Here's what's going on in my life right now (in no particular order)
1. My cold/flu has gotten worse. The constant, wracking cough is quite the deal, let me tell you.
2. I now have 7 (count 'em: SEVEN) English students now and may even be getting an 8th one this month. I've had to add a second class on Wednesday mornings. Furthermore, the father of one of my students might be up for private lessons, as well. I haven't advertised or anything- it's just been word of mouth- and I'm astounded at how well it's going!
3. The meeting with the anti-AmE English teacher at the twins' school has been set! I'll be seeing him at 11:45 this coming Monday. It will be my unenviable task to point out to him that there are over 250 MILLION people living in the USA and that, contrary to his belief, they are not all speaking English wrong.
Good luck to me.
4. For the last few weeks I have been reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books to my girls at bedtime. They are 11 and 16 years old, but still like to cuddle up on my bed and be read to. It's the best time of the whole day... Tonight we're starting "By the Shores of Silver Lake". Great stuff, written in solid American English.
5. We have a houseguest arriving tomorrow for the weekend. C. is an old friend of JP's. He's from a little town in the Vosges mountains that is famous for linens- sheets, towels, tablecloths, dishcloths, etc. I guess he couldn't take the excitement anymore and decided to come for a nice rest ches nous. Our village is very soothing, containing no shops of any kind - it features a church, a tiny school and many, many, many cows.
He'll stay until Monday. C. is a nice guy and low-maintenence, which is good.
That's it for now. I really need to get some sleep and try to shake this cold. It's completely ruining my enjoyment of the gorgeous fall weather we've been having...
7 comments:
Just take really good care of yourself. I don't even have a "cold," or the "flu," anymore. But I have hell sinuses with the Santa Ana Winds and it just takes the stuffing right out of me. I might as well have a cold. So, rest as much as you can until you are well on your way to recovery.
Congratulations on the English classes filling up by word of mouth alone. I would love to follow in your footsteps with that in Le Blanc. If there's one thing I can do, it's speak American English.
You know what might be quite hilarious? Show up for the meeting with the Queen's English Instructor loaded down with examples of the best in American lit, cinema, television (dubbed into French for screaming fans over there) and theater in a bag and while you're explaining to him about the 300, sorry to contradict you--you've been out of town a long time!--million speakers of American English on the continent--never mind those éparpiller all over the planet--you might just do a show and tell for him on the riches of the American tongue. I'd take Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn along, if you have them on hand, for starters.
Look you got me all excited about my native language, all over again!
Be well, Beth.
Amitiés,
PS the children are lucky to have that place on your bed.
That cold/flu must be HORRIFIC! I am so sorry it is still hanging on and on and on and on and on.
With the argument with the teacher, you may want to point out that both Cambridge and Oxford publishers of English learning material provide both AmE and BrE combined materials.
The First Certificate, Certificate of Advanced English and Certificate of Proficiency all use and recognize both American and British English.
You could toss the Canadians in with your argument...then there are the Aussies, the New Zealanders, the South Africans and the Indians....all of whom(!) don't speak BrE.
SO there. Nanny nanny poopoo.....
and good luck.
If all else fails explain to him what a Bronx cheer is and then give him one.
I hope the nasty bug gets its marching orders soon. Have had it here in UK too - it is nasty and hangs about.
Good luck with the teachers - take lots of "ammunition".
I too still love Laura Ingalls Wilder and adored the books as a child. Can't say I felt quite the same way about the TV series....rather ruined the mental images I had. Lucky,lucky daughters.
Feel better soon.
Sorry to hear you are feeling worse... I am with your first commentor on the sinuses - but they are the same here as in Saskatchewan. (I WAS hoping they wouldn`t hit here.)
I still love the Little House books, and tried reading the first to my boys, but they aren`t interested yet. Perhaps in another year or two. (Right now, they are enthralled with Captain Underpants. *sigh*)
Enjoy your guest, and good luck with the English teacher. (And I have never used the word `hoser`, although I may have to try it some day...) ;p
Feel better, Beth.
Gosh, kid, when I forst read this post I was coughing so hard myself that I couldn't type a reply. But mine is just these chronic Atlanta pine pollen allergies, remedied with constant sips of guaifenesin syrup. I wish yours a hasty farewell! I wonder is that hale midwesern stock of yours was weakened by so many bouts of malaria in your African years? Please take care of yourself! Your public is watching!
PS: I neglected to mention that my daughter is reading "Little House in the Big Woods" to *her* 6 year old son. He is not a fan of fantasy or talking animals, so the Real Life stories have him enthralled.
ooooh, you're getting ready to meet with Mr. Persnickety! Can't wait to hear the outcome. I left you a comment on your other post but it disappeared into internet ether, as they sometimes do.
Loved the Little House series! Hope you are feeling better by now (and if you aren't, I hope you at least coughed a little in you-know-who's direction).
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