Adventures in Tutoring

[osprey_archer]

I will preface this by saying that Silvio, in his non-tutorial life, is a fine young man with an excellent sense of humor.



Silvio: (jabbing finger at Spanish essay) Can you think of another word here?
Jin: For ensayo?
Silvio: Yes. Because it means rehearsal, not essay.
Jin: (gaping like a fish) But but but my high school Spanish teacher always used ensayo for essay!
Silvio: She lied to you, man. Can you think of another word?
Jin: (in shock) (I totally looked up ensayo later, by the way, and one of its meanings is in fact essay) Ummmm?
Silvio: Are you sure you want to go abroad? I mean, you can’t even think of another word for essay.

This, my little onions, is how to give your tutees a nervous breakdown.

Fortunately, being a resilient sort I pulled through after only a couple of minutes of total hysteria (not in Silvio's presence, because that’s the way to give your tutors a nervous breakdown). But it’s cast an additional pall over the already pall-ful application process.



***

In happier news, I have some links for you.

A fellow is shooting a mockumentary about an alien abduction support group. This is occurring in my college town, which his how I stumbled across it, and I have to say that I want to see his movie.

This is your brain on cities. This article isn’t humorous, but I think it’s interesting; it’s about the deleterious effects cities have on your brain.

Well, and about the fact that living in cities can spark innovation. But I think the other part is more interesting.

Comments

[girl-called-sun.livejournal.com]

The "brain and cities" article is really interesting. The idea that walking in a park improves your cognitive function is simultaneously comforting and scary; we really know so little about how brains work.

I hope your applications turn out okay - sounds stressful.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I hope they turn out okay, too. :( Stupid applications.

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

"She lied to you, man."

XD

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I can take no credit. That's classic Silvio.

[exuberantself.livejournal.com]

Ha! Silvio is kind of an assface. Is he a tutor in the same department you are?

On the other hand, I would absolutely watch that movie.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

In Silvio's defense, I've done things just as bad to my tutees. Once I brightly asked a girl what country she was from.

There was a long pause, and she said, "I've lived in the US since I was eleven."

o.O. Oops.

I'd watch that movie, too! Apparently he's releasing it on YouTube, so I may get the chance. :)

[visualthinker11.livejournal.com]

This Silvio sounds lame. Ew.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Oh, he's all right usually, he just shouldn't be allowed nearer than ten feet away from tutees.