at home I could speak either English or Spanish since my parents were bilingual too.

As a treat my mother would frequently take us to the cinema to watch cartoon films.     Now, since the official language of Gibraltar is English, only English and American films were shown.

 In those days there was no satellite TV and the Gibraltar channel only started at 7.30pm. How times have changed!

 Our saving grace was TVE which fortunately for us, would broadcast lots of children’s programmes, (especially cartoons).  My sister and I would sit in the living room and avidly watch the telly, especially on those rainy, gloomy days in winter when there wasn’t much else to do.

Such wonderful Walt Disney cartoons speaking in Spanish! Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear, Fred Flintstone, Sylvester the cat and Tweety,  Mickey  Mouse and even Mr Ed, the talking horse.

At the cinema all these characters spoke English but at home, on TV, they spoke perfect Spanish! I didn’t think anything of it, at the time; I just took it for granted. Little did I know then, how fortunate I was to grow up bilingual.To this day, I still count my blessings!
                                                Teresa Amstrong