Wit & Whim

First round of new classes began today. German for Teachers is going to be much better for than was Business German. The focus of the class will be on pedagogical methods, just taught in German, and mixed well with a study of the theory of German grammar. I also have a week to write a three page German paper. "Whyfor," you might ask. Why so early? The answer is money. The German Heritage Society gives two grants for $1000 dollars for books and tuition in the next semester; one must first write a three page paper on Germany's place in Europe, so I will be working on that tomorrow. I did not feel so lost upon beginning this class as I did last fall, I understood almost everything said and read, and even if my accent and pronunciation are still abysmal, at least I can parrot back everything in English. Arabic 150 was an even better beginning. I remembered just about everything, including things I'm not sure that I remembered for the final. And not only did some of the mo...

Tests can be a lot of fun; the equivalent of a high octane Sporcle quiz, dealing only in interesting information. Some tests, however, are more akin to seventy-five minute torture sessions. I had one of these last week, and it was not a matter of the subject matter being beyond me, but more a function of needing to write out 3 major essays and one minor essay--after the 30 multi choice-- in the time allotted. I felt like my hand was going to fall off at the end, and I had just barely managed to scribble out the last essay in outline form. After this debacle, I was on my way to German in the language lab, and feeling slightly crumby. There must have been some kind of magic in the upholstery of the chair I chose, because I had just lowered myself into it when I was galvanized into decisive action. I went to my professor, told said professor that I had not finished in a satisfactory manner, and requested permission to type my essays next time. So far was my professor from objecting to my ...

I think I just met my new favourite professor. Elliot Bartky is awesome. He makes you explain your comments, extensively, makes you own your comments and never shows whether or not he approves. His expression is always one of doubt or skepticism, even when it is about an idea he is presenting. Opinion is not to be seen, and the experience is much better for it. He also has a good sense of humor and an excellent lecture voice, which is bigger for me than you might believe. My new history professor should be okay, though I don't think she would probably appreciate my thoughts on certain subjects, and certainly would not have enjoyed it if I had called her on something she said during class. Oh well, I will hope for the best. Dillman, my communication teacher is one for whom I have hope. She, unlike someone in my last semester, believes that this needs to be a creative exercise with as much freedom as possible to run with our ideas. She will have strict requirements on quality and vo...

This day is a good day. I got my graded worksheets from my German exam; thereon, in the blood red scrawl of an editors ink I see a number. 94. Does not the sun shine brighter than it did this morning?