Last weekend I had my proficiency exam with the British Council. By passing the test and having certification, I will be able to teach a higher level of classes at work and also earn more money! (Always a plus....) On Saturday I had the written part of the exam from 9 am until 5 pm. Killer. Funny I should used that word, seeing as I almost killed my proctor....
I had tried to ask her if I would be counted wrong for spelling things the "American" way. She told me (very rudely might I add,) that she couldn't answer the question because it was "content related." Whatever. At the end of this particular part of the test, she pulled me aside and said, "both forms are correct." Uhh, thanks for telling me this thirty minutes ago. I then mentioned the word traveling and how I spelled it with one l. She said, that's wrong. Traveling is with two L's. And then I said, no, we spell it with one. She said, no, it's with two. Here's a dictionary. Timeout - first of all, she insulted me by telling me I was wrong and even more by handing me the dictionary. Did I mention the dictionary was Oxford? Which means it's British, lady!!!! She said, "No, they acknowledge both forms." Uhh, wrong, again! So then, me and my big mouth proceeded to say, "I've never once been corrected on spelling it with one L and I'm almost positive twelve years worth of teachers and the spell-check on my computer know how to spell traveling." Then, she continued, "Well, Cambridge is a very tradition institute that's highly regarded, so it would be wise to spell things like them." Uhh, so here I am thinking in my head, "So is Harvard. and I'm willing to bet the professors spell traveling with one L." I then told her, well, "this is really not worth me arguing with you over this and it's not even the reason why I asked you a question." She finished with, "But I don't work for the British Council, I don't teach at the school, and I don't grade the tests." So why in the WORLD are you correcting me? You have no merit. How pretentious of her! During the break, I googled the world just to see what would pop up. The U.S. Government spells the word traveling. I was tempted to go up to her after class and ask her if she was calling the government wrong for spelling it that way, but I refrained. My mother was mortified that I had this discussion with her, but like I told her, "I don't start things, but I sure finish them." That lady barked up the wrong tree. I would never tell a Brit or any of my students (who learn British English) that they spell things wrong. EVER. Much less to a co-worker or another adult. I cannot stand people who think they're superior to others. She was loud and obnoxious. I was sitting right at the door and her and the other proctors would talk to each other at the door. I kept shooting her evil glares.
This week has passed by quickly. I found out on Tuesday or Wednesday that I was selected to partake in the archaeological trip to Israel with the university! However, I don't think I will be going because I can't afford the entire thing. So if any of you reading this has an extra three thousand dollars laying around, let me know :)
I'm going to end with a new phrase I learned: "Me da jamacuco." It means that you're going nuts. Pretty useful phrase, huh?
I had tried to ask her if I would be counted wrong for spelling things the "American" way. She told me (very rudely might I add,) that she couldn't answer the question because it was "content related." Whatever. At the end of this particular part of the test, she pulled me aside and said, "both forms are correct." Uhh, thanks for telling me this thirty minutes ago. I then mentioned the word traveling and how I spelled it with one l. She said, that's wrong. Traveling is with two L's. And then I said, no, we spell it with one. She said, no, it's with two. Here's a dictionary. Timeout - first of all, she insulted me by telling me I was wrong and even more by handing me the dictionary. Did I mention the dictionary was Oxford? Which means it's British, lady!!!! She said, "No, they acknowledge both forms." Uhh, wrong, again! So then, me and my big mouth proceeded to say, "I've never once been corrected on spelling it with one L and I'm almost positive twelve years worth of teachers and the spell-check on my computer know how to spell traveling." Then, she continued, "Well, Cambridge is a very tradition institute that's highly regarded, so it would be wise to spell things like them." Uhh, so here I am thinking in my head, "So is Harvard. and I'm willing to bet the professors spell traveling with one L." I then told her, well, "this is really not worth me arguing with you over this and it's not even the reason why I asked you a question." She finished with, "But I don't work for the British Council, I don't teach at the school, and I don't grade the tests." So why in the WORLD are you correcting me? You have no merit. How pretentious of her! During the break, I googled the world just to see what would pop up. The U.S. Government spells the word traveling. I was tempted to go up to her after class and ask her if she was calling the government wrong for spelling it that way, but I refrained. My mother was mortified that I had this discussion with her, but like I told her, "I don't start things, but I sure finish them." That lady barked up the wrong tree. I would never tell a Brit or any of my students (who learn British English) that they spell things wrong. EVER. Much less to a co-worker or another adult. I cannot stand people who think they're superior to others. She was loud and obnoxious. I was sitting right at the door and her and the other proctors would talk to each other at the door. I kept shooting her evil glares.
This week has passed by quickly. I found out on Tuesday or Wednesday that I was selected to partake in the archaeological trip to Israel with the university! However, I don't think I will be going because I can't afford the entire thing. So if any of you reading this has an extra three thousand dollars laying around, let me know :)
I'm going to end with a new phrase I learned: "Me da jamacuco." It means that you're going nuts. Pretty useful phrase, huh?
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