Snoxy Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Hi Would you be miffed if your childs teacher didn't say their name properly? My daughters teacher refers to her as Ellen and not Ellin One of her friends called her Ellen the other day and another member of staff at school referred to her as Ellen yesterday. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Probably, have you pointed it out to her? It doesn't seem a difficult name to get right. How old is your daughter? Would she correct her friends/teachers? One little girl in Oliver's nursery has a Welsh name, Ceinwyn, which I've only just got the hang of saying. Her nana seems to say it differently every time, so I expect quite a few teachers get that wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I would. As our surname is also used as a first name for girls or boys,my daughters often get called by their surnames. Cleo also gets called Chloe all the time & Devon used to be called De'Von by her orthodontist,which drove me bonkers That said my husband merrily told everyone that Cleo was called Chloe after she was born Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Thank you Ellin is 5 and is far too polite to correct her teacher bless her. I spoke with the Head Teacher nearly 3 weeks ago on a matter that upset me so much I just couldn't let it go...I took the opportunity to politely mention that the teacher was calling Ellin, Ellen. He said he would speak with the teacher...I don't know whether or not he did...it may well have slipped his mind as he is very busy. A couple of friends have suggested I write her a polite note especially as I don't find her very approachable. At the last parent consulation my husband and I sat facing her and she kept saying Ellen and we kept saying Ellin...I just couldn't bring myself to say anything as I was gobsmacked she was referring to Ellin as Ellen right in front of us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 TAt the last parent consulation my husband and I sat facing her and she kept saying Ellen and we kept saying Ellin...I just couldn't bring myself to say anything as I was gobsmacked she was referring to Ellin as Ellen right in front of us My step daughter's name was abbreviated to "Carrie", and she had one teacher who insisted on pronouncing it "Carey". It really, REALLY bothered my step daughter, so I understand how you feel. I know she is saying the name incorrectly, but she probably [genuinely doesn't realise that she's saying it wrong, and I doubt very much she has any idea that it bothers you. For something like this, it realy would be better to try and just mention it to her. Now would be a good time, as you can say "Just one thing, I meant to say this to you at the Parents Evening, Ellin's name is pronouced Ellin, not Ellen." You don't have to make a big deal of it, don't go into any more detail about how gobsmacked you were, how annoying it is etc (unless she makes s snarky comment or anything, of course). If she then refers to her incorrectly again in your presence, you can correct her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Thank you I guess I am getting in a tizz because i don't like dealing with things like this...just have to bite the bullet and do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 It would, and does annoy me to. My daughter is called Bria (which we say Breea), but it is pronounced many different ways, mainly as in briar rose for example. Once, in assembly at junior school the head got it wrong and her whole year perked up with how it should have been said! Add to that an unusual Scottish surname, and we have loads of fun! I don't think we thought things through properly when naming her But I did stop hubby from giving her Ursula as her middle name otherwise her initials would have been B.U.M He says he was joking ...... My mum is forever being called Sabrina, which annoys me no end, as her name is Sabina But it's not my place to say anything. But as others have said, just mention it to her teacher. Maybe she just doesn't hear how you say it. I do feel sorry for teachers though. They have to contend with so many different spellings of names, never mind the more unusual ones thrown into the mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Try calling the teacher Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Try calling the teacher Kevin I know you were joking Sarah - but you are on the right lines. So that she can appreciate the difference, take her name and change the emphasis slightly. So if her name was Joanne, you could call her Joan, or Joaney. OIf it's Pauline (PAUL-een), call her Paul-INE. Only if my earlier suggestion doesn't work, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 my Moms name is Ellen & gets really anoyed when people call her Helen, then her own Irish rels pronounce it Ellin still could be worse they could call her Nellie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Try calling the teacher Kevin I would seriously address her teacher by the wrong name to get the point across. It is hardly a difficult name Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I have had this all my life and it is very irritating. My name is Carolyn - pronounced car-o-lyn. Not at all difficult you would think. Even now I will introduce myself to someone new and they will immediately change it to Caroline. After 50 years of this happening I have come to the conclusion that some people have a strange switch in their brains which immediately converts a name into another. It is not even that I am pronouncing my name in a different way to how it is written or that it is a particularly unusual name. I get less cross than I used to when I was younger but it is just rude I think. Teachers should know better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Our daughter is Demelza. Often shortened to Dee or even Demi. In Herefordshire what was worse was Demelzer with the emphasis on the zer bit. I just stopped bothering in the end. She didn't seem to care. The most amusing version was a party invitation when four years old to Samosa. The mother was very embrassed when we met but had relied on her four year old to choose party guests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Brilliant - Samosa! When Cleo was