Jalisco Two - Text

The subject is a twenty one year old Mexican male from Guadalajara, Jalisco. He originally was a Marine for roughly two years and then became a short order cook at a restaurant eventually becoming an assistant manager, where he was forced to learn English well. He and his family made their way to the states when he was nine years old. He speaks at a pretty slow pace making sure he was able to use the correct English words. His grammar was also charmingly misplaced at times. He said, “ I became manager first assistant, really soon” instead of saying , “ Soon after I became the first assistant manager.”

TRANSCRIPTION

In Guadalajara Mexico. In 1995, and it was pretty hard because I only had a little bit of English in Mexico, but I had to learn quick for my job. I started working here as a ..in a restaurant and I became a manager really soon first assistant, so I had to learn English pretty fast. It’s gotten better. Oh yes uh I know that ….probably I would not be a manager because I had to learn how speak to both people but it helps to speak Spanish too because I can help other customers.

Recorded by Courtney Howe, October 23, 2007

Running time: 03:14