I have to admit that I was feeling a little smug that I was the best in the class in the local group -- that was until I discovered that the Catholic priest (an Indian) already speaks 4 other languages and a woman who is originally from Kenya (though of Indian not African origin) already speaks Hindi, English and Swahili. I then felt very small and stupid because I have lived in Wales for over 30 years, been studying Welsh (albeit intermittently) for many years and so I really am an abject failure for not mastering the language by now.
In other news, my OU tutoring should start again in a couple of weeks, so I will be able to sign off and no longer be a Job Seeker. I have also been offered some teaching on the A-level English course at the local college. It's a big group, 30 students in total, which is too big for the lecturer to manage the creative writing project that they have to do. He asked his head of dept if there was any money to pay for someone to take half the students, and the HOD said yes and the lecturer asked me if I was interested.
I said yes, naturally, but I keep getting moments of panic because I've never really taught teenagers, apart from the Italians who came to stay each year when I was doing my last job. At least these teenagers will speak fluent English! :)
It should be fun and an interesting challenge, but I know that it's going to take it out of me. Where did all my youthful energy go? :(