small they had a new girl join their class called Chantelle, & Cleo thought she was called 'Show & Tell' after show & tell day at school (when they bring things in to show the rest of the class) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I would. My nephew is called Samuel & someone calls him Sam all the time. I think she does it on purpose. Everyone else calls him Samuel - except for the doctor who has fun with pronunciation & calls him Samwell. It's not on - you go through a lot to think of a childs name - it should be said properly. It's dis respectful & rude! Emma.x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 As a supply teacher I regularly ask the children how to pronounce their names so that I can get them right and ask them to tell me if I'm wrong. I have 2 pupils called Erin, one is pronounced err-in (as in Ned Sherrin), the other air-in (as in airin' cupboard) with the first syllable stressed. I think it's good manners. I also have children who prefer their name to be shortened - Thomas to Tom or not - Thomas. I also hate confrontation but you should go and tell her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Our daughter is Demelza. Named after Mrs Poldark? Haven't heard that lovely name anywhere else but in Winston Graham's novels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 As a Support Worker in a school, I can only say that, sometimes, you get a name stuck in your head..even incorrectly. I have 3 girls in my class , 2 Ellas, 1 Emerald, 1 Elin..all bestest buddies...so it gets a bit tongue twisty.........I'm not making excuses, as my own daughters get called by the wrong names ( Marnie gets called Hermione, and Marina, Maya gets called May, Mia and even May-a) but as someone who worked in a Primary of 475 children, and did P.P.A cover from YR-6, remembering names can be tricky....especially with the more creative names. But a class teacher not pronouncing the name correctly needs correcting Obviously she knows how it's spelled....?? had to edit p.p.a as it come up as a hen if I put in PPA!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Sigh............ I had this all my school life. I have a common enough Polish name, pronounced phonetically, but seemingly unpronounceable by most teachers in whom it seemed to elicit some sort of word blindness Similarly with my then surname. I got used to it These days with easy communication on a worldwide basis and English football club players from who knows where foreign names are commonly encountered so there should be no excuse for your poor daughter's experience. It's just laziness on the teacher's part. They should remember their pupils sufficiently to remember their names. No excuse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I would be upset if a teacher got my child's name wrong but I was wondering if it was her accent? I have a mixture of an English and Scottish accent and both names sound the same when I say them. I also asked my son who has a Scottish accent and the names again sounded the same to my ears. On a similar theme I hate it when the spelling of childrens names is incorrect on awards etc at school. I have this problem with two of mine. My son Matthew had to keep reminding people that it had 2 t's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 My name is Deborah (Deb-o-rah), in primary school the headteacher always pronounced my name De-bore-ah, used to wind me up. What I REALLY hate though is people calling me Debbie I'm Debs or Deb, NEVER EVER Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 TAt the last parent consulation my husband and I sat facing her and she kept saying Ellen and we kept saying Ellin...I just couldn't bring myself to say anything as I was gobsmacked she was referring to Ellin as Ellen right in front of us My step daughter's name was abbreviated to "Carrie", and she had one teacher who insisted on pronouncing it "Carey". It really, REALLY bothered my step daughter, so I understand how you feel. I know she is saying the name incorrectly, but she probably [genuinely doesn't realise that she's saying it wrong, and I doubt very much she has any idea that it bothers you. For something like this, it realy would be better to try and just mention it to her. Now would be a good time, as you can say "Just one thing, I meant to say this to you at the Parents Evening, Ellin's name is pronouced Ellin, not Ellen." You don't have to make a big deal of it, don't go into any more detail about how gobsmacked you were, how annoying it is etc (unless she makes s snarky comment or anything, of course). If she then refers to her incorrectly again in your presence, you can correct her. I agree it is unlikely to be deliberate, and I'm sure if it is pointed out gently it will be pronounced properly, teachers aren't looking for trouble either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Palmer Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 You should try giving your children Welsh names and living in England! We had so many problems with the pronounciation and spelling of the first one, we gave the second one an easy to spell and pronounce name. It's always annoyed me that one of my eldest's teacher's has always called him Rod instead of Rhodri and always referred to him as that at parents evenings. It's like she was talking about someone else! Mind you, having worked in schools for years with a diverse multi-cultural population myself, I've come across all sorts of names and it can be very hard to learn to pronounce them all correctly, especially when there are so many to remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 both names sound the same when I say them. I also asked my son who has a Scottish accent and the names again sounded the same to my ears. I've been saying both names over and over and can't really hear a difference either . It must be a Scottish thing . I agree I would be annoyed too though - it does show a lack of respect although more so if it's pointed out and the teacher still gets it wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I'd be miffed but I've had people mispronouncing/misspelling my name all my life. Not only mispronouncing but also changing my gender; I'm Justine not Justin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
