ESL Logic

I am teaching English as a second language this summer. It is a delight. It is interesting looking at your own culture through the eyes of others. It is often very funny, too. Such was the case today.

My students were on a human treasure hunt. For example, they were trying to find somebody who could speak three languages. Another task was to try to find somebody who could play the piano. The problem was there there wasn't a single soul in the class who played this instrument.

I decided that this was the time to teach them what "nobody" meant. I went to each person in the class and asked, "Can you play the piano?" Each answer was, "No, I don't." I then indicated that when the answers were no, no, no for each person, we would say, "Nobody can play the piano."

I then went around the room and asked, "Can you use a computer?" The answers were all, "Yes, I can." I then asked them what the word would be if all responses were yes. The reply came quickly - "Yesbody can use a computer." And you know what? It makes perfect sense. I then explained that the word was everybody. The student's response made my day.