Since I have finally faced the fact that I have to grade hundreds of final essays and speaking tests, I decided to enjoy it. I was writing down funny phrases when I came upon an entire essay that made me... a little... worried. First the quotes:
Sometimes my students forget that if it doesn't sound right in English, it's not going to sound right in Spanish: "Me gusta jugar al futbol americano y los huevos".... I like to play football and eggs
We had just learned the conjugations of the verb SER (to be), and some were so excited about it they decided it could be used in place of verbs like COMER (to eat) and TENER (to have): "Soy el pan en el almuerzo".... I am the bread in the lunch (this was one of my tough guys)
"No soy perro".... I am not a dog
We do a BIENVENIDA (welcome) every day and they are so used to saying HACE SOL (it's sunny) they sometimes forget that you don't always want to use the whole phrase: "No me gustan los deportes en el hace sol".... I don't like sports in the 'it's sunny!'
and I didn't know I had a student who was older than me... "Yo soy treinta anos".... I am (well, incorrect grammar, but anyways) 30 years old
Now for the essay, translation to come for the non Spanish speakers:
Hola! Me llamo Cristobal. Soy de Saudi Arabia. Tengo catorce anos, y me gusta tu escuela. Pedro, yo soy muy interesante en las chicas. Me encantan las chicas. Yo soy atrevido, porque me gusta ir a las montanas y esquiar. En Saudi Arabia, tengo la clase de historia. ¿Tu escuela tienes la clase de historia? Pedro, me gusta voy al baile con las chicas. ¡Bailar con chicas es muy divertido! Pues, me gusta comer los huvos en la manana. Pedro, yo soy muy intellegente. Me gusta mucho leer. ¿Te gusta leer? Tambien me gusta pasar tiempo con las chicas. No chicos! El sabado, yo voy a ver una pelilcula. ¿Tu vas? No me gusta la clase de ciencias naturals. Es muy abburido porque la professor es abburido. ¿Tu tienes la proffesora? Pedro, me gusta mucho ir a la playa con cien chicas todos los dias. ¿Te gusta ir a la playa? ¡Gracias Pedro! Tu amigo Cristobal.
PS I'm going to miss these kids. This time of year this time around is bitter sweet. They have renewed my faith in the rising generations, given me hope for the future, and helped me fall in love with an age group we often don't understand.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Favorites of the Trip
Scott to Melissa: 'Could you bring my tennis shoes and my grey tube top? The tube top is in my tops drawer in my closet.' I thought he wouldn't mind that it was public knowledge that he wore tube tops, although I thought it was a little weird, so we had some good laughs on the way down to meet them... until I got that later translation: tube socks! in his socks drawer! Of course. I should have known better.
Melissa to Charity: 'Charity, you would know about that' Enough said. We won't get into that one.
Cory trying the taffy roasted in the fire: 'That flavor is so strong, and so familiar. I know it. Wait, don't help me' Melissa: 'Red...'
Cory: 'Oh, I know it. It's on the tip of my tongue. Um...uh...oh! Red licorice!'
Kim's stories. If you ever want to laugh, just ask Kim to tell about her day at school (she's a kindergarten teacher) Gauranteed to be some of the best stories about little kids you've ever heard.
Tim's boot camp pre-hike workout. I was out within the first minute, but they were tough (I'll include some pics of that).
At the end of our 10 mile hike we were soaked, sweaty, tired, and ready to be done but, wait, there's Heather running up the hill in her bathing suit about to go 'play in the creek'. Is this fair energy distribution? Can I please just have a little of that?
In response to the question posed to Sergio, Kim, and Seth of 'At the end of your life, what do you think will have been your favorite phase of life?' Sergio answered 'the 2080's'. This is one thing I love about Sergio. Simple, direct, and to the point. I hope my 90's are my golden years also. Way to be optimistic Serg.
Another thing I love about Sergio- always thinking of everyone else. That was him this whole camping trip from making dinners to the end of the hike. Thanks for inspiring me:)
Melissa to Charity: 'Charity, you would know about that' Enough said. We won't get into that one.
Cory trying the taffy roasted in the fire: 'That flavor is so strong, and so familiar. I know it. Wait, don't help me' Melissa: 'Red...'
Cory: 'Oh, I know it. It's on the tip of my tongue. Um...uh...oh! Red licorice!'
Kim's stories. If you ever want to laugh, just ask Kim to tell about her day at school (she's a kindergarten teacher) Gauranteed to be some of the best stories about little kids you've ever heard.
Tim's boot camp pre-hike workout. I was out within the first minute, but they were tough (I'll include some pics of that).
At the end of our 10 mile hike we were soaked, sweaty, tired, and ready to be done but, wait, there's Heather running up the hill in her bathing suit about to go 'play in the creek'. Is this fair energy distribution? Can I please just have a little of that?
In response to the question posed to Sergio, Kim, and Seth of 'At the end of your life, what do you think will have been your favorite phase of life?' Sergio answered 'the 2080's'. This is one thing I love about Sergio. Simple, direct, and to the point. I hope my 90's are my golden years also. Way to be optimistic Serg.
Another thing I love about Sergio- always thinking of everyone else. That was him this whole camping trip from making dinners to the end of the hike. Thanks for inspiring me:)
Camping and Hiking on the Appalachian Trail
The best part of better weather is definitely being able to be outside more often. Fresh air... and nature... and being away from city life makes me happy.
So last weekend we (Michelle, Holly, Sergio, Seth, Kim, Charity, Tim, Jessica, Heather, oh and myself) met Scott and Cory at Mathew's Arm Campground on Skyline Dr. toward the end of their 100 mile week long trek on the Appalachian Trail. We had tin foil dinners and roasted whatever we felt like (apples, taffy, starbursts, marshmallows- basically anything is yummy roasted) Friday night, then hiked about 10 miles on the trail the next day in heavy mist and rain. I actually really liked the weather for hiking. It was beautiful as always.
Pictures and favorite quotes/happenings to follow.
So last weekend we (Michelle, Holly, Sergio, Seth, Kim, Charity, Tim, Jessica, Heather, oh and myself) met Scott and Cory at Mathew's Arm Campground on Skyline Dr. toward the end of their 100 mile week long trek on the Appalachian Trail. We had tin foil dinners and roasted whatever we felt like (apples, taffy, starbursts, marshmallows- basically anything is yummy roasted) Friday night, then hiked about 10 miles on the trail the next day in heavy mist and rain. I actually really liked the weather for hiking. It was beautiful as always.
Pictures and favorite quotes/happenings to follow.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
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