TEFLChina Teahouse: Teaching: General:
Choose an English name -- homework
Each student please write down on a piece of paper three western names you like for yourself. Mark them 1st choice, 2nd choice and 3rd choice. (If you already have a western name that you like and want, use that as your 1st choice.)
(a) Include Mr. or Ms so I will know if this name is for a boy or a girl! :-)
(b) Be sure to consider how each name you choose sounds in front of your pinyin one-syllable family name. Your western name will often appear with your family name like that and you don't want an awkward combination.
Note, just as with my own name, it is correct to say
- Peter
- Mr. Xu
- Mr. Peter Xu
but not Mr. Peter!
(Mr., Mrs. and Ms should not be used with just a first name.)
Next week I will collect all the papers and circle one of your choices that I like for you. If I don't circle your first choice name I will write a note why -- that it sounds awkward or old fashioned to me or that we have two people with that name in our class.
I will hand the papers back to you for your approval. If you don't like the name I circled let me know and we will choose another. I want you to have a name that you like :-).
If you would rather use the pinyin version of your Chinese name that is OK too. It is a perfect English name too. After all, English is an international language. Just let me know.
Names are a special part of language............... and identity.
J
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