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10/19/2007
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I do not know enough about my own language to teach it to other people... that much I already know. I can talk circles around anyone... maybe to a fault... but grammar bores me so I am going to have to find a way to get these people to correctly ask questions and conjugate verbs without putting them to sleep. I teach second and third level classes (out of four levels) and this week... and because the lack of efficiency, promptness, communication and responsibility that is oh-so-common this wonderful country has contaminated half of my classes are only half full. I thought, at first, that they just didn't care... I mean, really, this course is now starting a full three weeks after the rest of the university courses and has been on the uni's website for quite some time. The half of the class, who did show up, obviously tried to put forth some effort and they found out not only the first day of class but (gasp!) the class room number as well! I don't mean to sound bitter and fececious but when I have people on waiting lists, and people begging to be on the waiting lists, I am going to ask that they be let in before the people who have the seat and don't show up. Responsibility and respect, people... come on! I tell people to buy the book and that I am going to start with the lessons on Monday of the coming week... but because many of my students are "formally" registered, and don't know if they will get a spot in the class, they don't want to buy the book. Understandable. The people who are in the class, however, would like to buy the book but noone... my bosses included... can give us information on where to buy the book. This program has been going on for about three years now, I think. Noone knows where to buy the book. Not understandable. Anyway... this week, because it would just be preposterous to start a real lesson, we have basically just played games and I made them stand in front of the class and talk. Apparantly that is a really low blow because they aren't expected to do oral presentations until the Spring... I figure start them early with easy things: name, family, occupation, etc... and then they will be comfortable with their own voice and with speaking another language in front of others when the time comes to really get their point across. I tried to ease their nerves by demonstrating, via my mere existence in the room and the act of speaking in Spanish, that if I can do it... mistakes and all... anyone can. This didn't help them as they said it doesn't count, my "bravery", because I am a professor and that, by definition is in my job description. I made all of them play the adjective-name game: you must pick an adjective that begins with the same letter as your first name and then introduce yourself. The first person says only their adjective and name, the second person must say his and the first person's and it goes on around until the last person (me) has to say everyone in the room. It was alot of fun and helped me learn names... I have so many Juan Luis, Jose Juan, Juan Jose, Maria Carmen, Maria Esperanza, Maria Cruz, Jose Maria... I call them by their adjectives now, Jumpy, Jolly, Jealous, Jovial, Juicy... we had to get creative on some of the letters. I had to introduce myself and talk about my background alot so many of you out there are now known in Spain... well, partially considering they don't really know you and I was speaking in Americanish so if they actually understood my relation to you is questionable. I have been thinking alot lately about home... the changing trees and the holiday season. I think I already said something about this, but there is an old man who roasts chestnuts over charcoal in the Plaza Mayor and it smells like Fall and the holidays. I walked by a barrier of pine-ish smelling bushes that someone was trimming and I had to pick up a branch to put in our office... smelled like Christmas. I think smells are what gets me... Earl Grey tea reminds me of Chile. Weird, I know. I tried to make chocolate chip cookies for my flatmate Justine's birthday and I couldn't find Baking Soda or Brown Sugar (they have brown-colored "natural" sugar but not the sticky stuff we use. They turned out alright... I put a bit of ginger and cinnamon in them and used these things that I thought were M&M wannabes... they had a mint-y taste to them... not bad and my Frenchies loved eating American food. Cookies and (vegetarian) Mexican food... all I am good for. Stéph is determined to get me to eat meat... a typical French chick, she raves about the French food... (well everything French except their President who is now allying himself with our dud) and she says that she makes the best "Goat ribs with mustard sauce" and that I have to at least try the sauce... mustard yes... the juice from Mary's little lamb... no gracias. So tomorrow I head to Madrid... looking forward to buying a coat (already cold here) and seeing a couple of old friends from Mexico who are doing the jealousy-envoking Eurotur. I am sure there will be plenty of talk about "home" or Guanajuato... but home is a feeling more than anything. And, I now realize... after 14 hours in four days of talking about home... that it doesn't matter the distance, but the connection to those you love to make you feel at home... the smell of chestnuts and pumpkin pie help, too. I love you all and send you my best... xox cr |
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