Sometimes, the book that I follow for my Advanced Speaking class has really weird/odd/funny things in it. One time, there was a listening example that started out with a woman doing a really obviously fake scream and saying, “There’s a snake in my boot!” and I couldn’t help but burst out laughing and think of Woody from Toy Story. It makes it even funnier that the woman spoke really slowly so that nonnative speakers are sure to understand (“Aaah!…There’s…a….snake….in…my…boooooooot!”). Another time, there was a section where the kids had to listen to a man and woman talking about how big space is (woman: “Wooooow…..space….is….biiiiig!”) and they were arguing about whether space is infinite or not. The girl said she wanted to build a space ship and go to space to find out if it’s really infinite or not. The man retorted that she shouldn’t do it because the G-force would make her brain turn into oatmeal (yes, it actually said that!)….and because it would be easier to just go to their professor and ask him to confirm it. Then the speaking exercise made the students choose which solution (building a space ship or asking the professor) would be better. Ummmmm…is it just me, or is that a ridiculously obvious choice???
Anyway, today the speaking exercise involved a listening clip about a man and woman who were talking about a Mexican dinner with the Spanish Club. The girl did not want to go because she said she would look like a “dork” in the Mexican costume that they would be required to wear. When I asked the students what “dork” meant, at first they thought it was a Mexican traditional dress (can you imagine?? “Will you be wearing that dork to the party tonight?”) but then I explained that a “dork” means someone who is silly or looks/acts weird. Then, they just had an absolute FIELD DAY with that word: they started calling each other dorks (with a Korean accent, of course) and I couldn’t get their attention for at least another minute. The boys were saying to each other, “Dork-u! Dork-u! You looks like dork-u!” Finally, after I got them to quiet down again, we talked about the listening. I asked them why the girl didn’t want to go to the Mexican dinner, and I made the mistake of saying something like, “She thinks she will look dorky in the outfit” and they went crazy and started using the adjective “dorky”! They pointed at each other and said “Your clothes is dorky! You looks dorky! Dorky, dorky, dorky!!” So, not only did they learn “dork”, but they also learned variations on the word! At least they’re practicing English though, right? After we finished the lesson and the bell rang, I heard them exiting the room and yelling at each other “Dork-u! Dork-u!” I wonder what other adventures this ridiculous speaking book has waiting for us in the future.
