The Downside of German Class

[jamesq]

One of the reasons why I am taking German is to confront my social phobia. Being forced to talk to people, and to do it in front of other people is exactly the sort of thing I need help with. Unfortunately it's also exactly the sort of thing that's going to terrify me.

Case in point. The instructor was having a conversation with me. It was all going well until he asked me - something. I had no clue what he was saying, my mind just drew a blank.

Later I fucked up during an assignment and got corrected in front of everyone. And the thing I fucking hate is that it's stuff I know if I were writing it down. I would do great on a written exam. But I haven't internalized any of it yet so I get flustered in conversation.

During the break I went into the stairwell and just had a little nervous breakdown for a few minutes. I was very close to just grabbing my stuff and taking off, but if I had done that It would have been an awful setback.

I went back and the rest of the class was OK. I must practice conjugating my verbs more.

Comments

[petranef.livejournal.com]

I get you. I knew my Arabic numbers backwards and forwards (there's a LOT of time to memorize on the train from Luxor to Cairo) until they asked me to recite them in class. And then I choked, which made me really mad at myself.

[(Anonymous)]

If it makes you feel any better, I felt the same way when I was learning Russian back in university. Stick with it, it's worth it!

I know exactly what you mean.

[nosarious.livejournal.com]

I do. I really do. There are so many times I have just wanted to run away, limping usually because some girl just hauled off and kicked me in the junk, but I stay in there! I stick around. I refuse to go home!

until the cops come anyways... but that is another story...

Of course, that all happened because of a german lass I met a long time ago. I asked a freind for a few useful phrases... You know, like "Your eyes are really beautiful" and "May I gaze intently at your bosum, so perfect and pert" and shit.

Of course, things really went wrong when I recited one of the things he said... let's see... where did I...

Aha. here it is...

(ahem, gurgle, cough)

würden Sie mich stichhaltig über den Kopf und die Schultern, bitte treten

and the other one was...

Ich würde das beig genießen, das in den Trödel durch Ihren unglaublich netten Fuß getreten wurde

After that she just gleefully kicked me in the gnards and walked away laughing... Haven't the foggiest idea why.

It seems I am fated to have this effect on women wherever I go. I've since started wearing a cup.