Tuesday, February 11, 2003
at 7:06 PMSprechen Sie Deutsch?
I just returned home from the Freshman Orientation thing. I spent much time (prior to the parents filing in) speaking with Herr Smith at his table as he awaited the arrival of the other foreign language teachers. From what he told me, it appears the counselors and the administration warn parents against placing their kids in any of the foreign language classes freshman year. To confirm Herr Smith's information, a lady did indeed walk rather tentatively up to the table and said they told her she should not to put her kid in a foreign language class.
Her kid apparently takes PreAP/GT classes, makes "A"'s in English, and really is interested in taking German. He circled it on that yellow schedule request sheet already. She also mentioned her family is of German descent (she told us her mother's maiden name, which I forget at this time). I looked at her point-blank and said,
"If your son can speak English, he can take German."
I talked to two or three other parents about each of the languages I took, and they all had been fed the same absurd idea. I countered this to the best of my ability, seeing as how I physically sat through each of those three languages and just happen to feel I know what I am talking about. I think the KISD foreign language department head lady-woman was sitting next to me as I spoke to the parents. I saw her head perk up a bit when I started discussing the number of languages I took/am taking and the extent of what I learned. I do love impressing people. It made the night worthwhile.
