Phone Conference

Yesterday I had, hands down, the funniest phone call of my life ...

 

Yesterday was parent teacher conference day and I had a list of parents that requested phone conferences. I dialed the first number and the student's grandmother answered the phone. She didn't speak a word of english (they are middleastern so I didn't know a word of their language either).

 

Grandmother: hello??

Me: Hi this is Ms. McCormack calling from JSES. May I please speak to *Susie's mother or father?

Grandmother: hello

Me: um, this is Susie's teacher ....

Grandmother: TEACHER TEACHER TEACHER (screaming!)

Me: May I please speak to Susie's mother or father?

Grandma: TEACHER TEACHER TEACHER

 

the grandmother then pulls the phone slightly away from her mouth and starts screaming across the house in their home language. I can hear the mother screaming back. This goes on for a good 5 minutes back and forth. Finally, a new voice picks up:

 

Mother: hello

Me: Hi this is Ms. McCormack, Susie's teacher, calling from JSES

Mother: hello

Grandmother (still on the line): TEACHER TEACHER TEACHER

Me: Ma'am, can you hear me?

Mother: hello. hello. hello

Grandmother: TEACHER TEACHER TEACHER TEACHER

 

at this point I'm not sure what to do. Obviously there is a complete language barrier here but I can't just hang up the phone on them, yet I can't tell them goodbye either. Then, a third voice picks up the phone:

 

Susie: hello?

Me: Oh, hi Susie.

Susie: hi Ms. McCormack. I'm so sorry, but my mom doesn't know English. She doesn't know what you are saying.

Mother (still on the line): hello. hello.

Grandmother (also still on the line): TEACHER TEACHER

Me: That's okay Susie. Does your dad speak English?

Susie: Yes, but he's at work right now. He won't get home until about 5:00

Me: okay, thanks sweetie. I was just calling to tell your mom and dad what a great job you are doing in my class.

Susie: Thank's Ms. McCormack. I'll see you at school tomorrow.

Mother: hello hello

Grandmother: TEACHER

Me: see you tomorrow Susie. Have a great day.

 

When I hung up the phone I literally cried I was laughing so hard. This seriously could have been on the show punk'd hahaha! Thank goodness my student picked up. What an adorable girl she is and so smart!

 

*names have been changed

 

I'm still laughing when I think about how this phone call went. Completely ridiculous.