Project 3 Narrative: Are Belgians Truly Bilingual?
By: Margaux Nijkerk
For my personal narrative, I decided to write a monologue describing my multilingual experiences back home on the subway (or as they call it in Brussels, the tram/ STIB). A bit of background information: Belgium has two official languages, French and Flemish (dialect of Dutch). In Brussels, the capital of Belgium, all public signs and directions are given in both languages. However, most of the Brussels residents are French-speaking. Very few French-speakers know Flemish, while the Flemish-speakers usually speak French too. This is a growing problem in the country, and I express my concern throughout this monologue.
Finally, the end of the day is here. All I want to do right now is sleep. IB has taken out so much energy, I just need a break. At least I’ll be done in a couple weeks from now. And the only thing worse than me trying to get home, is this tram ride. How long does it take for this tram to finally get here?!
Le prochain train numéro 94, direction Musée du Tram, arrive dans une minute. De volgende train, nummer 94, richting het Trammuseum, arriveert in een minuut.
I swear, if this train breaks down again today, I will get furious.
Attention, les ports se ferme. Pas op, de duren gaan dicht.
The STIB is always so inefficient. The trams are always late and I always somehow get stuck on one that is not functioning. On top of that, their directions don’t make sense at all. The lady who always announces the train schedule in Flemish and French speaks way too fast. And for those who do not know any of those languages, how are they supposed to get around? For instance Sierra, she just moved here from Nebraska, and its senior year, she’s not going to become fluent in one of the languages over night. What’s the point of it any way? She’s only living here for 6 more months. How does she understand what is going on, and how does she get around town?
“Excuseer, spreekt uw Vlaams?”
« Non madame, je parle le Français. »
« Ah, pardon. Combien coute un ticket ? »
« Deux euros madame. »
« Merci, c’est quoi la prochaine arrêt ? »
« Rond-point du Souverain »
« Bien, bonne journée. »
I can’t believe it. This country and the people are unbelievable. The older woman knows how to speak both French and Flemish, but the tram conductor will only answer her in French. If a country has more than one national language, shouldn’t all Belgian citizens be able to speak in all of them? All of the street names here in Brussels are given in both French and Flemish, but the conductor, can only name the stop she asked for in French. The translation in Flemish is also completely different (Vorstrondpunt). What happens if she did not understand the stops in French. She would not be able to deduce what it would be in Flemish!
And on top of that, the Belgian law requires all students to study both languages. For example, a lot of girls in my ballet class speak French but do not know Flemish. I am not even a Belgian citizen and I know both languages. How come they cannot see that being bilingual is a survival skill that they need to have in order to live in country?
Oh no, please, I don’t want any strangers coming up to me to ask for directions. Leave me alone. Please. Crap.
Pardon, weet uw welke richting deze tram gaat?
Ja, richting de Trammuseum.
Ah goed, weet je ook over hoeveel minuten het aan Herman-Debroux komt?
Nee, sorry, ik stap uit aan het einde.
Geen probleem, ik vraag de treindirecteur wel.
Ik hoorde dat hij alleen maar Frans spreekt, een andere vrouw vroeg iets in het Vlaams maar hij kon niet antwoorden.
Ok goed om te weten, dank uw!
Sometimes, I really wish that others could see the uniqueness of having a bilingual country. How many people around the world are able to say that they use two languages on a daily basis to travel to school? The sources are right at their fingertips and yet they don’t make use of it.
Le train arrive à la Musée du Tram. Pour connecter avec les tram lignes numéro 39 ou 44, sortie a la prochaine arrêt.
De train arriveert aan Trammuseum. Om aan te sluiten aan de tram lijnen nummer 39 of 44, stap uit bij de volgende halte.
Finally getting out of this tram. Hopefully no one will disturb me on my walk home and I can be left alone peacefully.
For my personal narrative, I decided to write a monologue describing my multilingual experiences back home on the subway (or as they call it in Brussels, the tram/ STIB). A bit of background information: Belgium has two official languages, French and Flemish (dialect of Dutch). In Brussels, the capital of Belgium, all public signs and directions are given in both languages. However, most of the Brussels residents are French-speaking. Very few French-speakers know Flemish, while the Flemish-speakers usually speak French too. This is a growing problem in the country, and I express my concern throughout this monologue.
Finally, the end of the day is here. All I want to do right now is sleep. IB has taken out so much energy, I just need a break. At least I’ll be done in a couple weeks from now. And the only thing worse than me trying to get home, is this tram ride. How long does it take for this tram to finally get here?!
Le prochain train numéro 94, direction Musée du Tram, arrive dans une minute. De volgende train, nummer 94, richting het Trammuseum, arriveert in een minuut.
I swear, if this train breaks down again today, I will get furious.
Attention, les ports se ferme. Pas op, de duren gaan dicht.
The STIB is always so inefficient. The trams are always late and I always somehow get stuck on one that is not functioning. On top of that, their directions don’t make sense at all. The lady who always announces the train schedule in Flemish and French speaks way too fast. And for those who do not know any of those languages, how are they supposed to get around? For instance Sierra, she just moved here from Nebraska, and its senior year, she’s not going to become fluent in one of the languages over night. What’s the point of it any way? She’s only living here for 6 more months. How does she understand what is going on, and how does she get around town?
“Excuseer, spreekt uw Vlaams?”
« Non madame, je parle le Français. »
« Ah, pardon. Combien coute un ticket ? »
« Deux euros madame. »
« Merci, c’est quoi la prochaine arrêt ? »
« Rond-point du Souverain »
« Bien, bonne journée. »
I can’t believe it. This country and the people are unbelievable. The older woman knows how to speak both French and Flemish, but the tram conductor will only answer her in French. If a country has more than one national language, shouldn’t all Belgian citizens be able to speak in all of them? All of the street names here in Brussels are given in both French and Flemish, but the conductor, can only name the stop she asked for in French. The translation in Flemish is also completely different (Vorstrondpunt). What happens if she did not understand the stops in French. She would not be able to deduce what it would be in Flemish!
And on top of that, the Belgian law requires all students to study both languages. For example, a lot of girls in my ballet class speak French but do not know Flemish. I am not even a Belgian citizen and I know both languages. How come they cannot see that being bilingual is a survival skill that they need to have in order to live in country?
Oh no, please, I don’t want any strangers coming up to me to ask for directions. Leave me alone. Please. Crap.
Pardon, weet uw welke richting deze tram gaat?
Ja, richting de Trammuseum.
Ah goed, weet je ook over hoeveel minuten het aan Herman-Debroux komt?
Nee, sorry, ik stap uit aan het einde.
Geen probleem, ik vraag de treindirecteur wel.
Ik hoorde dat hij alleen maar Frans spreekt, een andere vrouw vroeg iets in het Vlaams maar hij kon niet antwoorden.
Ok goed om te weten, dank uw!
Sometimes, I really wish that others could see the uniqueness of having a bilingual country. How many people around the world are able to say that they use two languages on a daily basis to travel to school? The sources are right at their fingertips and yet they don’t make use of it.
Le train arrive à la Musée du Tram. Pour connecter avec les tram lignes numéro 39 ou 44, sortie a la prochaine arrêt.
De train arriveert aan Trammuseum. Om aan te sluiten aan de tram lijnen nummer 39 of 44, stap uit bij de volgende halte.
Finally getting out of this tram. Hopefully no one will disturb me on my walk home and I can be left alone peacefully.