I'm quite pleased with myself!!!!!
Saturday 28 August 2010
Friday 20 August 2010
Languages
A friend just posted this article on his facebook feed. I agree wholeheartedly, bar one comment; "There is this strange cluelessness of the English"... I'd prefer that to be re-written as 'native English speakers'.
Working in a language school, I'm in contact on a daily basis with people of all ages from many many countries (over twenty, off the top of my head), who are striving to learn our difficult, idiosyncratic language. When I tell them I can speak 2 other languages fluently, as well as bits and pieces of at least 6 others (heehee), they don't believe me. And if they do, they are shocked and tell me I am 'not like other English people'. And instead of being proud of my achievements, instead I'm ashamed that they feel that way about native speakers of English.
Most of my friends have a GCSE in one language, but would be hard pushed to actually speak it after almost a decade. Many people say "languages are difficult" and "I'm no good at languages"... Well, I found maths difficult, but I still had to do a GCSE in it. And many of my students are not natural linguists and find learning English difficult, but they feel they have to. Whose fault is that? If we won't learn their language, what choice do foreign businesses have?
A-level results were released yesterday. My Mum has been a secondary Spanish teacher for over 30 years, and says that the format of the language exams for both GCSE and A level have definitely be dumbed down. Soon, she says, no-one will be able to teach languages because no-one will have a high enough level to be able to! It's shocking that, so many years after taking away the requirement of a GCSE in Modern Languages, it is only this September that it'll be compulsory for all primary school kids to learn a language from the age of 7. That should have come into force long before the GCSE was taken away.
Anyway, rant over.
Working in a language school, I'm in contact on a daily basis with people of all ages from many many countries (over twenty, off the top of my head), who are striving to learn our difficult, idiosyncratic language. When I tell them I can speak 2 other languages fluently, as well as bits and pieces of at least 6 others (heehee), they don't believe me. And if they do, they are shocked and tell me I am 'not like other English people'. And instead of being proud of my achievements, instead I'm ashamed that they feel that way about native speakers of English.
Most of my friends have a GCSE in one language, but would be hard pushed to actually speak it after almost a decade. Many people say "languages are difficult" and "I'm no good at languages"... Well, I found maths difficult, but I still had to do a GCSE in it. And many of my students are not natural linguists and find learning English difficult, but they feel they have to. Whose fault is that? If we won't learn their language, what choice do foreign businesses have?
A-level results were released yesterday. My Mum has been a secondary Spanish teacher for over 30 years, and says that the format of the language exams for both GCSE and A level have definitely be dumbed down. Soon, she says, no-one will be able to teach languages because no-one will have a high enough level to be able to! It's shocking that, so many years after taking away the requirement of a GCSE in Modern Languages, it is only this September that it'll be compulsory for all primary school kids to learn a language from the age of 7. That should have come into force long before the GCSE was taken away.
Anyway, rant over.
Monday 16 August 2010
Sushi Mondays
I just got in from Yo Sushi, yum yum yum yum yum. It's deceptively filling though so now I feel ridiculously full!! Went with my friend, her housemate and his friend from Italy which was cool. I'm glad I went, even though I'm so tired!!
Had a busy weekend, with drinks after work for a colleague who was leaving, setting up the barbecue/ karaoke for the adults then rushing up to Henbury to run a disco for the teens before heading back for some karaoke goodness. I was told that I was the best DJ ever, by a group of too cool for school Turkish 14 year olds. Praise indeed!!
Saturday I woke up to torrential rain and my heart sank, as I was off to Bath for the day with the adult students. Luckily, once we arrived in Bath the weather wasn't so bad so we enjoyed our walking tour before heading to the Roman Baths. I always forget how amazing they are, and how they were also a huge religious site. I also noticed how, like with the pagan holidays adapted to Christian ones during the middle ages, the Romans dedicated the temple to the Roman Goddess Minerva (goddess of springs), but kept the town name Aquae Sulis. Sulis was the Celtic goddess of springs, and had been the deity 'in residence' prior to the Romans' arrival. So again I was fascinated by the hybrid nature of the place. Amazing. There's also a 'gorgon' head, which has very much Celtic features rather than Roman. I really recommend it!!
Oh, forgot to mention on Thursday I also went over to Bath to hang with some colleagues from work, and enjoyed some gypsy music for a few hours! I've been quite sociable!!
Feeling a bit better, but still not happy at work. Having mentioned I'd be interested in a full-time teaching position if it came available, I was disappointed when my boss announced that a former colleague had accepted a position, as of September. Not sure whether to say anything but I think I should mention even in the friendliest of terms...
*sigh* I can just see nothing coming of my talking about it. It's clear from previous colleagues that they just don't want to hear it. I think I'll have a look around and see what's available..
I'm out, it's bedtime.
Had a busy weekend, with drinks after work for a colleague who was leaving, setting up the barbecue/ karaoke for the adults then rushing up to Henbury to run a disco for the teens before heading back for some karaoke goodness. I was told that I was the best DJ ever, by a group of too cool for school Turkish 14 year olds. Praise indeed!!
Saturday I woke up to torrential rain and my heart sank, as I was off to Bath for the day with the adult students. Luckily, once we arrived in Bath the weather wasn't so bad so we enjoyed our walking tour before heading to the Roman Baths. I always forget how amazing they are, and how they were also a huge religious site. I also noticed how, like with the pagan holidays adapted to Christian ones during the middle ages, the Romans dedicated the temple to the Roman Goddess Minerva (goddess of springs), but kept the town name Aquae Sulis. Sulis was the Celtic goddess of springs, and had been the deity 'in residence' prior to the Romans' arrival. So again I was fascinated by the hybrid nature of the place. Amazing. There's also a 'gorgon' head, which has very much Celtic features rather than Roman. I really recommend it!!
