What do Swashbuckling Pirates and NASA have in common?

Not much except they both figure into questions I've been asking students at the English Institute this week. With a wide range of skill levels (first to fourth year students) and spread across the age spectrum, it's never dull.

A sampling...

Question: Do you like skydiving?
Answer by 11-year-old boy: Yes, yes I am!
(had no clue what I was talking about)

Question: If you were the president of Argentina, what would you do?
Answer by teenage girl: Change everything!
(ahhhh, the certainty of that age)


Question: In the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, who is your favorite character?
Answer by 10-year-old boy with dazzling smile: Elizabeth! She is beautiful!
(watch out girls, a young Lothario!)


Question: What are the qualifications for an astronaut?
Answer by 16-year-old boy: Lots of training. He must know first addition and how to land a space ship.
(I think he meant first aid)


Question: What did you write about for your essay?
Answer by an adult female: Comparative between the Great Depression and the current situation because I think there are many similarities and we must learn.
(a graduating student who has learned English as part of her job responsibilities because she must communicate with her contemporaries in the space program in the U.S.)

Question: If you could do anything you'd like, what would it be?
Answer by 15-year-old boy: A professional basketball player!
(he's certainly tall enough!)


Overheard by Ivan: An adult male after he finished the exam said, "She is divine!"

Still smiling over that one. Made the six hours of administering oral exams -- with one five minute break -- totally worthwhile. More today. 

Happy Thanksgiving from this DIVINE southern girl!