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Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Brinestone on January 19, 2005, 02:16:09 PM

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Brinestone on January 19, 2005, 02:16:09 PM

There is a student enrolled in German 101 through Independent Study who has failed the listening portion of the exam twice now because she has a slight hearing impairment. As the most fluent German speaker in the office (and that's not saying much), I was asked to simply listen to the CD and then repeat it, slower and louder, for her. No biggee.

Thank goodness I had the foresight to ask for a copy of the CD to listen to today before she takes the test tomorrow. It's really, really fast, highly idiomatic and slangy, and their grammar has apparently gone to seed. The thing is, I could paraphrase (in English) what they're saying with no trouble, but to actually repeat it in German . . . well, that's another story entirely.

I've been listening to the first minute of the recording over and over for about a half an hour, and I've managed to transcribe it (I think). Three minutes to go, and I'm starting to feel like there's no way I'll be ready for this girl by tomorrow at the beginning of my shift.

Did I mention it's been two years since I last took a German class?

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Jonathon on January 19, 2005, 02:58:43 PM

Sounds fun. Couldn't they get a professor to do it?

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Annie Subjunctive on January 20, 2005, 06:09:27 PM

I'm so relieved.  The thread title made me think you were breaking up with me.

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Brinestone on January 20, 2005, 07:42:44 PM

:lol:  

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Uchiha Itachi on January 20, 2005, 08:54:41 PM

Is that a "that could never happen because I love you so" laugh or a "it's funny you should mention that" laugh?

Or perhaps a "that could never happen because our relationship exists only in your imagination" sort of thing?

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Annie Subjunctive on January 21, 2005, 10:25:51 AM

I'm afraid it's probably the latter, Uchiha.  :cry:  

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Brinestone on January 21, 2005, 12:03:01 PM

Um, Annie dearest, this might not be the best time or place to say this, but I need to get this off my chest.

I'm married. I have been for almost a year and a half.

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Trisha on January 21, 2005, 12:41:39 PM

>.<  

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: Annie Subjunctive on January 21, 2005, 03:10:15 PM

I suppose it's time for me to move on. :cry:

Title: This might be the hardest thing I have ever done
Post by: rivka on January 22, 2005, 10:59:25 PM

*helpful* They have a website (http://www.moveon.org/front/) for that, you know.