learning skills in OS

[Raffi Aftandelian]

Hi Mayke!
I was 15 when me and my classmates studied Russian like this.

As I type this I recall (what an "aha"!) that the secondary school course
I had the most passion for was Russian. Did OS have something to do with
it? I don't know. I have always loved languages, and ethnically I have a
connection to the former Soviet Union. But there was always a special
something about Russian class.

I recall us struggling with basic Russian grammar while looking thru our
textbook. We students discussed grammar points without asking the
teacher. It rarely occured to us to ask him for explanations. We just
muddled our way through.

When my grandmother, educated in a tsarist gymnasium in Tbilisi, came
from Iran (a long story) to the US during perestroika, I began speaking
Russian with her. In fact I began writing letters to her after only a
year of high school Russian. And the teacher recognized that she knew
Russian much better than he did. He allowed me to do my chapter oral
exercises with her and for her to sign off for the exercises. That was I
was even able to complete chapters even faster.

It was a very impressive surrendering of the expert position of the
teacher.

The funniest thing was my grandmother was in her mid-80's at that point.
While she was still mentally very perky, I sometimes spent more time with
her explaining how she was to conduct the oral exercise than the amount
of time the exercise actually took.

The only other materials besides the textbook was the bulky record player
(which always broke down).

I "dug up" my Russian teacher recently, will have to share this message
about the OS'ness of his class. I think he'll be tickled!

Warmly,
raffi

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