Hi Shayna B.,

I recently came to the US from Israel, where I spoke Hebrew and a little English. My friends here all make fun of my English and I do not enjoy it. I tried telling them to stop but they just won’t. Please help me.

Sad Segal

Dear Sad Segal,

I’m sorry to hear that the people you’re meeting aren’t welcoming you the way they should. Being new is hard and having to learn a new language as well is even harder.

You will be a star student in Ivrit, a subject that is difficult for a lot of kids. If you want to learn more English (totally your choice) use Duolingo. It’s a great program for learning and improving languages.

Tell your “friends” what they’re doing isn’t cool. They may not realize it’s making you upset. You can WhatsApp your Israeli friends, if you get homesick.

Best of luck,

Shayna B.

Shayna is a 6th grader and knows what kids in elementary school and middle school are going through. She can be reached at [email protected]. She’s looking forward to hearing from you!