musings from Monday

So yesterday a lot of little things made me chuckle about life in France... Like when I needed to use the lab to catch up with a lab class that just began last week, and couldn't log on to the pc. The people who could help were out to lunch for two hours. So I had to read the words myself with a British accent and use the little I've learned about the International Phonetic Alphabet to not mess it up too badly. I like to think I have a killer British accent but I haven't met a British person who agrees. Then I had to actually read the words to be transcribed for another lab's final exam last night because my lab's door was locked. Hopefully, again I did ok since the correct answers I have are for British pronunciation. :)

For another final with a matching section I was so impressed that everyone had rulers to make the lines perfect. On French desks, instead of cell phones like I always saw at UC, literally all the students have a little pouch with pens of various colors, rulers, and even whiteout. It's so organized and handy but I think I never saw such a little pouch at UC. I personally went to many classes and realized I didn't even have a pen. As a teacher and student. This I imagine has never happened in France ;)

In another class I teach with just two students*, they had to give two final presentations. They're both really good in English so the first one was off the cuff about their future plans and goals. The second final was supposed to be an informative talk where they could just teach us about whatever they wanted to. The first student gave an impressive talk about the Irish civil war and was writing names and dates all over the board. The second student said, "Wow, I didn't prepare anything and I can't follow that" and added jokingly to his classmate, "lets just share your grade." To which his classmate responded, "Well, we're a socialist country now so I think that's fair." :)

Which brings me to the most interesting fact, the reason the student didn't prepare was because he makes 500€ a month going to university. He has no need for the courses or the degree because he's starting police academy in the fall. So he doesn't bother taking tests or worrying about attendance. He actually said he does this so he doesn't take even more money from the government for being unemployed because it wouldn't feel right. Such a different system!

 

* I was told by another lecturer that my class with 2 students should really be cancelled since there aren't at least 15 students. No one from the university told me! And the students say they get more out of that class than all of their other English classes so tant pis. Too bad. It's so, so much more beneficial having small classes.

 

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