An Update For Y’all
It occurs to me that I’ve neglected to post just regular ol’ updates here on my blog, which was one of my core PontifiKate intentions. Oops! Hopefully my faithful readers have been able to piece the big things together just through being observant, though I’m sorry that was necessary. :o)
SO, here’s the current scoop on me:
I continue teaching English here in France through Thurs. June 22nd. On Fri. June 23rd my sister, Anne, will arrive in Paris and we’ll travel around together who knows where, as our itinerary is yet to be decided. It’ll be AWEsome, whatever it includes! :o) We return to the States together on Thurs. July 6th. Wow, that’s soon!!
I plan to “land” at home in Lincoln, though I’m not sure how long I’ll stay there. I hope to find a decent paying job that I *like* and can keep for a year or two, while I get good and stable, financially speaking. (If you all have employment leads, please send them my way!) After that, I’m thinking ministry, though I have no idea where, what, or how. I’ve got lots of ideas, but need to give them time to settle, I think, and reflect upon what will be the best way for me to move forward.
So that’s about it. I know that I’m in for a mental trip, what with leaving one continent/life and returning to my home continent/life. It’ll be strange and stressful, but it’s definitely TIME.
If I left anything out, I’m happy to field any questions -- within reason ;o) -- so feel free!
Unexpected Rewards
This morning I went to the store for chocolate chip cookies ingredients (mmmm! afternoon project!). I was going about my business with what I’m sure was a scowl of concentration when I was greeted by a happy little “Hello!” I looked around and found a smiling 6-year-old boy watching me expectantly as he passed with his mother. “Hello,” I replied, returning the smile. He grinned and watched me ’til I turned the corner, oh so pleased with himself. Ah. There’s just something so rewarding about moments like that.
I actually see my students around not infrequently, which is somewhat surprising since most of them don’t live in my town, but in smaller towns around it. But they do errands with their parents and visit their nearby grandparents, etc. plus I teach an easy 350 kids each week, so I guess it’s not
that surprising. But it always brightens my day to see them and be seen by them. And it’s so funny because they really are kind of in awe of teachers doing every day things, like shopping. They even spy on us teachers (“us teachers”!) while we’re eating lunch in the
salle des maîtres (teachers’ lounge) -- ha! They’re cute. And so very proud to successfully speak English to a real-live American.
My Mind
Scary as it is, I’d like to invite those of you who care to take a peek into the workings of my mind: the good, the bad, and the other (but not in that order).
Okay, the embarrassing one first. :o) Not really. I love this story!
About five years ago, my family went to the theater to see
the first Harry Potter movie. Maybe 30 minutes in, we meet the character
Oliver Wood, played by
Sean Biggerstaff. At this time my sister Anne leaned over and informed me that, “Wood is HOT.” (This was actually
an adapted quote from
Space Ghost Coast to Coast, so don’t y’all get all hung up about our usage of the term “hot”.) Not long after, we went to
another big movie. A little ways in and this time it was I who leaned over to Anne encouraging her to, “Check out Blondie!”, meaning
Legolas, meaning
Orlando Bloom. Two of the shallowest moments in our lives, I know, but what can I say? We
are girls. :o) So we both had our little Hollywood crushes that lasted about as long as crushes do. (It wasn’t long. And then I saw him in
another role and
that killed it dead).
So now we get to the good part. I visited a family in Marseille this weekend and it worked out that I got to stay in the room of their 14-year-old boy, who was away camping with his scouts group. I was in his room for about five minutes before I noticed what was hanging on the wall: not
one, but
TWO Legolas posters! I totally laughed. Oh, how I laughed.
Okay, on to My Mind, Part 2! (This is mostly for the musicians out there.)
