Well, I am enrolled in the Master of Risk, Crisis, and Disaster Management program at the University of Leicester in the UK. This is a distance-learning degree, which means I get packages of books and materials sent to my house, supplemented with some online materials, and I am to produce proof of my commitment to reading all of it and my academic prowess by composing long essays every once in a while. It didn't sound too intense when I applied for it, but after seeing the amount that I am expected to read and know, I am a little worried. Therefore, I spend some time everyday researching, reading, and preparing essays.
Otherwise, I have 2 jobs. I work in a preschool where the pupils are exposed to both English and Polish in their early formative years, as well as at a language school for kids. In an average week, I work 16-17 hours in the classrooms, but recently I have been getting calls to cover for ill teachers. Obviously, it takes time to prepare for these lessons, but it's getting easier and easier as I gather more experience.
But this post isn't about me reporting my working hours and conditions. It's about the English that I am meant to teach in the classroom. As much as I know the language, I have learned a lot in the last month about Pole's English.
1) A lot of the English that Poles learn is British English. This means that when teaching/learning school vocabulary, you correct your mistakes with a 'rubber', and they go to the 'cinema' to watch a 'film' on the weekends. They wear "trousers" and "jumpers". The most shocking for me was the question that is undoubtedly asked every lesson: "Can I go to the toilet?". In my head, I used to formulate sarcastic responses like " are you going to use it?" or "are you going to visit the sink too?" but seeing the fear of an accident in their eyes, usually stemming from the length of time it took to summon enough courage to ask in English, I just tell them to run off.
2) When learning autumn vocabulary in Poland, you are required to include "mushroom", "chestnut", and "hedgehog" in the mix along with "leaves", "apples", and "pumpkin." I am starting to catch the hedgehog fever though, to the point that I bought these cookie cutters in Ikea specifically because I spotted one (see pictures below). I don't know why they teach kids that hedgehogs eat apples and carry them around on their quills, but who cares? It's cute!
3) Let's play a game. Which words stand out?
cake. balloons. bananas. presents. apples. candles. sausage. music. games. Happy Birthday.
Let me tell you, I am so glad I got to attend birthday parties in Canada, and not in Poland.
Then I get my little 4-year olds at preschool coming up to me and saying in beautiful English "Auntie, sock!". This means, My socks are wet because I jumped on the wet trampoline when told not to and now my feet are wet and I want you to get down on your knees and do something about it."
Or "Auntie, help!" which can mean anything from "my head is stuck in this sweater" to "my parents buy me skinny jeans when I am too big for them and I can't do them up" to "I have my pants down around my ankles since I was just on the toilet but I also have a cookie in one hand so I can't comfortably pull up my pants."
Jokes aside though, the kids are cute, and Auntie loves them.
Bisouxx,
B[ZU]