THE MOST EXPENSIVE WORD

(YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER,
BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE IT DRINK)

Like many Spanish families we are sending our son to study English in Spain. In the afternoon he takes private lessons after leaving school, in addition to the three hours a week he receives in the public school.

Last Saturday I was with my son in the local post office. There I could see an Englishman trying to find somebody to help him with a conversation he wanted to have with the postman at the desk

I thought it was a good opportunity to check for myself the knowledge of my son in the language of Beckam (not only Shakespeare spoke English)

My son was looking away avoiding the Englishman eye.

After several minutes pressing my son to talk to the man and his absolute refusal, I had no other choice than to threaten him with not allowing him to bring girls to his room during the night and at the weekends.

Once he had understood that my threat was serious, he decided to speak to the Englishman and to my dismay he said only one word: HELLO.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing or, to be more accurate, what I wasn’t hearing.

After more than ten years of private lessons, at enormous cost I couldn’t believe he only said one word in English.

“Please, son, say something more. I would like to hear you talking English with foreign people”

My son, remembered the threat and repeated: HELLO.

Thinking his level was still very low I decided to send him to a private school in Dublin for one month intensive study.

When he returned I discovered immediately his command of English had improved dramatically.

He now could say the words:

FILLY, GREYHOUND and GUINNESS

The three with a perfect Irish accent.

**