I walked home from the train station after returning from Marseille yesterday with my backpack, duffle, and purse. It’s always fun to try to position everything so that it’s good for walking a ways in what one hopes is reasonable comfort. I realized after a few minutes that I had a steady, interesting beat going on in my head which, of course, was because of the gate of my walk. And the rhythm was cool, even! I had the steady 1-2-1-2 from my steps, and then there was a quicker 1-2-3-1-2-3 which came from the duffle hitting my legs: R-L-R-R-L-R, since it was mostly on my Right side, meaning it hit my Right leg (1), hit my Left leg (2), and was kicked back up by my Right leg (3), only to fall back onto my Right (1, again). Both rhythms at once gives you 1 2 & 3, 1 2 & 3, the 123 obviously being the triplet of my duffle, and the 1& being the 1-2 of my walking. Sorry, but it’s hard to explain it any clearer than that. :o) Maybe not interesting to most, but I was fascinated and my mind engaged for quite a while.
Part 3 of My Mind came to me as I was back on the train returning to Cavaillon. I was too tired to “redeem the time” by reading, writing, or what have you, so I was just enjoying the countryside as it zipped by. At one point, we crossed a bridge with a metal design through which one could see the scenery. I found myself in awe for three reasons. 1) Creation is beautiful. 2) Being made in God’s likeness, we create things both useful and attractive (like the bridge), using what wits we have. 3) God fashioned us with such intricate care that my eyes will automatically track that beautiful creation through the closer iron pattern. That’s amazing! Praise be to God: Creator, Father, and Lord!
…but the one variable they forgot was LOVE
I tell ya, if I didn’t think this was exceptionally funny I wouldn’t even consider posting about it (because some may find it in bad taste), but I think it’s
h y s t e r i c a l. I probably especially like it because I’m so familiar with the
original stuff and because I’ve seen
the real trailer, which helps in appreciating how well crafted it is. It’s been around since February so maybe you’ve already seen it, but if not,
ENJOY!
Anyway, I laughed. And then I laughed some more. And I’m still chuckling.
Classically Cheesy Fun
My host sister, Audrey (17), just took her finals (although she still has a few weeks of school left -- what’s with that??). She homeschools, and I’m allowed to give her a certain amount of help even on tests… though not TOO much, obviously. :o)
So last Friday, very late, we worked on her English final. We both had just too much fun doing it (late night giggles, anyone?), so I’ve included our work below for those who care to take a gander.
And yes, there are mistakes in the final product. We both thought it was best to leave some of her original errors in, just so that it wasn’t TOO clean. After all, it’s not every English student that “gets” to have an American as a resource (in their space, sharing their shower, etc.). Plus, the mistakes give it that endearing French flair. :o)
-------
Directions: Imagine your phone call to the police station because you have recognized Oscar Carso, public enemy number one, in a restaurant in Chicago. You want the police to tell you what to do. Write a dialogue, introducing structures expressing advice and suggestion.ME: Hello. Is this the police station? I must speak to the chief!
CHIEF: Yes, this is chief G-- of the Chicago police department. What can I do for you ma’am?
ME: I am currently in a ritzy restaurant in downtown Chicago, and sit in front of me is no other than…
CHIEF: Who?
ME: Oscar Carso!
CHIEF: Who? Oh, the public enemy number one! Dear me! What can we do? Agent Vergin, get me the FBI on the phone and get reinforcements to…
ME: Why not react more discreetly? Couldn’t we do that?
CHIEF: Yes, ma’am! Uh, your idea is not bad. This man is an dangerous criminal. Above all, you should keep your calm, you ought to stay natural, look like happy and if I were you, I’d smile, but you shouldn’t stare! What is he doing now?
ME: He is standing up!!!
CHIEF: For the love of America, find something we can do!
ME: OK, I’ll go to ask him for an autograph.
CHIEF: Our country thanks you. Help is on the way!
-------
Kudos to Audrey, head of her class and one of my favorite students. :o) She really did do almost all the work herself.
Some Time Ago…
I went to England. For three days. It was brilliant.
For those of you who don’t follow closely, that was actually back in February after Sweden and a few days in Paris with Mary Ann. (“Yeah, and then I spent a few days in Paris,” she said casually.) I traveled
Easy Jet to London on Thursday, Feb. 23rd. I went to visit Rena and Lindsay, two Nebraska pals who were studying in Oxford. Rena and I stayed in the house of her very generous friends, Alison & Nick. And the girls showed me around!
