Alphabet Amnesia and Other Fun TImes
In English, when children learn the alphabet, we give the letters names that don't necessarily make the same sound of the letter in words. Like, calling b "bee" or c "see" or f "eff." It's a little strange to me now, because I realize we don't say "eff-ar" for "far" or "bee-reeze" instead of breeze."
One thing that makes Bulgarian a nice language to learn is that they don't have these peculiarites. A letter makes one sound, and that's all it makes. And when you learn the Bulgarian alphabet, the letter that makes the sound "sus" (c), you call "sus" not "see." (I've also realized the complete pointlessness of the letters "c" and "x"... think about it.)
The other day, while teaching 3rd Grade Grammar, I was explaining why we use "a" and "an" before consonants and vowels. I was telling them, "See how the first letter in this word is a "sus"... I mean..."
And I didn't know what I meant. I was looking at an English letter "c" but couldn't think of how to call it in English.
One of my students supplied "You mean "see?'"
Yep, that is what I meant. Thanks 3rd Grader.
And I did it again with the letter "t" calling it "tuh."
I've forgotten some English words since I've been here, but not the alphabet. Oh well.
School has started, in case you didn't catch that. Life has become much more structured (this is good for me) and I'm super busy. So here's a catch-up on pictures from the end of the summer!
One thing that makes Bulgarian a nice language to learn is that they don't have these peculiarites. A letter makes one sound, and that's all it makes. And when you learn the Bulgarian alphabet, the letter that makes the sound "sus" (c), you call "sus" not "see." (I've also realized the complete pointlessness of the letters "c" and "x"... think about it.)
The other day, while teaching 3rd Grade Grammar, I was explaining why we use "a" and "an" before consonants and vowels. I was telling them, "See how the first letter in this word is a "sus"... I mean..."
And I didn't know what I meant. I was looking at an English letter "c" but couldn't think of how to call it in English.
One of my students supplied "You mean "see?'"
Yep, that is what I meant. Thanks 3rd Grader.
And I did it again with the letter "t" calling it "tuh."
I've forgotten some English words since I've been here, but not the alphabet. Oh well.
School has started, in case you didn't catch that. Life has become much more structured (this is good for me) and I'm super busy. So here's a catch-up on pictures from the end of the summer!
I've spent some evenings by The National Palace of Culture with fun fountain lights...
and I went to see this fun fortress...
with amazing rock formations!
I was attacked (sort of) by a cat...
and I hung out in the park with friends.
I went out for coffee...
a LOT.
Then I went from looking like this:
to this:
Because... why not?
And school started! Here's my first-day-of-school look:
I also thought I'd throw in some more pictures of around town that I've taken recently.
Oops is a street food stand with a funny name:
Hope your summer was fabulous! Happy September!
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