How much is enough -Xmas presents for a GC?

Forgot, well done for learning German. Learning a language is a wonderful way to keep 'ze little grey cells' ticking. Bravo.

Indeed Belladonna- how did we get there?

But I am sorry, you totally miss the point. No, I have never smirked or laughed at students for making mistakes- but we do agree to laugh together if we do. Totally different proposition. So many adults are terrified of making mistakes- my students are not... because of humour, together. The giggle and wink about 'genrE' is among ourselves- as they didn't understand the word when they first came across it pronounced that way- as musicians- so when we do (and there are no English present to be offended truly) - we smile- it's a little joke. The idioms- yes all languages have them- and translating them word for word- so that they become non-sensical in the target language- si fun for all. No mocking, no smirking- ever. Alea wants to keep attacking and distortind everything I say- for whatever reason. A shame, a pity, sad - c'est la vie, as we say in ... English. Back to subject.

I have so many of my ex students in the UK who are still in touch, write, phone, visit- that is wonderful. Some from 30+ years ago- it is a huge treat- and perhaps illustrate what an awful teacher I was- smirking and mocking (NOT).

Yes 32 presents is far to much, we all seem to agree on that. Brilliant.

Crikey I thought I'd posted to the wrong thread when I saw the title above. How on earth did we get here from grand childrens ' Christmas presents ?

Just a hopeful PS to all this. I learn German with a group of adults, our mentor being a teacher of German for 40+ years. She has never once laughed at our mispronunciations, but always corrects and encourages us. As indeed do we not laugh or smirk or wink at other peoples' mistakes in pronunciation. Or grammar either for that matter. Idioms exist in all languages too, and whilst our rain comes down in cats and dogs, or stair rods, other languages have similar idioms. Italians know something like their pocket whereas our idiom is like the back of the hand, and so on.

Alea, you why are you getting so angry- did you Google Wellness centres in the UK, and found all the links to spas? Why are you making this into a battle?

And yes, a huge sense of humour is needed to learn and teach a language- and students love it, both French to English, English to French, or German and vice-versa. I am so lucky to still have contact with many of my past students- and they always say that it was the laughter and fun, and laughing with each other about mistakes, that encouraged them to continue with languages- as it was so much fun.

'I daren't say it mIss' and I'd say 'go for it- what is the worst that can happen if you get it wrong- we will all have a good laugh together' and it worked and still works - I can assure you. I have absolutely no desire to continue that silly fight with you- it really is your problem if you can't see it- tragic but I will survive, truly. American English, yes- but increasingly used for spas all over UK- and not just for holistic centres- but as said, spas. A shame you keep attacking me all the time- but your problem- but I won't be par-taking.

So, two of my vera talented French students came across the word 'genrE' in a listening comprehension test and didn't understand what was being said. So I explained- and they laughed- and we still do, whenever we come across it, as we do often. And it is just a bit of fun, no more, no less- fun is a huge + when teaching, and no harm at all. My UK students loved to laugh at those funny invented English words that don't exist in English- and that was fine too.

We love to translate expressions word for word both ways. Like 'il pleut des chiens et des chats' or t'other way round 'elle a une frite sur l'épaule'. Fun- just fun- and as said, it works.

For what it's worth, I thought a wellness centre was a place that offered holistic or complimentary therapies or things like hypnosis, osteopathy or chiropody. Usually a group of practitioners who have got together to offer a range of therapies under one roof.

That is as may be GJ but the fact remains that it is American English, not in my Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (the humungous 2 volume one) so Google away, the word we use in England is "health", as in health resort/health spa and "health" as a concept.
But thank goodness we have the Swiss to tell us how we speak, not only when we have the temerity to use words of French origin but also our own language. And we are also so glad that we provide your students with hours of merry chuckles as you tell them how the English use the word "genre" all the time and always mispronounce it.
What larks!!
You may have realised that there are other linguists on this forum, many of them having taught languages equally successfully for over 40 years, but your novel advice on language learning and teaching will surely have been appreciated.

If you Google 'wellness centre' in England- you will find a very long list, all over the UK. Night night.

And un sandwich is un sandwich - really.

