Scrambling to Find the Right Words Yo! Speak English

In this episode we hear from Philadelphia immigrants, from the early 20th century and from the early 21st century, who adapted to their new homes without fluency in English.  David Kaplan, who arrived from Russia in 1911, talks about the challenges of becoming an American while retaining the Yiddish language and culture. Esther Davalos, who worked as a Spanish language translator, recalls a memorable story underscoring the importance of pronunciation, and what can go awry with new language skills. Min “Mandy” Wang, who moved to Philadelphia in 2018, shares her anxieties about communication as she adapted to her new life in Philly. Laura Gomez, who immigrated as a child in the early 21st century, remembers the strategies she used to succeed in her American school.