The Distance from A to Z Read Online Free PDF Page B

Amélie.
    â€œAbby, why don’t you go have a seat in the open chair next to Zeke, as you’ll be working together? Parfait .”
    She swings open the door and ushers us back into class. I stare at my bag as I slip my notebook inside, and grab my pens from the desk. I’m sure Drew is confused, but frankly? So am I.
    â€œI’m thrilled you’ll all be spending the next couple of months with me; that you’ve agreed to spend your summer strengthening your French. I know that it’s hard to spend two months studying and speaking only in French, which is why I’ve designed this class to be unlike the regular-term class. For starters, no need to call me Madame or Professeur . You’re welcome to call me Marianne.”
    A quick scan of the room reveals that there are ten other students in the class besides me and Zeke. Four women, six men. Only two of which—both women—look like they actually want to be here. I smooth out the notebook page in front of me. I’ve been waiting for two years to be able to do this program; I can’t imagine forcing yourself to do it.
    â€œHere’s how it will work,” Marianne says, coming to sit on the front of her desk. Her legs swing back and forth, a blur of her red sandals. I want those sandals. Would it be awkward to ask her where she gets her shoes? I’d never ask my high school teacher, but is it different here? I’ve certainly never had a teacher ask us to call her by her first name.
    â€œWe have three hours every morning for class. We’ll do an hour together here, which will mostly focus on written French, and then an hour where you’ll be working in pairs during class time. I’ll be giving you pieces of text to discuss, sometimes clips of movies or songs. You can do that portion of the class wherever you’d like, but I’d like to know where so I can visit your group. So keep it in the general vicinity of this building.”
    The whole class starts to look around, as though it’s already time to stake our claim on where we’re headed.
    â€œAnd then we’ll meet back here for an additional hour together. Finally, you’ll be responsible for speaking eighty hours of French over these next two months, in addition to class time. While you will also have written assignments to complete individually, you can’t learn French out of a book; it has to be lived. I want you talking during these sessions. You’ll have movies to watch and books to read. But mostly I want you having various experiences that involve talking to one another in French. Do it over dinner; do it wherever youwant. But I want a log of your conversations, a list of some of the words you’re using together. And don’t think this is an excuse to slack off. I’ve been teaching this class for a few years now; I know exactly how to make sure you’re having the conversations you promise you’re having.
    â€œ Parfait! You’ll be able to change partners once a week during the six weeks of the program, but you’ll be working on a final project during the last two weeks so I’ll ask you to choose a partner you’ll stay with during that. So, select your partners for week one, and let’s get started.”
    Marianne locks her ankles together and smiles. “Maintenant,” she says when nobody moves.
    Now.
    Drew is the first to move, and he makes a beeline for me. “So, any chance you want to try out being partners for the week?”
    â€œWe’re together,” Zeke says gruffly. I can’t help but scowl. I was going to tell him; I didn’t need Zeke to jump in.
    â€œJe suis désolée.” I’m sorry, I mouth.
    â€œPeut-être la semaine prochaine?” Drew doesn’t even glance at Zeke.
    Sorry, buddy, not next week or the week after. Not even the week after that. But before I have a chance to find the words in French, Zeke cuts