Au collège

There's no doubt that education takes a front seat in French society. The rentrée (return of students for the new school year in September) is a major event, with the national media covering it from all angles: recurrant debates over equity and access, faciltities, and new programs and in the local press, staff movements and profiles, activities, projects and organizations.

This college has about 500 students and 40 or so teachers (five in the English dept.) and is situated in a lower socio-economic area of town. Several noticeable differences between the systems here and in Australia: no school Wednesday but there are classes Saturday morning; no school assemblies/gatherings; and teachers deal with students only during class time (there are special surveillants (supervisors) who watch over the students in the playground and deal with absences, etc). Goes without saying that there's not a smidgen of religion either: this is a system designed to churn out loyal Republican citizens.

I've started to teach small groups of students (usually 6-8). At this stage, most of them seem to be interested and willing to work; some are noticeably curious (many students have never met a native English speaker, as to be expected); and a few are downright difficult. Some intriguing impressions and reactions so far: bring any kangaroos? You have some good swimmers, hey? 20 hours to get here? Ah, Australia...why would you ever want to come here? Given their English is frankly quite limited and I'm still fumbling my way through textbook French, communicating exactly what I want them to do is not always crystal clear. No doubt I've already told students to open their tea-towels and put up their legs when they want to speak.

The English teachers are all very friendly and welcoming and all seem happy to let me come up with my own ideas for lessons. Let the Australian clichés flow. Just kidding there. On the contrary, I'm keen to teach them my idea of Australia (at least to some degree)...there'll be no "Fill in the gaps" exercise to "Can't Get You Out of My Head" and Bindi, you're dad's not gonna get a run either. Now if only the Go-Betweens and Nick Cave weren't so bloody literate...

Encore une chose: An honourable mention to David Haynes for bringing to my attention that Nancy is the sister city of Llanddewi Brefi in Wales. Midori and Coke a specialty there too.

Above: Main classroom block at the college

The weather: gradually getting cooler, still some warm afternoons. Fog most mornings.

'Textbook' French behaviour: a woman behind the wheel having a go at me for having the audacity to cross a pedestrian crossing in front of her. What good are they for, then?

Best meal: Coq au vin in a little bistro in Metz.

On my iPod:
Suede - The Power. Tuneful and a touch megalomanic. Which is always a delightful combo.
Josh Rouse - Jersey Clowns. A well kept secret, he is.
Elliott Smith - New Disaster. Seen how things were hard.
Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos. Confusion and self-deception bottled in song.
Aretha Franklin - Baby, Baby, Baby. I like Aretha. She makes me feel like a natural woman.