I
modified the lesson to make it a little more structured, and used it with my
university class. When I introduced the
topic and asked if anyone knew what small talk was, some thought it was using little words when talking, others thought it was talking quietly. They had never heard the phrase “small talk”
before. We discussed what it is and when
to use it and how it is different from introductions, which we have practiced
in the past. I divided the class into
small groups and gave each group a card with a situation and some topics as
examples, such as several students get to class a few minutes early, or they see
someone they know at the grocery store or a sporting event. I didn’t hear
anyone get beyond the topics on the cards during that class period. This week,
I had them pair off and I gave them situations verbally without examples, and I
was very pleased with what I heard. Not only did they come up with topics, some
even used appropriate questions for the individual person they were talking
with. I love my university class and the private English students I have (all
adults).
My
other English teaching job is at a children’s English school. I started working
there in April and signed a contract for the school year, through March
2014. This week I was asked to commit to
another year (April 2014 – March 2015).
While I expected this situation to come up, I thought it would happen in
January or February, not October. I didn’t
give them an answer, even though I know the answer. I don’t want to be put on
the spot to say I don’t want to do this another year. What are the chances that
they won’t ask me again this week?
Several
people told me they thought the Japanese pumpkin from our garden (that I posted about yesterday) was a weird
shape, and I agree, it is weird. This is how it is supposed to be, though.
Weird, but true.
Inspired
by the Suffolk Puff Christmas tree that Margaret made, and using some of the
fabric she had left over, I’ve started making one too. I want to make it for Ted to hang in his
office and I’d love to get it done in time for this year. It’ll be November in
a few days! I’m going to try to finish it before December. We'll see how it goes.
1 comment:
Even the package says it is a UNIQUE shape!
Unfortunately the Japanese have a bad reputation for being unable to do small talk in English at international conferences etc. Thank you for helping this reputation shrink!
It is usually in October that people sign onto jobs that will start half a year later. Employers want to be prepared well in advance, and by January, the job might very well have been given to someone else.
You've made a good start on that office fir tree!
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