My best students like Monty Python and...

... are never Germans. Lately, I've realized it's Turkish and Polish/Russian students who are the most willing to participate in class, review vocab, and actually try to learn English. I don't know what accounts for this. Perhaps because English is their third or fourth language these students are more relaxed about the learning process; they don't get frustrated if challenged with difficult reading or do poorly on a quiz. But with Germans it's another story; I've had so many run-ins/disagreements with really great adult German students who complain about how slow their language skills are improving. I try to explain that even with 90 minutes per week they have to devote a lot of free time to English is they really want to perfect it. They have none of this, they have "no time." That's fine, but then don't blame me if you forget the meaning of "exception."

Anyway, I had an uplifting moment on Tuesday with one class, a group of architects, many of whom are Russian or Polish. They only have three sessions left and so I asked them what they would like to do for their last month of class last week. Their answer: Watch "Monty Python" clips with a native speaker so they can understand the nuances of "the Flying Circus." I thought they were kidding but when I came to class on Tuesday I found a movie projector in the conference room and one student passing out hand-transcribed scripts to the group. It was so fun! They were laughing so hard at "Story Time," especially when I explained the dirty stuff about transvestites in British sea ports. And I had an extra proud moment explain that SPAM is manufactured in Austin, MN. This was a class that already knew (from my raving) that MN was also the birthplace of Post-It Notes. They were doubly impressed.