Are you asking me a question?

I went to class yesterday, the first class of the semester and a few minutes after entering the classroom I had this conversation with the lecturer.

L: Who knows what bourgeois is?
H: It is the ruling class..
L: Bourgeois is ruling class?
H: Yeah, you are asking about the bourgeois as in the bourgeois-proletariat thing right?
L: Are you asking me a question?
H: No, I am trying to answer your question.
L: No, you are asking me a question. When I ask you a question, you don't ask me back.
H: I'm asking you a question to help me answer your question..

Yes, I was a kind of annoyed by the way he replied. I for one, enjoy a good discussion with people and in discussion, questions and answers comes from both sides, not a one way thing.

The reason I asked for the clarification is not because I want to show off (as some people think). I first encountered the word back in the MCKK library, while reading about books on the Russian Revolution though the understanding of the meaning only came a few years later. The thing is that my dear lecturer is an African, Liberian to be exact. As with any people in the world, we all speak English rather differently. The pronunciation, diction, etc. I was having some difficulties understanding him thus the need to clarify. Isn't that justifiable?

Nonetheless, he accepted my answer adding that it is his teaching style to have a distinct time for lecture and a time for questions. I accepted it, everyone is different anyway. 

Throughout the class, I found out the he knows a lot about Malaysia and can even speak a little Malay (the fourth African I know who can speak Malay). He has been here for around 11 years and he seemed very knowledgeable about this country. In a nutshell, that kind of makes the whole thing more interesting. I like this cross-cultural thing, see what it is like through their eyes.

I do understand that there are some people complaining particularly about the language barrier. Some people also suggested that we do a petition asking for a replacement lecturer. To me, I think I'll stay aside. What good is studying communications for if I cannot accept and learn other people's culture. Give everyone a chance. He took the time to understand this country, I'll take the time to understand him.

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Published:
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
by amerhadiazmi