misses rogers work in IT-port

[bagheera_san]

I'm grading my first class test (English for electrician apprentices) and it's very boring. No one wrote anything hilariously stupid. Their grammar is terrible, as is their spelling, but not in creative ways. And I'm not allowed to deduct points for grammar or spelling unless it's so bad that you have problems understanding what they want to say. The newest grading system pretty much says that grammar isn't important, and insteads privileges vocabulary and "communication". I disagree - not because I like grammar (there's nothing more boring than a grammar lesson) but because I believe that the most important aspect of speaking a language is grammar: the point where you can actually speak a language (rather than struggle to communicate in it) is when you've internalized the basic aspects of its grammar.

And now, a sample for your edification:
"You stay in Rezeption here now. Misses Rogers work in IT-Port. You must walk right along the floor, then climb upstairs untill you are in first floor. The room of Rogers is in the end of the company."

Now my task is to decide whether your response to this would be -

A: Thank you very much, now I'm sure to find Ms Rogers' office!
or
B: ???

Comments

[dragonofmemory]

Oh, grading. It is inherently boring and generally not worth the few amusing answers. Though the other day I did get one saying the Mongols "were looking forward to conquering western Europe" that amused me far more than it should. Those far out number the times that the students make you want to cry for putting Europe in Alaska, Australia and New Zealand in Cuba, and the Mediterranean Sea where the Caribbean is. I've even had a few students get the United States wrong.

Grammar isn't one of my strengths, sadly, despite growing up on School House Rock. But I can teach it, and I do agree it's important.

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

Don't we all look forward to a nice holiday abroad where we can indulge in our favourite hobbies like plundering and pillaging?

Also, it's a widely accepted fact that New York is the capital of the world, the French revolution happened around 1490 and women were allowed to vote in the 1980s.

[dragonofmemory]

Mind you, New York is on the west coast. True facts. I've gotten that one as an answer too. And England is in Greenland, so that would be a bit of a stretch to visit.

Some of these kids do scare me.