Having bottled 50% of my exams because of a competition, I'm determined to give it socks for the remaining 50%.  However this get-up-and-go spirit is somewhat dampened by a recent incident.  Friday last (May 7th) saw me in a bit of a pickle.  

We're allowed dictionaries in our French exam.  Standard operating procedure is for the inspectors to spot check them, making sure there is no undictionaryesque material in them.  Much to my surprise, I had two sheets stuffed into my dictionary - these bad boys are over 2000 pages long so one would easily miss two flimsy sheets.  This set the aul' biddy superintendent off like a rocket.  Fair enough, this is a serious 'breach of examination regulations', but their behavior that followed was a breach in a little thing called etiquette.  They caused a rousing fuss, which not only disturbed me for a good 35 minutes, it stirred up a wave of distraction in the exam.  

All eyes were on yours truly, The Cheater.  I'm not blaming my fellow students for this, hard for them to help it since one of the supervisors had practically taken up residence beside me.  At one point, she snatched the EXAM PAPER out of my hand, accusing my of bringing other 'ex-rated material' into the exam.  Really love, the exam paper?  On a final note, I'd like to point out that the two sheets found in my dictionary were rough work, and I didn't even answer the question that they referred to.

So, why the huffing and puffing now?  Yesterday I got an email from the President's (of the university, not Ireland) secretary requesting me to meet with the 'University Advocate' next Wednesday to address my 'breach of examination regulations'.  Given the 30 plus minutes lost in the exam, this has already screwed me over enough.  What more?  Will they ask me to repeat?  Get real!  Any professional supervisor, would have given me no more than a finger wagging at the time, and held me back after the exam to give me the lo down on how this would be dealt by student services.

Would love to hear your advice, thoughts and opinions...

New Paw Prints

Lovers of life!

What a few months it has been - racing for Runaway Bride and Groom.  Dear Matt and I would've loved the six month travelling gig, however, we are over the moon with the result.  The nature of the competition changed in recent weeks (and days) and it turns out what the company were really looking for was someone for e-marketing.  Thus we are somewhat relieved!  We don't feel an ounce of regret for all we put into the competition as we have got so much out of it, individually, and more importantly, as a pair of lovebirds.

We are each inspired by the other's energy and ideas.  Making videos, taking photos, writing articles, and creating blogs around the clock has taught us a wealth of life lessons.  Sometimes everyone needs a little push forward; something they wouldn't choose to do themselves.  This competition made us take that leap, put our names out there, and go for it.  It has been a phenomenal learning curve, and we have so many bright and positive ideas and goals up our sleeves.  Not winning is actually a positive thing, we are the dream team, and continue to walk onward with our heads held high.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of you who supported us every step of the way.  You all played such a pivotal role in getting us this far, and carving the path that we will now take.  Your texts, calls, emails, and comments peeled us off the floor when we had melted with tiredness, you really pushed us onward.  So, massive hugs and lotsa' love

There are big and great things to come, so watch this space...

Also, follow our blogs!

Brainstorm... with sunny spells

Technology's influence on my language learning has surprised me for six today.

Whilst doing some 'light' reading on the presence of the french language around the world, especially in the minority countries I stumbled upon language exercises encompassing my memory of the documents that I had just read. Interestingly, there was no warning of these excercises when I launched into the articles, in fact, had I known, I actually wonder if I would've even read them in the first place

- "Poppycock!"

Such excercises popped up as soon as pressed 'home' to go back to base for another article. These varied consisted of 'cloze', matching and translating excercises.

Sans doute, c'est vraiment interessánt.

What's more... when reading these articles I was using two tabs, one with the english version of the article and the other with the translated french version.

- "Oooh lá lá!"

"what's in the shopping trolley dear?"

Shopping in ALDI or LIDL stimulates my language learning experience, but technology plays no part...
If such chains were to follow TESCO's footprints and set up online shopping then we would be knocking down the boundaries of 'A Learning Environment' with full force.

The common argument amongst language learners appears to be that technology doesn't play an important role in their language learning experience, suggesting that they could push on leaving it behind. However impossible learning without technology may be, doing such a thing is only moving in the opposite direction to the world, backwards. As a result of this resentment to change, there will be a negative reflection on the work of the learner.

I embrace diversity in my learning experience with open arms. Amongst the products that I purchased today, not one of them was Irish or English. Germany is the predominant supplier of ALDI's stock, but nonetheless unbeknown to me half my trolley was filled with french and spanish products.

Am I subconsciously drawn to these products because they are made in the countries of my languages of study???

Such a thought intrigues me.

Any day-to-day activity can be transformed into a learning experience if it is driven by determination. So, if you find yourself in ALDI or LIDL in the near future, pay attention to which products you throw in the trolley.

ps: Online shopping with ALDI/LIDL, watch this space....