Oh dear oh dear Alea- as a foreigner in England, so many people did laugh and laugh at me and with me- as I dropped clanger after clanger, and mispronounced or misused so many words, sentences, expressions. It is the laughter that made me progress- and I knew it was all in jest and that making them laugh was ok. It took me weeks, months and years- and I've still got a strange accent- and that's ok. I took it on the chin, picked myself up- got on with it- and it was great. I could write pages about the things I've said that made people smile. laugh, and roll on the floor! That's ok.

And we have a giggle and a wink- with my French students- about the word 'genrE' - especially as they are musicians so they've come across it so often in their studies. It makes our lessons more fun- and as no English person is present (well OH pops in from time to time, and he thinks 'genrE' is hilarious too). If you want to learn a language, you have to develop a thick skin and SOH- or you are doomed.

Wellness is definitely used increasingly in the UK- saw it on a spa brochure just the other day. And that's ok, languages do evolve, and oft in mysterious ways. No offence meant- I've been teaching languages very sucessfully for 40 years- and laughter truly helps.

And does it really matter how it's pronounced?

Must admit I have noticed the word genre being pronounced the 'wrong' way and I suspect it's because the word is now more commonly used. I hear it quite often on the radio, so maybe it's become fashionable to use it. One reason might be to do with music being stored on our computers and other devices. The programmes we use to play the music has a field for the genre of the music and as I said I suspect this has brought the word into common use.

No it isn't GJ!!
"Le song-weech " surely?
You think some people are a tad sensitive? I think that might be because of a suggestion of superiority I detected in it always makes my all my students laugh....they always have to giggle and wink
Mocking people's mistakes does not make people want to learn!!
And I take issue with "wellness" which I have come across in Germany and the US. I think if it has come back into English and as I said I have not personally come across it, that has been via American.

It's the same with the Welsh language. They have no words for new inventions, so have to adapt as in 'telefon', 'tacsi' etc. (no x in the Welsh language).

I accept that we can all mispronunce each other's languages. My husband is " foreign" but I don't roll about laughing at his linguistic peccadilloes. In fact I'm so used to them I don't notice them. To my ear mispronunciation is charming rather than funny. I enjoy hearing it.

Perhaps so, but you do seem to relish our mispronunciation of French words so much it comes over as mocking rather than indulgent...

Alea- putting the 'le' in front does sound ridiculous, and yet the word itself is usually pronounced correctly. What is truly stupid is when the French invent 'English' words that do not exist in English. Like 'le brushing' (for blow-dry), le footing (for jogging). Even worse is when some actually find their way back to English eventually. Like the ridiculous direct translation of 'bien être' into 'wellness' - which is now used in spas in the UK! Language is great, mistakes and all- the funnier the better if you want to progress.

Oh dear- I was only joking - of course those mistakes go both ways- and yes, it is funny. A French person mis-pronouncing English is just as hilarious- you make the mistake once or twice, and learn and go on- here, there or anywhere- in any language. Those who refuse to try for fear of getting it wrong never progress.

As said, I lived in the UK for 39 years, and worked with 100s of academics and very well educated people- and all said 'genrE' - but I am very pleased to hear that some do not. It does sound hilarious, and yes, always worth a wink and a giggle. Just as a French person saying 'ze shiken' it just as funny. You are a tad sensitive some of you, truly.

How about "Le smoking" ? Le weekend ? Le five o'clock? And the ultimate, Le sandwich?

How do they sound across the English Channel then?

In fact, my French granny could never get her tongue round 'the Co-op' (her favourite shop!) and always called it 'the Cworp'. No one thought it worthy of a giggle and wink though...

I don't see why pronouncing the 'e' at the end of genre should be considered so hilarious - I'm sure there are plenty of English words that the French pronounce incorrectly...

Agreed Alea. Although I wasn't educated in France, and I know lots of other people who don't say genrer either

Tbh I thought Stiffkey was ... Stiffkey.

"*Everyone*"??
I don't and nor does DH or anybody in his family. Maybe it's because they all had a French education and FIL was a graduate of Lausanne university .

Not everyone in England gj. !