tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post5307048967397526312..comments2023-10-21T11:44:45.588+01:00Comments on ResidentAlien: The Patience Of A SaintMary Witzlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-12274971238692881232011-05-07T19:15:05.295+01:002011-05-07T19:15:05.295+01:00Well, that's a nice coincidence! I bet your co...Well, that's a nice coincidence! I bet your colleague had some! stories to tell from back home... I've been in the NL for 8 years. Homesick? All the time, but when I go back there I feel homesick for the NL :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06923613028048879472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-28621423644205087432011-05-06T09:25:48.117+01:002011-05-06T09:25:48.117+01:00Dropout -- Thank you!
Aledys -- Thank you, fellow...Dropout -- Thank you!<br /><br />Aledys -- Thank you, fellow EFL teacher. These things are always funnier AFTER the fact, aren't they?<br /><br />When I lived in the Netherlands (near s'Hertogenbosch), I worked with an Argentinian man who lived in the Netherlands. He got so homesick for Argentina he eventually went back, but he used to tell some wonderful stories.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-70395602183146474542011-05-06T08:44:51.727+01:002011-05-06T08:44:51.727+01:00Hi, from The Netherlands! Just came across your bl...Hi, from The Netherlands! Just came across your blog following a link Miss Footloose ("Life in the Expat Lane") published in her blog. <br />Charming story! In my previous life (back home in Argentina, before coming to NL) I was a TEFL myself and always loved (well, most of the time!) scenes like this one you describe. So funny!! :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06923613028048879472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-16690949380727095322011-05-05T10:45:41.947+01:002011-05-05T10:45:41.947+01:00What a classic misunderstanding! So very funny and...What a classic misunderstanding! So very funny and beautifully written. <br />I was befuddled by a religious conversation in Vietnam once. I had no idea that Yay Sue (Jesu) was Jesus.The Dropouthttp://www.thedropoutdiaries.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-91625008823359537472010-08-21T02:22:41.997+01:002010-08-21T02:22:41.997+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-44734488168790808392010-04-17T06:28:29.365+01:002010-04-17T06:28:29.365+01:00Robin -- There's nothing like hearing your wor...Robin -- There's nothing like hearing your words and accent lampooned by a great hulking teenage boy with an accent. I catch myself every time I say "Absolutely" now. And I'm constantly trying to keep my voice low. <br /><br />Laura -- Thank you. One day, I'm hoping to find this hilarious myself!<br /><br />Hope -- Thank you!Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-143557357086548272010-04-17T05:07:51.119+01:002010-04-17T05:07:51.119+01:00Oh, this made me chuckle!Oh, this made me chuckle!Hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02045801745534184703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-63825344595404377032010-04-16T23:40:45.967+01:002010-04-16T23:40:45.967+01:00Jesus may have wept but I laughed like hell!!
This...Jesus may have wept but I laughed like hell!!<br />This was just too funny!laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17174697892947430149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-69618409043839328062010-04-16T00:14:22.745+01:002010-04-16T00:14:22.745+01:00That was simply hilarious! I love the unflatterin...That was simply hilarious! I love the unflattering imitation of you saying it! I intend to say, "Jesus wept" all day tomorrow in your honor.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12396540555696283171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-21478453403359569622010-04-15T20:19:02.714+01:002010-04-15T20:19:02.714+01:00Postman -- I'm not a very good swearer, but my...Postman -- I'm not a very good swearer, but my students are adept at helping me find my boiling point. Sometimes those awful words just slip right out. When they do, the same kids who don't listen when I'm explaining the mechanics of past perfect are suddenly all ears -- and their powers of retention are generally awesome. <br /><br />I'll look forward to reading your teaching tale!<br /><br />Marian -- Last semester, one of my students tittered when I used the word 'fact' in class. He was sure I'd cracked and used a Bad Word. <br /><br />I once had a Korean friend who studied philosophy. She got tired of Americans reacting with shock every time she told them she studied Kant. She finally gave up and said she studied German philosophers.<br /><br />Chris -- I'm glad you think so! <br /><br />AnneS -- In my family, parents, aunts and uncles had zero tolerance for swearing and next to no sense of humor about it. You lucked out! It's been my experience that Catholics aren't quite so straight-laced about swearing as Protestants are. But most of the Protestants I grew up around were pretty extreme.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-5468929512741669662010-04-15T02:38:32.271+01:002010-04-15T02:38:32.271+01:00Once when my mom, a super Catholic aunt and a supe...Once when my mom, a super Catholic aunt and a super Catholic friend were in my car, my then three year old Christopher looked out the car window and said Ahhh hole really loudly. <br /><br />It didn't take anyone very long to figure out he drove around with his mom a lot. Luckily, they all had a good sense of humor, so yeah, we get caught.<br /><br />Sheet.<br /><br />Great story, Mary, very readable.Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-10212467301907229242010-04-14T12:27:48.634+01:002010-04-14T12:27:48.634+01:00Too funny, Mary!Too funny, Mary!Chris Eldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16732006129353079344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-61051917362409849802010-04-14T10:53:03.280+01:002010-04-14T10:53:03.280+01:00I volunteered to teach an ESL course once, and was...I volunteered to teach an ESL course once, and was explaining contractions to a Chinese student. I pronounced <i>don't, won't, can't--</i><br /><br />She interrupted me, looking shocked, and told me that she couldn't say that last word.<br /><br />"Can't?" I said, puzzled.<br /><br />"Yes, my husband tell me that is very rude word!"Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-48570201036868187362010-04-14T06:24:55.534+01:002010-04-14T06:24:55.534+01:00Just when I thought this tale couldn't get any...Just when I thought this tale couldn't get any better...<br /><br />"Teacher! You say SHEET all the time!" <br /><br />Oh boy. Jesus wept, all right.<br /><br />Good story, as usual. You beat me to the punch. I've got something coming up in the next couple of days about dropping the F-bomb in front of my students (by ACCIDENT)...A.T. Posthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03987529687181431843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-55160213944362562302010-04-14T06:10:03.510+01:002010-04-14T06:10:03.510+01:00Gypsy -- They got me good, didn't they?