In brief, THURSDAY I arrived in Oxford. Rena and Lindsay showed me their hall and room, we supped, and they took me to Alison & Nick’s where we gabbed and spent a nice, long evening talking about such things as architecture and Princess Diana. :o) I had my
own room and
a double-bed all to myself for the first time in… a real long time! Ah, vacation.
FRIDAY was a full day in Oxford. It is a very pleasant town. So very England-y, you know? I walked around, saw more of Lindsay & Rena’s college, walked around some more, visited the Covered Market, went to evensong at Christ’s Church (and got to glimpse a Harry Potter staircase on the way in and out -- I know, I shouldn’t be so excited about that!), and went inside the Eagle and Child pub. We also did things like eat and have coffee, of course. That night there was a Mardi Gras party for their hall: on Friday because weekday parties weren’t allowed. :o) It was fun to meet their friends and acknowledge Mardi Gras
apart, as it fell on my birthday this year.
see my Oxford in February photo set
SATURDAY was London. Very cool. We got tube passes and used them throughout the day. We tried to get tickets to a show that night, but we were too last-minute, which didn’t shock me. :o) We walked around and I got to see lots of stuff like the Millennium Bridge, the Tower Bridge, the Tate Modern, the Globe Theater, and the Big Ben/Houses of Parliament area. An excellent day. Even the weather was agreeable -- cold, but agreeable.
See my London in February photo set
SUNDAY I flew from London to Marseille and got myself back to Cavaillon. All I could think about was how completely spoiled I am this year, getting to do such things as this. Yeah, that was an excellent vacation.
A Recurring Question: la suite
(
la suite, pronounced “lah sweet”, meaning “the continuation” or “the sequel”)
Yeah, I have more to say about fluency than I had time to lay out in the last post. Anyway, thanks for the responses I got. :o)
I guess I’ve just got some baggage associated with this topic. I’ve always had a really high concept of what it means to be fluent. In fact, you could very easily call me a snob about it. I’ve always thought of fluency as meaning that one can speak effortlessly and coherently in a language. In terms of a foreign fluency I tend to tack on the skill of having a minimal accent, as having one at all often hinders communication with native speakers.
Of course it’s a slippery topic in terms of definition. Dictionary.com has the following to say about fluency:
Fluent, adj.
1: a. Able to express oneself readily and effortlessly: a fluent speaker; fluent in three languages.
b. Flowing effortlessly; polished: speaks fluent Russian; gave a fluent performance of the sonata.
Fluency, n
1: powerful and effective language [syn: eloquence] 2: skillfulness in speaking or writing 3: the quality of being facile in speech and writing [syn: volubility, articulateness]So, I guess the dictionary agrees with my idealistic notion. But
yes, I do grudgingly agree with my family that I’m
too idealistic on this point. And
yes, in the end I guess I’d call myself fluent. After all, everybody else seems to (even the French, and that's saying something!). :o) BUT I feel like it’s false advertising since sometimes the French part of my brain gets stuck OR I just don’t have the knowledge to understand and/or be understood OR someone can't understand me because of my accent (which comes out now and then) OR… you get the idea.
But I
am still the snob of yesteryear. I have to admit that I think the term fluent is highly abused. People call themselves fluent who seriously aren’t,
et ça m’enerve! (pronounced “eh sah may-nehrv”, meaning “and that annoys me like no other!”) *deep breath* :o)
I really do think it just loses all meaning if it’s used too broadly, but whatev’.
A Recurring Question
I have a question for y’all, and while it’s true that I’m asking it now just because I haven’t blogged in a while (too long) and am leaving town (and free Internet access) for the weekend, I
am actually very interested in your responses, too, as I've had this question for a while now. :o)
My question: how would you define lingual fluency? Or, to restate it another way: what would you say makes one fluent in any given language?
Thanks. Have a good one, everybody!
