The classes are going pretty well. I teach one 3rd year applied English lab/conversation class (or TP = travaux pratique) on Monday and 1st year English and Master 1 & 2 applied English students on Tuesday. Wednesday mornings I teach a first English class (TD = travaux dirigés). This isn't a lab class and has 3 times as many students. Usually this class is taught by the regular English faculty but they didn't have enough Professors to do it. Then Wednesday evenings I teach 2nd year applied english labs from 4pm-7pm. Every other Thursday I have a conversation class with the students in the License de Tourisme et hebergement.
We are in our 3rd week and it is getting easier and easier to fill the time. The trouble is that we are teaching conversation classes. French students don't talk in class. So the main focus has been motivating them, encouraging them, and helping them to feel relaxed in my classes. Their comprehension varies within each class, depending on the level and also and between the LCE (English focus only) students and LEA (applied english - they also study another language) students.
Besides class I am not doing a whole lot yet. There is an English phonetics class on Thursdays that I went to. I think it will be useful (and I find it interesting) to know the IPA (Internation Phonetic Alphabet) symbols for English prononciation. I've studied French, Italian and German phonetics so it's about time I study English phonetics! I'm also thinking about taking an Italian class. That will be interesting since I'll learn Italian through French... What's great is that i can just sit in on these classes for free. I figure I should probably take advantage of that.
I really want/need to check out the Music Conservatory in Brest. I'm hoping there's a way to get involved with a singing group there. If anything it would be nice to have a place to practice. I've also started singing with an amateur choir here. I am by far the youngest singer in the group. Musically/artistically/aesthetically, it's not the most satisfying experience but it is a great chance to learn the vocabulary as well as some musical works I haven't sung before. Right now they are working on Vivaldi's Gloria, the Fauré Requiem, and a Bach Oratorio.
This past weekend I stayed in Brest and just relaxed. It was also one of my co-worker's birthdays so we cooked dinner and went out Saturday night.
Sunday the weather was amazing and Katie and I went for a walk down by the ports. There is a beautiful path along the Rade de Brest (see picture above).
Last weekend, however, my Dad came to visit! He had business in England the preceding week so was able to visit me for a few days. We went down to Quimper (where the popular faience dishware can be found) Saturday morning and walked around the old center of town (see picture below). For lunch we went and had a lovely lunch with the parents of one of my French professors from Luther! Then we drove down to Nantes. We got quite lost on the way (my fault...I didn't bring adequate maps) but eventually found the way to our hotel. Sunday we went to the Chateau Museum there. It was very interesting and we learned a lot about the history of not only Nantes but Bretagne as well. Even though Nantes is technically in the administrative department of the Loire it's cultural heritage is Breton.
In any case, I'm definately feeling much more settled here. I'm into month 2 now. We have some fun things coming up. Katie and I are determined to get everyone together for pumpkin carving, pumpkin seed baking, cider drinking and pie baking! We also have our October break coming up soon. I'm planning to go somewhere with Katie and her sailing friend Rob. We were thinking about going to Bordeaux but without a car it might not be our best option. I'll keep you posted :-) Until then I'll try not to get soaked and or blown away in the Breton weather!
