Excellento!

In a small reading group of about six kids, the students successfully read the list of nonsense words without a fit. The teacher was pleased and she showered them with praise by shouting, "Excellento! Excellento!" I was a bit embarassed for her. Not only because I knew that excellento meant excellent about as much as asking for a ride-o to the next town-o would get you tire marks on your back, but also because two of the students in that group were from Spanish-speaking homes. They just stared at her as if to expect to see her wearing a dunce cap or clown shoes. Disappointed that neither were present, they went on with their reading.