GERMANY
Yeah, I'm getting a little keen with the frequency of these entries, but the internet in Neuerburg is a nomadic being so I'm gonna take advantage of it whenever available.
Today Frau Kipping told me that I am moving up in the world of education. Rather than being a walking dictionary, I've now been given a class who speak barely a word of English between the four of them, and it's my new task to teach them English grammar.
I don't understand English grammar. As a general rule, native speakers of a language do not understand how their own grammar functions, nor do they know the phrases associated with it (unless of course they've have studied it to a higher level). Just as many of the German people I've spoken to here, teachers included, couldn't identify or give examples of the 'Konjunktiv II' when I asked them, I in turn have no idea what the Past-progressive tense is in English.
I don't know the difference between the Simple Past and Present-Perfect for example, which is what I watched Frau Kipping teach her kids today. These 10 year olds may be far from fluent English speakers, but they can explain how it works damn better than I can.
Pfft. We'll see how that one goes.
One good thing about this teacherly upgrade however is that I get to go to Trier with Frau Herschbach's class next Tuesday. Just as it was on the last trip when we went to Saarlouis (fortwerke, remember?) I have no idea what we're actually going to be doing there, but at least this time it's a place name I recognise. I'll regale you with stories of that one next wednesday.
I've also just realised I refer to teachers like the students here would. Frau Kipping, Frau Herschbach; even though I know their first names and was introduced to them all on a first name basis. I think this comes from my fortnight of observation, where I just sat in their classes like a student. And then all of a sudden one of them says "Herr Martin?" and eh? Whut? I realise they think I'm someone in authority. Then I remember that, theoretically, I am.
Damn, Altenberg. You didn't prepare me for this.
Yeah, I'm getting a little keen with the frequency of these entries, but the internet in Neuerburg is a nomadic being so I'm gonna take advantage of it whenever available.
Today Frau Kipping told me that I am moving up in the world of education. Rather than being a walking dictionary, I've now been given a class who speak barely a word of English between the four of them, and it's my new task to teach them English grammar.
I don't understand English grammar. As a general rule, native speakers of a language do not understand how their own grammar functions, nor do they know the phrases associated with it (unless of course they've have studied it to a higher level). Just as many of the German people I've spoken to here, teachers included, couldn't identify or give examples of the 'Konjunktiv II' when I asked them, I in turn have no idea what the Past-progressive tense is in English.
I don't know the difference between the Simple Past and Present-Perfect for example, which is what I watched Frau Kipping teach her kids today. These 10 year olds may be far from fluent English speakers, but they can explain how it works damn better than I can.
Pfft. We'll see how that one goes.
One good thing about this teacherly upgrade however is that I get to go to Trier with Frau Herschbach's class next Tuesday. Just as it was on the last trip when we went to Saarlouis (fortwerke, remember?) I have no idea what we're actually going to be doing there, but at least this time it's a place name I recognise. I'll regale you with stories of that one next wednesday.
I've also just realised I refer to teachers like the students here would. Frau Kipping, Frau Herschbach; even though I know their first names and was introduced to them all on a first name basis. I think this comes from my fortnight of observation, where I just sat in their classes like a student. And then all of a sudden one of them says "Herr Martin?" and eh? Whut? I realise they think I'm someone in authority. Then I remember that, theoretically, I am.
Damn, Altenberg. You didn't prepare me for this.