Marci...Gypsy -- They got me good, didn't they?<br /><br />Marcia -- Thank you. Arguably, the little sheets do an even better job with mine.<br /><br />AP -- I'm laughing now myself. At the time, I didn't find it quite so funny.<br /><br />Kara -- I'll bet a class on effective, natural swearing in English would go down a treat. All I have to do is say something under my breath and they're all ears. Hmm...there's a good teaching idea.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-55064095708552126672010-04-14T05:07:57.057+01:002010-04-14T05:07:57.057+01:00sounds like someone needs to teach a course on dec...sounds like someone needs to teach a course on decent cursing.karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01690274092026593186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-36170800532466370812010-04-14T05:01:42.274+01:002010-04-14T05:01:42.274+01:00Wahaahahahahahah !
"Oh sheet" I am stil...Wahaahahahahahah !<br /><br />"Oh sheet" I am still laughing over this story !angryparsniphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236094827257446781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-29233103920693848532010-04-13T23:54:39.123+01:002010-04-13T23:54:39.123+01:00Mary -- LOL. You do a wonderful job with these kid...Mary -- LOL. You do a wonderful job with these kids' voices.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-72947262044833693552010-04-13T19:45:59.694+01:002010-04-13T19:45:59.694+01:00Hee hee. That was a great one. :)Hee hee. That was a great one. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-81396324148956838822010-04-13T19:26:05.659+01:002010-04-13T19:26:05.659+01:00Pat -- Wish you'd been in my classroom, then: ...Pat -- Wish you'd been in my classroom, then: I didn't have a clue. But I'm easily addled in class.<br /><br />Elizabeth -- You got it right away too? I feel so slow! <br /><br />Yes, my students get me every time. "Cheeses ebbed" was a tough nut to crack, but any fool could have told what "Sheet" meant.<br /><br />Charlie -- Thank you for that nice compliment! <br /><br />My students keep churning it out, so I figure that trying to follow suit is the least I can do.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-80059764806757242852010-04-13T18:53:36.447+01:002010-04-13T18:53:36.447+01:00Funny, funny, FUNNY story, Mary! I don't know ...Funny, funny, FUNNY story, Mary! I don't know how you do it, but your stories get better and better.<br /><br />And AnneB: Cheeses H. Riced. LOL.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722567671925063706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-74842574466503129652010-04-13T16:07:28.649+01:002010-04-13T16:07:28.649+01:00I had figured out the cheeses webbed...years of my...I had figured out the cheeses webbed...years of my own ESL students...but I literally LOLed (not just the stupid internet expression) at the sheet! <br />Oh they get us every time, don't they?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-74747053428121172522010-04-13T15:57:37.223+01:002010-04-13T15:57:37.223+01:00Tee hee! I guessed:)Tee hee! I guessed:)Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-90125202005798024392010-04-13T05:59:30.058+01:002010-04-13T05:59:30.058+01:00Vijaya -- I'd better feed my stuff to him piec...Vijaya -- I'd better feed my stuff to him piece by piece or I'll overwhelm him. The things he could learn sitting in a corner of my classroom! But then, he's probably learned them already in his own classroom. <br /><br />Bish -- I laughed too, but only after the fact.<br /><br />Kim -- Last year, somebody asked me about "Go gimmeestryn," which I thought must be Turkish but turned out to be "God, give me strength." But yes -- it could have been SO much worse!<br /><br />Blythe -- Aww, thank you! And my thanks to Saints Gregory and Bartholomew, too, though I suspect they think I'm a wimp.<br /><br />Tabitha -- Thank you! You know I'm just procrastinating, but I'm trying to do it in style.<br /><br />Charles -- You've been there too, haven't you? And from the looks of things, your patience is sorely tried too. Just remember: June! July! August!<br /><br />AnneB -- Eek, I guess they ARE my disciples! I don't have to wonder who my Judas is either: he hasn't come to class in ages and he'd happily sell me off for a cigarette and a cup of coffee.<br /><br />ee -- It makes my day that people find this funny. Thank you.<br /><br />Robert -- I seldom swear, but I fear my students may have heard me refer to the odd 'fork' too.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965824120120454342.post-60599261415945644202010-04-13T03:14:47.275+01:002010-04-13T03:14:47.275+01:00It's a good thing I am not an English teacher....It's a good thing I am not an English teacher... the students would be asking me why I mention my mother's use of forks so often.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.com