Pronunciation

My school has many Hispanic students. Pronouncing their names correctly is a goal I always have. One student, 'Jesus', posed a particular challenge to me. I kept pronouncing it the traditional, biblical way, instead of saying the more correct, 'hay-soos'. One day it all came to a head when he and his two best friends, Maria and Joey, a trio of chronic talkers, wouldn't quiet down. Without thinking, I said, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, knock it off!" I immediately started to laugh at myself, and, not getting the humor, Jesus corrected me for the nth time: "It's 'hay-soos"!