English Episodes #14 - Final CAE fun

Some amusing incidents from the last few weeks of my CAE course:

• Playing Taboo: big chimpanzee to gorilla to Godzilla. What?
• I gave my students chopsticks for good luck before their exam. When we all went for Japanese food a few weeks ago everyone not from Asia had been excited to perfect their skills. My Korean students told me that it's a Korean tradition to give a small gift before an exam, like chopsticks. So culturally savvy I am!
• Shocking class with my new, short haircut. "It looks like you!" says a student. (I hope so).
• Some students are describing a picture of a wizard with a "magic stick." I explain that this is a significantly different item than a magic wand, which is what is in fact pictured.
• "I fly with my private jet."

I'll miss them for sure.

English Episodes #13 - The End of CAE

June is a great month (and not just because it's my birthday!). I've successfully completed teaching my Cambridge CAE class; students did written exam on Wednesday, speaking test on Thursday. They were a great bunch and really bonded in what seems like a meaningful way. We had lots of fun at the end, playing silly games (one learned that Charlie Sheen is known for cocaine use - shocker, right?!?) and generally trying to not stress about the looming exam. I had them over to my house for class on Friday and everyone brought food from their country, a mix of Korean and Swiss starches it was with noodle and bread-based mains, pudding cake and my world-famous chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

The funniest part? When one came in with a 18 pack of Budweiser - I can't remember the last time I saw anyone drinking such a thing.

It's a weekend of birthdays, so popping around to parties around the city. Mine will be Sunday since Monday isn't an ideal party day... Impressed because I actually already have the supplies on hand. Plus a long RSVP'd list. Tres exciting!

Oh, Italians

Italians are always right, just as many other folks from the Mediterranean are. I came across this post about how to make pesto and giggled a whole much. The author has definite opinions he is unafraid to share, from the blasphemy of mixing different cheeses to using a blender.

Yet he doesn't toast his pine nuts. I question his credibility on this point alone... But I still want to eat some pesto now.