(CNN) – Elie Sharia only spoke Persian when she moved to the United States from Iran when she was young But when her father introduced her to « The Danger! » Her world opened up
She learned to pronounce the words on the screen. Her father paid her 25 cents when she got the correct answers
To millions of Americans, Alex Trebek felt like a family member of millions of « danger! » Viewers loved him for the way he dressed the rap lyrics while dressed up nicely he made stars out of some contestants and lightly cheated on them too
But for dozens of first-generation Americans and their families, Alex Trebek helped teach them English five nights a week.
Danger! Sharia told CNN: “Was this a wholesome show that you never had to feel embarrassed about showing it with your immigrant parents” “It brought our entire family close to each other so much and the loss of Alex Trebek would leave a big hole in our hearts and our home”
News of Trebeek’s death at the age of 80 this week, less than two years after his diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, devastated viewers who learned English by watching him at night on « The Danger! » They said it helped them feel more comfortable in their adopted country, and inspired a lifelong love of learning (and of course, game offerings)
Studies over two decades have shown that immigrants often learn English from watching television, and this reduces some of the tension that accompanies acculturation or the process of assimilation into the dominant culture.
« Danger! » It is, in many ways, the perfect introductory book on America for New Americans to be broadcast on primary cable, aired five nights a week after regular business hours, and its topics include history, the arts, and pop culture – plus it centers on one of the most beloved men on television.
At least 2 people learned English from Jeopardy! She appeared on the show to tell Trebek about his impact on their lives: In February, contestant Christina Ng spoke about growing up in Canada as a Chinese immigrant who parroted Trebek to learn English
On an episode broadcast this month, Bert Thakur wiped tears from his eyes as he thanked Trebek for teaching English
“My grandfather who raised me I used to sit on his lap and watch you every day,” said Thakur at the end of the episode after making more than $ 20,000, “so it’s a special moment for me, man.”
Many « danger! » Fans told CNN that they got to know the show by their grandparents too, who learned English by watching Trebek alongside their grandchildren
Larry Solner, 23, was raised in part by his grandparents who said that they only spoke Hungarian at the time, but followed the Trebeek show religiously
Solner told CNN, « They didn’t understand much, if anything, but my grandmother always said what the nice guy is ( » úriember « ) Alex Trebek.
Despite the language barrier, Solner watched « Jeopardy! » And « Wheel of Fortune » at least three times a week from ages 2 to 10 give credit to both shows, but « Risk! » Especially for teaching him English at an early age
« Alex Trebek and » Jeopardy! “Help me become an expert who knows everything and its trivia” “I owe it to the fact that I read at 3 o’clock because the evidence was on screen and it made Alex read it clearly”
Maya Regman, 21, a student at Howard University, told CNN that she cherishes the memories of taking a break from her homework to watch « The Danger! » With her grandparents who immigrated from Honduras to the Bronx in New York
“It was really fun to see how proud they are of me, even if I only get one question during the show,” she said
Utria Manishni, now 19, moved to the US from Iran when she was nine years old, only speaking Farsi at the time, and she felt uncomfortable in a school where no one spoke her language.
She still remembers the first night her father directed « The Danger! » After a month of watching the show at night, I found that she was starting to understand English.
Manishni and her family still watch « The Danger! » Together – their tradition has been for 10 years
On previous seasons of « Jeopardy! » Trebek shook a curly mane and a thick mustache. Seeing someone who looked like her Iranian father meant the world to a young woman to Sharia when she first moved to the United States in 1986
« To a young girl who spent the first four years of her life in flux so that we could reach safety and asylum here in the United States, listen to my father, my hero, speak English and hear him say the same thing answers because their shooting on TV was amazing! « She told CNN. »
With her « Jeopardy! » Training and encouraging her father, Sharia competed in spelling and trivia competitions as a child and growing up to be a word-making propagandist for a living she even tried the show twice, even though she hadn’t done so yet (thinking about auditioning for a third time)
The final episode of Trebek, filmed a week before his death, will be broadcast on Sharia Christmas Day, which she said hasn’t missed an episode since 1986, will follow
Alex Trebek, Jeopardy!, Racer
World News – US – They Learned English – and How to Be American – from Watching Alex Trebek
