My interview

Today I had an interview at school. It wasn't really for anything it was just so we could 'get a feel for what an interview is like'. I know, the excuses our school makes are just ridiculous, we know what an interview is like now could you please give us an education rather than a 'fun interactive day'. Anyway, as I had no choice in the matter at 12:20 today I was sat in the library ready for my 'interview'.We had to dress in smart clothes which for the majority of my school means a new tracksuit that's not got a beer stain on it. I however, decided to be a bit more classy and wear a knee length skirt and a blazer. I'm not going to lie, I resembled a nun.

My interview didn't get off to a good start. I stood by the desk looking over at my interviewer. He was quite broad and I about 50 ish. Also, I don't think he was married because his suit was a bit crushed. As I stood there he was doing some paper work and failed to see me. So I coughed... tapped my foot and edged forward a bit, but there was still no response, to be honest I think he was a bit hard of hearing.

Once he a finally acknowledged my existence he shook my hand and invited me to sit down, about time too. He then proceeded to ask me what GCSE's I was taking. I now realise that saying "GCSE German" was a big mistake. He started to talk to me.. In German. Of course, my mind went completely blank and I couldn't even remember what 'Hello my name is Sarah' was. Actually, I was at a slight disadvantage because my interviewer was from Liverpool so he was speaking German in a scouse accent, it was quite something. I couldn't really make out what he was saying so I just smiled and hoped it wasn't a question.

The interview continued quite smoothly for a while, I had to list my 'personal qualities' and say what I did in my spare time, it wasn't a stereotypical interview at all. Then he asked me what I would bring to his company, so I answered. Then he asked me again "So, what will you bring to my company?" so I answered with what I had said before, re-phrased and gave  him a slightly confused look. Then, to my horror, he asked me again "What will you bring to my company?". I just sat and stared at him, what a strange man. He then said to me "Sarah, this is why you must not let all your information go on the first question, you have nothing else to tell me".  Now, correct me if I'm wrong but the standard procedure is to ask someone a question, listen to their answer and then move on, not to then repeat the question. Why would I need to hold any information back?

After this confusing ordeal he asked me if I had any questions for him. I had several but I didn't dare ask them, he was bigger than me. I really wanted to ask him "Do you often pretend you have a memory problem and speak in Scouse- German in order to confuse candidates at interviews or am I a one off?". Of course I just said "No" and stood up to shake his hand.

I hope my next interview has a little more English and the interviewer does not seem like he should not be in a mental hospital.

This is a very boring blog

**If you read my last blog I thought you might like to know my book is no more. I started to write it on a draft email because I don't have Microsoft Word on my laptop, my email then decided that it was going to create an 'unknown error' and it won't let me view the message. Technology has failed me again.**

I don't really know what this blog is about so I'm just going to ramble until I have filled enough space for this to be a decent length, I apologise if it is extremely boring. Today my English classroom got new chairs and tables. This may seem like an everyday occurrence until I tell you that the chairs are MULTI-COLOURED! They are the coolest thing ever, I sat on a green one, it was great. Although they might be the best thing my school has ever spent money on, the aren't very academic are they? They're not really going to get us better grades at GCSE and they aren't really helping our 'life skills' but hey, they are MULTI-COLOURED CHAIRS!

Today I had P:E and we had to do circuit training. This does mean however,  I actually did any circuit training. Don't get me wrong, i did try to do all the activities but after about 20 seconds I just gave up, too much pain, not enough gain. I attempted to do press-ups, I will never attempt to do them again. Why were these dreadful things invented? I thought everyone would be as bad as me but no, they weren't. After I had finished my set someone a lot fitter than me had a go. It really did put me to shame- she just kept going! No sign of tiring just an even rhythm; one, two, three four, five..... Mine however was more like; one, have a break, two, contemplate the existence of life, three, oh dear the whistles gone.

By the way, I have a German exam coming up (not that you care) so please expect a rant about that, possibly within the hour as I am about to start revising now- I need a good head start. This time we have to write an essay, learn it, then speak it to our teachers in a 'controlled environment'. What a load of rubbish. Yes, by the end I will be able to tell you all about what I did last weekend in German but is that really going to help me in life? Wouldn't it be better to make us learn more useful things like how to say "I need an ambulance" or "My house is on fire" or "Please officer it wasn't me".

I think they should put me in charge of all exams- and on that scary mental image, goodbye!

How to pass a German exam

Today was my German exam, the one I blogged about the other day. Surprisingly, it went rather well, I had a couple a blank moments but overall I was happy. I did find it easier they gave us dictionaries, don't get me wrong, I completely disagree with the fact they give us dictionaries in language exams but it did make it so much easier. For example, like us German's have different words for different tenses e.g eat and ate. Unfortunately, in the exam I couldn't remember the German words then I realised my dictionary listed them all! Perfect. All I had to do was work out what tenses were what then I was away, oh the joys of having a big dictionary.

I did use it for spellings too obviously...

Also, I finished half an hour early so I amused myself my watching everyone trying to remember their essays, if you ever have a spare 5 minutes an exam this is such an entertaining experience. Well, it was until a teacher realised what I was doing so then I decided to look up random words in my dictionary. Did you know 'bloggen' in German means 'to blog'- you learn something knew everyday.

Language GCSE's

This week I have to memorise a German passage for my exam next week. Whilst I was attempting to understand and memorise this very complicated language a thought came to me; It's not really a German exam is it? It's a memory test. We have to write the passage beforehand then our teacher is aloud to mark it so it's perfect German, then we have to memorise it. In the exam they even give you a dictionary! What is the point? If it was a real German test you would have to write the passage in the exam without a dictionary.

Obviously, I am not complaining, the easier the test is the better, I just think that the exam boards should stop and think what they are actually gaining from this part of the exam. Soon enough the colleges and sixth forms will catch on and a GCSE in German will be thought of as a GCSE in memorising.

While we are on the subject of GCSE's I think it's really wrong how my school (and most schools) force us to do a GCSE in a language. Don't get me wrong, I can see the benefits; it makes you a more rounded person, you have more career options and you will be able to travel more. Maybe I would have taken one out of choice. However, I think forcing you to do one isn't right, if I don't want a GCSE in German then why should I spend hours studying for one? I am never going to go to Germany, I have no wish to work in Germany, and I don't want to be a German teacher.

I'm defiantly not against Germany though, it's a very nice county with some lovely and talented people in, it's just not somewhere I want to be.

So in the space of two minutes we have gone from a GCSE in memorising to how talented the German people are. Welcome to my life.

**Note the same applies to GCSE's in French, Spanish and every other language. I'm not against the county, just the exam. **