Masturbating With an Accent
I once took an accent reduction course, to modify my Russian accent in English. In the first class the teacher explained that the biggest reason people have strong accents is that they stop learning and trying to improve their speech as soon as they can be understood. I promised myself to never stop learning and to continue working on my accent reduction forever.
Once I was giving a lecture on probability and statistics at the IAP mathematical series. My last slide was about the research on the correlation between masturbation male habits and prostate cancer. Their interpretation of the data had been wrong and a very good example of what not to do.
So I looked directly into the eyes of the course coordinator, who was observing my lecture, and without realizing what I was saying, asked, “Do we have time for masturbation?”
Everyone started laughing and I had to present my slide in order to explain myself.
The news of my double entendre spread. Soon after that I was asked to give a lecture at the Family Weekend at MIT. I wonder if that is why the lecture coordinator asked me not to discuss masturbation as small children might be present.
Luckily that was the only fallout from my blooper. Anyway, I decided to stop working on my accent. When people understand that English is not my first language they forgive more readily my slips of tongue.
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George R.:
Tanya ,your old article (I hadn’t read it) is a real gem!
6 June 2014, 9:32 pmAnd I can’t stop laughing with:
“women who masturbate have even less prostate cancer than men who masturbate. Hooray for masturbation!” 😆