3.2.10

I think my filter is getting weaker with age

Isn't middle age supposed to be when you become dignified? I think it's not to be with Yours Truly. Today I said what might be the strangest thing ever to a class, at least in the top ten. The fact that I (and a fair amount of the students) got a huge kick out of it notwithstanding (and only half of them were laughing from discomfort or embarrassment I swear), it raised the bar on Crazy Impromptu Susan Utterances...

Since we've entered February, the last day or two as I get to each class I've been asking everyone in French if they've bought their Valentine's Day presents yet. The 2 or 3 classes where this has happened so far had a mixed reaction. Today everyone shook their head "No."

At which point my brain sent the following message to my mouth, which in turn set it loose on the class (in English):

❝Wow, I'm glad I'm not y'all's girlfriend!❞

Honestly I was as surprised as they were. I started laughing uproariously (as is my wont certain days with certain classes) and then we were all laughing. Uncharacteristically I actually tried to save it by explaining a bit but we all agreed it was too late and that it was best to let it go.

Someone then remarked that they are never bored in this class.

Someone else (who was in my 201 last semester) responded as if concurring, nodding earnestly, saying, "Yeah it gets weirder all the time!" (As if that's a good thing.)

This was followed by an instant of silence before we all started laughing again, and I said, deadpan with a touch of feigned hurt-feelings, "Well my remark might have been weird, but it was no less true for its weirdness. I seriously would not want to be y'all's girlfriend if you have yet to get my present."

14 commentaires:

Adrienne a dit…

That is hilarious!

Susan a dit…

yeah and that was really the tip of the iceberg, it's just that the rest of the funnies (made by others, too, not just me) were French-oriented so I didn't include them... we were doing disjunctives and at one point we had a standard gender mixup for example... asking Amy (not her real name :) if she spoke French with Margaret (nhrn) and she answered, bien sûr, "Oui, je parle frçs avec lui." I raised my eyebrows, and kind of leaned back like I was seeing Margaret in a whole new light, and all the students had kind of snapped their heads at Margaret, too... so I said (bad girl breaking into English every time there's a chance for humor!) "Oh now everyone's thinking 'maybe I don't know Margaret as well as I thought... Amy sits right next to her so she should know..." and since we had already been laughing pretty much all class we really went round the bend at that point....

Bill a dit…

All I can add to this discussion is this: "What's so weird about being weird?". I've managed to make it a life-long project.
Susan, if I had a few teachers like you back in high-school I probably would have done a lot better. Your students are very lucky - they just don't know it yet. Oh, and thanks for reminding me about the VDay gift!

Susan a dit…

lol thanks and you're welcome Bill!

Unknown a dit…

This is so very funny! I think being weird is a true art form! I work on it daily! My husband and now my Father-in-law laugh at me constantly - with me usually not knowing why... As for the filters - I believe we are more confident of ourselves and sometimes can say things our younger selves might have held back! What a great life to laugh and cause laughter!

Susan a dit…

CC congrats on leaving a comment this time instead of emailing me! welcome to the gang! (of course if you'd rather email comments you totally can - but it's extra fun when it's an actual posted comment :) :) :)

yes well you and I are no strangers to how weird each can be ha ha ha - I'm sure you keep Peter and his dad quite entertained :) (and yourself!)

Susan a dit…

CC congrats on leaving a comment this time instead of emailing me! welcome to the gang! (of course if you'd rather email comments you totally can - but it's extra fun when it's an actual posted comment :) :) :)

yes well you and I are no strangers to how weird each can be ha ha ha - I'm sure you keep Peter and his dad quite entertained :) (and yourself!)

Jeff Donaldson a dit…

(Chuckle) Comment-dit-on y'all?

Susan a dit…

hi Jefe! "vous," silly!!! who the heck was your French teacher?? geez louise :)

Applecart T. a dit…

it sounds exactly like things i think and sometimes have said to groups of younger'uns. i think even with language barrier, my "odd" barrier made my japanese students caught-off-guard. my usa esl adults not so much, but nutty teachers who know their work well are welcomed by me. humor works.

Kelly a dit…

i luuuurve that story--just think of it as a valentine's day present for your students! and, between you and me, the classes that students label "weird" are always the ones that they actually remember as being GREAT! :)

Susan a dit…

thanks chicas - I hope you're right - altho even if you're not, my classroom character/personality is probably etched in stone by now... altho classes that are no fun get the more businessy version - ha!

Reisytal a dit…

I miss your class! For many lovely reasons, but I have to say the humor is one of them ;)

Bravo!

Susan a dit…

merci Jessica! back atcha - would that all students were as much a joy as you, and the rest of that class from last semester :) I have pretty good groups this semester tho as well... it's a good trend - hope it continues... prior semesters always had at least one (often 2-3 -- not a great ratio out of 4 classes!) class that either hated me or -at best- put up with me but was intent on NOT having an iota of fun if their lives depended on it! gah!