Today was sort of the last day of class for the 9th graders. Tonight we held conseils de classe, which is an end-of-quarter event. This time we discussed the kids' orientations: who'll go on to high school, who'll go to vo-tech school, etc.
I say it was "sort of" the last day of class, because once the conseil is done, lots of students don't bother coming. Today the kids were all rowdy. I started the lesson with the correction of homework, and let a girl who was hoping to pass into high school sucking up write the answers on the board. I was circulating around the room and stopped near Tristan's desk.
He said "Madame, I have a question."
"What is it, Tristan?"
"Orgasme en anglais, c'est bien 'orgasme'?" I put on my faux-surprised face for this 15-year old French boy who was verifying how to say "orgasm" in English.
"C'est bien ça, Madame." With a nod of my head I let on that, indeed, he was correct.
Tristan made another comment about it, and I said "Thank you, Tristan, I KNOW that word in English." He replied "The important thing is to experience it."
I'm translating badly here, because I can't really remember the exact exchange. I just shook my head, walked away and tried not to smile. I should have sent him out of the room. I should have sent him out of the room that day he heard me reprimand a boy (at the end of class, mind you) for saying cunni*l1ngus -- Tristan said "Vous connaissez, Madame?" I had never heard a more loaded statement in the classroom. Until today.
Thing is, Tristan is a charming boy AND a good student. For the record, he's the one who told me that my dress "slammed" the other day.
I've cut Tristan a lot of slack, because he's got a twinkle in his eye and, I'll admit, because he flatters me in his awkward 15-year old way. It's kind of troubling. I wouldn't have put up with such language from other kids.
Yes, Tristan, I know those words. Intimately. But I'm not Mrs. Robinson. And cute as you are, you're still a minor.
p'schaa - that's pretty awesome! It doesn't level out all the incredibly annoying things teens do, but it's cute all the same.
Posted by: laprincessa | June 03, 2005 at 23:22
Now I'm going to dream about a cute young Tristan experiencing his solitary orgasms while thinking about Mlle. Alison. Charming, kinda. Well, also a little creepy. Did you say your name was LeTourneau?
Posted by: bhd | June 04, 2005 at 01:01
Why not leave the school with a little controversial BANG.. so to speak.. 15 is old enough in France isn't it?
JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol
Posted by: saundrah | June 04, 2005 at 14:53
I can relate. I taught mixed 9th-12th for 5 years and it seems the cute, charming, and SMART ones find you cutting them more slack than the others.
Once while teaching Reproduction and Development, I had a 15-year-old student raise his hand to ask me "can a girl get pregnant from a blow job?"
Posted by: rockinteach | June 05, 2005 at 22:41
Great story, Alison!
I have one of the mixed classes (grades 9-12) and I think that the reason why many of us teachers can let something like that slide from a smart kid is because they are so much more sophisticated these days and the good ones, the ones who understand language and nuance, they figure out how to coax the vocabulary and ride that fine line between risqué and vulgar without falling over it.
It really is a talent and I think that we tend to recognize that and so we chastise those who lack the grace to finesse the language and, instead, charge into sexual contexts like a bull in a china shop.
And...I bet that there are a LOT of Tristans who imagine you as their Mrs. Robinson!
*hug*
Posted by: MIchelle | June 07, 2005 at 01:21
Wow Tristan is hot for teacher! that's really funny and not too surprising given his age. it is a little shocking that he is a good student & not a ruffian [spelling?]
Posted by: angel | June 07, 2005 at 15:11