Another Won bytes the dust…

Sir Prise
Won

- “Hurry! ….. (whistle blows)……… Quickly……… Jump on!

- “I cordially welcome you aboard The Surprise Ride.
Congratulations on getting this far, you are one of the privileged ones who has made it on time.”


- “Phew, Phooof, Phwoarrrrrr, I’m scared….”


- “I beg your pardon, allow me to introduce myself, they call me, Sir Prise. We are going on a journey together to explore the ‘Surprise-world’ of CALL, there is nothing that won’t happen on this ride, except boredom… obviously!”


- “Bu…bu….bu…bu…butt…ttt..t, is there a wi-fi zone onboard?”


- “Young fellow, our first course of travel is; Tabletology. What you will experience is nothing short of revolutionary.”


- “My name is Won, and I am truly honoured to be apart of The Tabletography Expedition.”


- “Won, it is a pleasure. Join me in the cocktail lounge for a Tablihito or a Tabletoliton?”


- “I believe we are going to change the world”

Una fairytale Infantil...

This Spanish assignment couldn’t be more suited to fit me. The once upon a times, the ugly ducklings, the frogs, the princesses and the happily ever afters are soon to be shown the door, and how to close it from the other side.

Además, estoy en casa (Mallorca, España) por unos días. Hace casí un ano mi familia se ha mudado aquí. Aunque no los veo como frecuentemente que antes, nuestra vida ahora es como una cuenta fantasía. Entonces ya tengo bastante inspiración para escribir un libro en lugar de solamente una cuenta!

That’s right! Pixar hold on to your pride, for this Bear is on the prowl with a stash of Surprises up her sleeve. Soon you will be buying my enchanting tales of this magical place for your box office movies.

La escena ahora reflexiona mi idea de la felicidad. Veo unas ondas en la piscina hacían par la brisa suave, Óleo el café fresco, Oyó el sonido de los perros jugando en el jardín y del loro hablando a mis hermanas. Siento el sol sobre todo mi cuerpo.

In itself the scene before me is a fairytale. Being subjected to this degree of Happiness has shown me that; peace of mind, love, success (and all that comes with them) all go hand in hand with each other, we just have to establish the right balance. There is no recipe or guideline to follow, each of us must determine our own balance, through recognising our priorities.

Es cierto que la felicidad es sencilla. Si aprendemos disfrutar la vida por lo que tenemos, la felicidad y la paz seguirán. Riqueza no da la felicidad.

You have heard the proverb; “All that glitters is not gold” – think about that.

El ano pasado aprende una lección que cambió mi vida. Quiero compartirlo con ustedes luego.

In the meantime, try balancing on life.

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh-tishhhhhhhhhh-ooooooooooooo

My fingers are literally stroking the keys as I type. Top-pal (A.K.A: Laptop) and I are both recovering from a Vernacular (invented) Virus - VV just sings drama. Following a heavy dosage of; Cough-meddi, Uniflu, Strepsils and other painkilling / numbing materials we have come to the conclusion that, hot water with lashings of lemon, honey and ginger really knocks any antibiotic out of the park.

Lectures have not seen much of me, nor has anyone else for that matter. Hence whilst cooped up in my boudoir, I have been chomping at the bit to blog all week, but when top-pal is out of the game, then the ball comes to a grinding halt. There was a stage when we couldn't even be exposed to wireless or suchlike, this was when the VV was at it's peak.

Today took the biscuit, in several respects... It included; A (car!) breakdown, Deportion from several computer labs on campus, Copious amounts of coughing and Getting locked out of the house ..... (wait for it) ..... in the rain! However out of every bad, I like to derive not a good, but a thought.............

........"Aaaaaaaaaahhh-tishhhh-ooooooo"

- Á tu souhait, Toplab!............

.........During one of the lab stints I was in the heat of blog-bleaaah, when I got kicked out because of a shortage of computers for a class. Mehhh made in heaven at the time which caused serious disgruntlement on my part as I had to dump my half written rant.

"Yes and, why did this happen?"

Lets dig! It is possible that such a negative blog would have dampened the mood of my on-going upbeat blog, or perhaps in getting thrown out, I left the chips that were on my shoulder behind. Looking into these things only gives them more clarity, which in turn, makes them easier to accept and understand. The harder I polish, the more they shine.

A heartfelt thank you to those who made today (and this sickweek) so... extraordinary. Lesson learned; Never again will I take Toplab's health (nor my own!) for granted. We are ripping it up along the road to recovery.

My belief that everything happens for a reason has been re-enforced. Finding the reason is the adventure. A hero of mine puts his worldwide success and achievement down to these words;

"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever"

He is of course, The Lance Armstrong.

I say; "NEVER QUIT!

Withstand whatever pain is induced for there is ALWAYS reasoning behind it."