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Classes and Such
Jan. 28th, 2021 12:04 pmI should probably take some extra time to prepare for this Friday night, because I just got a gander at my class list and there are ten students signed up for my master writing class!
TEN!!
I don't normally get ten students when we can meet in person~!!!!!
I suspect what caused this is that I have been teaching for the Loft for about 20 years, but I have never, in all that time, actually offered a class of a higher level than intermediate. Part of that is that I like working with newer writers--I love that moment when I can explain that out there, not that far away, your people are having conventions and getting to meet other SF writers and editors and agents and IT'S AWESOME. I feel like some kind of fannish Bible-thumper, asking, "Have you heard the Good News, Fellow Nerd!?" I mean, more and more the younger writers already know about fandom, at least the small-f version, and, of course, locally CONvergence, in particular, has done a great job of finding the young kids and getting them interested in cons and capital-f, Fandom. Still, I always reach a few new souls and THAT FEELS GOOD.
Anyway, my point and I did have one, was that I suspect the class filled up so thoroughly because I have lots of former students, but many of them have taken all of the levels I have previously taught.
In other class-related news, my speech went well in Japanese class. I, as you saw from the video, practiced, and practiced, and practiced until I could ALMOST sound natural. Apparently, I was one of the few who put this kind of effort in, which.... I mean, I guess it all depends on WHY a person is taking Japanese. Obviously, I am taking Japanese in order to make a complete prat out of myself. I would actually like to attempt to blather to barista and shop clerks and people at the train station about the weather and manga and stuff, should I ever actually be allowed to visit Japan in person, ever again. So, for me, conversation is part of what I am in it for. But, I mean, if you're more into wanting to be able to read it or understand it, it probably isn't as critical to you to work on sounding natural-ish.
Also, I am an extrovert and the class clown, so it was important to me to make Tetsuya-sensei laugh--which I managed!
In fact, he seemed very impressed and said, "Wow, Lyda, you should put that up on your TikTok," and I was like, "Sensei, I am a 53 year old woman. I don't have a TikTok... though, thank you??" ('Cuz, I mean, my instructor is a very snarky guy, so he could actually have been telling me I sounded like a complete weeboo. mmmmmm, the more I think about this.... mmmmm, nice shade there, Sensei. Now I feel both hurt AND proud of my performance.)
Next week, much, I am sure, to your horror, I will probably be posting one of my better takes of me practicing talking about my family. Be warned, Tetsuya-sensei told us to "be creative."
I apologize in advance for my excessive use of Japanese onomatopoeia.
TEN!!
I don't normally get ten students when we can meet in person~!!!!!
I suspect what caused this is that I have been teaching for the Loft for about 20 years, but I have never, in all that time, actually offered a class of a higher level than intermediate. Part of that is that I like working with newer writers--I love that moment when I can explain that out there, not that far away, your people are having conventions and getting to meet other SF writers and editors and agents and IT'S AWESOME. I feel like some kind of fannish Bible-thumper, asking, "Have you heard the Good News, Fellow Nerd!?" I mean, more and more the younger writers already know about fandom, at least the small-f version, and, of course, locally CONvergence, in particular, has done a great job of finding the young kids and getting them interested in cons and capital-f, Fandom. Still, I always reach a few new souls and THAT FEELS GOOD.
Anyway, my point and I did have one, was that I suspect the class filled up so thoroughly because I have lots of former students, but many of them have taken all of the levels I have previously taught.
In other class-related news, my speech went well in Japanese class. I, as you saw from the video, practiced, and practiced, and practiced until I could ALMOST sound natural. Apparently, I was one of the few who put this kind of effort in, which.... I mean, I guess it all depends on WHY a person is taking Japanese. Obviously, I am taking Japanese in order to make a complete prat out of myself. I would actually like to attempt to blather to barista and shop clerks and people at the train station about the weather and manga and stuff, should I ever actually be allowed to visit Japan in person, ever again. So, for me, conversation is part of what I am in it for. But, I mean, if you're more into wanting to be able to read it or understand it, it probably isn't as critical to you to work on sounding natural-ish.
Also, I am an extrovert and the class clown, so it was important to me to make Tetsuya-sensei laugh--which I managed!
In fact, he seemed very impressed and said, "Wow, Lyda, you should put that up on your TikTok," and I was like, "Sensei, I am a 53 year old woman. I don't have a TikTok... though, thank you??" ('Cuz, I mean, my instructor is a very snarky guy, so he could actually have been telling me I sounded like a complete weeboo. mmmmmm, the more I think about this.... mmmmm, nice shade there, Sensei. Now I feel both hurt AND proud of my performance.)
Next week, much, I am sure, to your horror, I will probably be posting one of my better takes of me practicing talking about my family. Be warned, Tetsuya-sensei told us to "be creative."
I apologize in advance for my excessive use of Japanese onomatopoeia.