Oh, forgot to mention on Thursday I also went over to Bath to hang with some colleagues from work, and enjoyed some gypsy music for a few hours! I've been quite sociable!!
Feeling a bit better, but still not happy at work. Having mentioned I'd be interested in a full-time teaching position if it came available, I was disappointed when my boss announced that a former colleague had accepted a position, as of September. Not sure whether to say anything but I think I should mention even in the friendliest of terms...
*sigh* I can just see nothing coming of my talking about it. It's clear from previous colleagues that they just don't want to hear it. I think I'll have a look around and see what's available..
I'm out, it's bedtime.
Tuesday 10 August 2010
keep on keeping on!
I don't have really much to say, that's why I've not been blogging much I guess.
Things are ticking over, I'm just feeling a bit blue lately, not myself, and self-fulfilling prophecy of isolation I guess which is a bit stupid since I'm out and about quite a lot!! Was home over the weekend, and caught up with some old friends - thanks so much, it was great to see you!! Trying to arrange to catch up with various people, I'm loving being back in the UK.. after being abroad for so long, chatting to friends and arranging to meet in 2 weeks or 3 weeks time is so beautiful.
I've booked up a few things for the autumn so I'm looking forward to that and hoping to see my lad a bit more than expected which is great, yay :)
After investigating PGCEs, I'm going to need a good level of French for entry to most universities. Not the one I'd most like to go to, but I've decided I might as well just learn it, and then I've got it for life. I don't think it should be too difficult for me to grasp with my background of Romance languages. In fact, although I haven't studied it for 13 yrs, I came out with a level of Intermediate on an online proficiency test!!! So I'm looking to have classes with Alliance Francaise as I think they can push me towards an AS level equivalent exam over the next year.
It's funny (but necessary I suppose) how certain you are about decisions you make, and how they often don't turn out right. I keep thinking the next decision will be the one where I finally feel settled and right and comfortable. It's funny how I really did this time last year, and almost wish I had stayed (financially unstable as I was) as the job that was tenuous back then actually would have materialised, but on the other hand I've learnt so much over the past year. I've parted ways with some people, and met other fantastic people and one special person so I can't regret my decision at all! But sometimes would like to have a bit of that back. Although perhaps I have rose-tinted specs because I'm sure it wasn't as sunny as I imagine, and I had even less money than I do now, and various other contending factors..
So... who knows. But life is definitely a journey. And at the moment it definitely has felt more like a rollercoaster. But I'll look back on now in a few years time and be thankful for it and appreciate it with the 20/20 vision we always have (as evidenced in the previous paragraph!!)
On a positive note, I'm possibly off to Bath on Thursday evening with my friend from work, and Friday is the BBQ and karaoke with the students which is always fun. On Saturday I'm off on a trip with our lovely adults to Bath, and Saturday night and Sunday I'm planning on fully enjoying the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
I must also say that it was wonderful seeing my family a few weeks ago. I wish we all lived nearer. Grandad was in fine fettle (as they say), on great form and it was lovely to see him so well and happy after two pretty rough years. He told me he doesn't feel a bit like 80 years old! He really is inspiring.
Things are ticking over, I'm just feeling a bit blue lately, not myself, and self-fulfilling prophecy of isolation I guess which is a bit stupid since I'm out and about quite a lot!! Was home over the weekend, and caught up with some old friends - thanks so much, it was great to see you!! Trying to arrange to catch up with various people, I'm loving being back in the UK.. after being abroad for so long, chatting to friends and arranging to meet in 2 weeks or 3 weeks time is so beautiful.
I've booked up a few things for the autumn so I'm looking forward to that and hoping to see my lad a bit more than expected which is great, yay :)
After investigating PGCEs, I'm going to need a good level of French for entry to most universities. Not the one I'd most like to go to, but I've decided I might as well just learn it, and then I've got it for life. I don't think it should be too difficult for me to grasp with my background of Romance languages. In fact, although I haven't studied it for 13 yrs, I came out with a level of Intermediate on an online proficiency test!!! So I'm looking to have classes with Alliance Francaise as I think they can push me towards an AS level equivalent exam over the next year.
It's funny (but necessary I suppose) how certain you are about decisions you make, and how they often don't turn out right. I keep thinking the next decision will be the one where I finally feel settled and right and comfortable. It's funny how I really did this time last year, and almost wish I had stayed (financially unstable as I was) as the job that was tenuous back then actually would have materialised, but on the other hand I've learnt so much over the past year. I've parted ways with some people, and met other fantastic people and one special person so I can't regret my decision at all! But sometimes would like to have a bit of that back. Although perhaps I have rose-tinted specs because I'm sure it wasn't as sunny as I imagine, and I had even less money than I do now, and various other contending factors..
So... who knows. But life is definitely a journey. And at the moment it definitely has felt more like a rollercoaster. But I'll look back on now in a few years time and be thankful for it and appreciate it with the 20/20 vision we always have (as evidenced in the previous paragraph!!)
On a positive note, I'm possibly off to Bath on Thursday evening with my friend from work, and Friday is the BBQ and karaoke with the students which is always fun. On Saturday I'm off on a trip with our lovely adults to Bath, and Saturday night and Sunday I'm planning on fully enjoying the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
I must also say that it was wonderful seeing my family a few weeks ago. I wish we all lived nearer. Grandad was in fine fettle (as they say), on great form and it was lovely to see him so well and happy after two pretty rough years. He told me he doesn't feel a bit like 80 years old! He really is inspiring.
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