Lots of talking, Ice Hockey and a chilled weekend

Monday began slightly later than normal, as the class I normally attend first, were doing a test (The students here are tested so much! A lot more than in England. They have a test at least every few weeks) Nevertheless, I enjoyed my lazy Monday morning before making my way to school. Obviously, I was very cautious and kept my eyes peeled for any sneaky 'Glatteis'. In my first class, I once again replaced the CD player, which the students normally listen to when practising listening. I rather enjoy this and I think the students prefer it, as it isn't some posh, British women speaking in a false, monotone voice, which is so often the case with educational listening tracks. On my way to the next class, I got chatting to some young students in the corridor. I hadn't met them before, but they had obviously heard about me and were intrigued. They asked me lots of questions but wouldn't believe that I was English! They asked a passing teacher if I was 'wirklich' English. The teacher however didn't help my case by telling them (in German) that I was working for the British Secret Service. I'm really not sure if they believed her, but I liked the idea nonetheless.

After another class and a conversation class with the Year 10s, I left school and came home via the cinema. I had wanted to see this particular film for some time after hearing lots about it from various students and friends, so I decided this was a good opportunity. After a few issues with the cashier (he gave me the wrong change, then, at extra cost, reserved me a seat that I didn't want! But I sorted it out) I made my way to the screen. It was very quiet and there were only about 4 others in there with me. The film was funny and kept me entertained. It was totally in German and it wasn't until after that I realised that I had just watched, understood and enjoyed a film in a totally different language. I find this pretty cool. This is one notable improvement during my Year Abroad. Whilst my speaking skills haven't improved as much as I wanted them to, I feel confident that my listening and reading skills have. I'm keen to keep exposing myself to more and more German in the hope that this improvement continues. The students at school appear to learn English through watching TV and Films, and their grasp of a foreign language is very good. If it works for them, why can't it work for me!? Speaking of listening to German, this week I've got into watching 'Ich bin ein Star...Holt mich hier raus!' or 'I'm a celebrity...Get me out of here' to you folks back home. This is a carbon copy of the British version I watch when in England. Ok, there is no Ant & Dec, but the two presenters give a good shot at making it funny and entertaining. The set is the exactly the same, the format the same and it even begins with the presenters shouting 'Ich bin ein Star...Holt mich hier rrraaaaauuuuuusssssssssss!'. Although the 'Dschungelprüfund' or 'Jungle Exam' doesn't quite have the same ring to it as a 'Bushtucker Trial'. It's often difficult to understand but I enjoy watching it and hopefully it's improving my German. I also used my Monday evening to practise some German Grammar, after I had been embarrassingly put on the spot during a lesson. I didn't know how to form a particular tense, and after studying German for so long, I really have no excuse.

I was relieved to hear from one of the teachers on Tuesday, that she thinks my presence is helping the students. Following my conversation class and told her that I was impressed with their level of English and she responded by saying that she is sure that part of the improvement is a result of me being there and working with them. After a few quiet weeks and the feeling that I'm not really appreciated or even required, this was a real boost.

At another meeting with Verena, my tandem-partner, on Tuesday afternoon, she invited me to 'Mini-Golf' that evening with some of her friends at a new mini-golf place in the city. I immediately chose the easy option and responded that I had things to do that evening, swayed by the idea of a cosy night inside my flat. But after getting home, I realised this was another opportunity I really shouldn't have turned down. You're only on a Year Abroad once, right? Better do it properly! I promptly text Verena and asked whether is was too late to accept her offer. Fortunately I was just in time and we met that evening at this new, funky and very alternative Mini Golf place in Regensburg. You see from the pictures that this wasn't an ordinary course. A Bedroom, crazy ramps, a half pipe and a toilet were all part of the course and it made for a good time. Golf really isn't my strong point, so I didn't win, but I met some more people, spoke a little German and had fun. I'm glad I went.

 The slightly alternative mini-golf course

 

On Wednesday in school, I was doing some more speaking practice with various classes. This is the type of work I enjoy the most. I take a small group, usually 4 students, outside the class and we just talk for about 10 minutes. This gives them the opportunity to speak in a more relaxed atmosphere, and since there aren't so many of them, they're usually not too afraid to say something, which is often the case when in class. I was working with a Year 5 class first of all, one which I hadn't yet met. Their English knowledge was basic (but saying that, it is a lot better than second language knowledge of any Year 5 I've ever met in England!), but we talked about brothers and sisters, pets, hobbies etc. I smiled when one boy got his numbers mixed up and told me that his sister was 90 instead of 19. And then had a little debate with one boy who tried telling me that English was harder than German. Pfft! "German is easy! English is hard." he said. "English is easy! German is hard." I replied. You get the idea. I guess both of us were correct in our own way. On Wednesday I also recorded a listening exercise, which would be played to a class later in the week. Obviously it wasn't an issue for me to just read a text aloud whilst being recorded, but like I've said before, something that is so simple for me, can have a really positive effect on the students. We played it back, and although like many people, I very much dislike the sound of my own voice, I was relieved to hear just the odd short vowel sound that defines the Yorkshire accent. The fact that my accent (which wa' neva strong in't first place) is less obvious, has been noticed not only by me, but also was commented on by Max, my brother, when I was at home over Christmas. I make an effort to speak clearly and annunciate words when speaking English here, so I guess it's affecting my accent. When speaking any language you automatically try to copy others around you (it's been proven, you know!) so I guess seeing as though the only other English person I spend my time with right now (LOIS!) has a very 'neutral' accent, that too has an effect. Anyhow, after spending a few months over summer back in Gods own county, I'm sure those short A's, those monophthong E's and the glottal stop will soon re-emerge.































