Thomas your English is so good. How did you learn it?

Thomas, na Mirang tong cu a tha tuk. Ziangtin si na rak zir?

Well, in my country everyone has to take English starting in the first grade. I've been taking English courses for 12 years now.

Aw, kan ram ahcun mi zokhal in Mirang ca phunkhat ihsin zir a tul theh si. Tui hi Mirang ka zir nak kum 12 a kim zo.

Wow, that's interesting. I remember when we took that trip last year and visited your family. It seemed like there weren't many people that could speak with me in English.

Wow, cucu phur um zet asi. Nikum ah khual ka tlawng ih nan insang ka rat lai kha ka thei lai. Mirang tong in inrak biak thei tu mi tampi an um lo vekin ka thei.

Oh, that's because they don't speak English that much.

Oh, kha cu Mirang tong an hmang tuk lo ruangah asi.

But they speak it in school, right? Maybe they just didn't like me so they didn't want to talk to me.

Asinan tlawng ahcun an hmang si lo maw?

No, actually they liked you a lot. They told me they thought you were very nice. They are just shy. They're not use to talking with foreigners. I remember when I first came to the U.S. I was really nervous about speaking with people.

Si lo, an lo duh tuk si. Ka hnenah in sim, mitha zet in an lo ruat sisi. An ning a zak si kha. Ramdang mi an be dah lo ruangah asi. US ka rak hmaisa bik lai ka mang lai, midang thawn biak awk ding ka ningzak thei zet si.

I see. I thought there were lots of Americans teaching English in your country.

Si ngai. Nan ramah Mirang zirtu American mi tampi an um ah ka ruat si.

Yes, that's true. There are probably twice as many now as there were five years ago, but they are mostly in the cities. My family lives in the country.

Si, cucu a dik ko. Tui hlan kumnga lai ahcun tui umzat ih leh an um ding, asinan a tamsawn cu khawpi sungah an um. Ka insang pawl cu khawte ah an um.

I wonder why. Personally I prefer the country to the city. It's so quiet and peaceful. If I were to teach, I would want to teach in the country.

Ziangah ti ka mangbang. Keimah hrang ahcun khawpi hnakin khawte ka duh sawn, a dai zet. Mirang zirh ding si ningna khawte ah ka zirh duh sawn ding ti ka zum. ,

Do you think you would want to teach someday? I know the schools around my town are looking for teachers, so if you want I can call them and get more information.

Ni khatkhat ah zirhtu tuan an duh leh ding na zum maw? Kan khua kiangih tlawng pawl in zirhtu an duh ti ka thei, na duh asile ka ko hai dingih thu hla tam deuh in ka la ding.

No, I don't think so. I would need to stay there for a year, and I don't think I can take that much time off work.

Aih, ka zum lo. Cutawk hmunah a kum in ka um a tul dingih cu zatzat cu khuan ka la thei ding ka zum lo.

Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I think you would be a really great teacher.

Aw, sile, na lung na thleng pang asile in sim aw la. Zirhtu tha zet na si ding ka zum.