Some of the work the Year 10's have been doing in class. I'm sure you can guess which ones were written by boys!




 

Thursday consisted of me doing some more speaking with groups of students and also my weekly conversation class. The class varies every two weeks, since half the class also do a German class every other week at the same time. The class is a year 10 class and I do enjoy teaching them. It's voluntary, therefore the students make an effort whilst they are there. I was telling Anja, my mentor teacher, how much I enjoy working with the class. She thinks the only reason I enjoy working with this class is because they are all girls, but that it isn't the case - honest!

 

Some of the German food I've enjoyed this week. On the left is a 'Fleischkäse Semmel' - Very similar to spam in a roll. I really like it and it only costs 1 Euro. Not bad!

On the right is a dish I made one evening. It's 'Gyros Geschnetzeltes mit Knödel' - Pretty much a stew with potato dumplings - Very Bavarian and very tasty!

On Friday, Lois and I made our usual trip into the city to do some shopping (and discovered 'Banana juice' amongst the many delights of the German Supermarket - a little different, but tasty!). We like to have lunch out on Friday and we do appreciate the fact that we can do this together on a weekday. There is something really nice about being able to have lunch out on a day off work and we feel lucky. On the way home, we saw some of my students on the bus. They were so intrigued to see me with a girl! They kept turning round, staring and then whispering to each other. I'm sure I will have lots of questions to answer when I'm back at school this week! On Friday night, we went to an Ice Hockey match. We were fortunate enough to be loaned some tickets from someone I know. Since it was a season ticket, we had reserved seats and were given VIP wristbands which allowed us into a special room during the intervals. Here we helped ourselves to some food and got free drinks. Considering we didn't have to pay for the tickets and managed to get some free food and drink, it wasn't a bad deal at all. Thanks to Peter who loaned us the tickets! The game itself was entertaining and it was a really nice thing to do together. Unfortunately Regensburg were beaten by a much better Freiburg, but the game wasn't without a few punches. Ice Hockey is a very fast, very rough game. And following a lot of pushing and shoving it wasn't long before the first punch was thrown. At this point, it turns into a full on team vs team fight. Helmets, sticks and gloves are thrown on the ice and the two teams really lay into each other. The officials stand around for a little while and simply watch what is going on, whilst the crowd go wild and music plays. Then, once the two teams are tiring, the officials step in and break it up. I found this 'interesting' to watch, whilst Lois found it hilarious and laughed throughout the event. Nevertheless, we both really enjoyed our evening.













VIP!



























The fight which Lois enjoyed oh so much








I'm guessing the first thing that you think of when you see this score (5-1) and the word 'Germany' is the famous England victory in the world cup qualifiers in 2001. However, I'm sorry to say that this score is a little more disappointing. Regensburg were well and truly thrashed by Freiburg. Freiburg 5 - Regensburg 1.




















Our usual Saturday day trip out was replaced this week, in favour of a chilled day around Regensburg. The weather was cold and we had no real desire to visit anywhere this week. Besides, with a trip planned to Stuttgart next weekend to see Anthony and Anna again, we decided to save our energy and money. So on Saturday, after another walk out to the shops to buy some cooking ingredients (and also the discovery of a strange Eastern European shop, where we found a whole shark in the freezer available for purchase) we had a very relaxed, chilled day in the flat. We watched a film in German to compensate the fact we were having a day off from experiencing German culture and also caught up on a little TV. I would say we are both active people, but it was nice to have a lazy day for a change. We awoke to quite a heavy snowfall on Sunday morning and in between episodes of '24', we went for a nice snowy walk. Another chilled day later and the weekend was once again over and another week about to begin.

 The Germans are very efficient. It wasn't even 12:00 and all roads, side roads and footpaths had been cleared of snow. Impressive!

Like I said, next weekend we are going to Stuttgart, so hopefully I will have a few interesting tales to tell about that. A cold spell has been forecast for the foreseeable future, and I feel 'Glatteis' may be making another unwanted appearance this week. I'm going to have to be extra careful! But until next time..

Tschüß!

 This is how I feel with German a lot of the time. "darein ---> daraus" "In one ear and out of the other"

 

P.S - I recently wrote a short piece about myself (in German!) for the website of one of my schools. Although it may be complete gobbledygook to some of you, here it is! http://www.realschule-am-judenstein.de/unser-teaching-assistant-marcus/