What did Miss Arbour make us do?

In 1940 we did not have tape recorders, CDs, computer programs or anything related to modern technology.  We studied a foreign language by translating the text into English when we were called upon in class.  This is called Grammar-Translation and was quite prevalent; still is in some countries, I understand.

I shall never forget the first day of class.  Our teacher to be was a little old lady, somewhat bald in front at the hair line, who leaned forward on her desk and with hands folded, peered over half glasses and in a very stern, measured voice said, "This is Spanish Four for those who want it."  Our hearts sank and almost half the class got up and walked out.  They knew it was going to be tough.  I had no choice as one o'clock was the only time I could take Spanish Four, and I was on a college preparatory track and needed the credits.

Miss Arbour would assign a story.  When called upon, we had to stand up beside our desk and tell the class in our own words in Spanish what happened in the story.  This was not at all easy and we were filled with dread as all we had ever done before was look at the text and translate it into English.

Millicent Abrahmson, A fellow student, and I decided to meet at the cafeteria during lunch break.  Our class met at one o'clock so we had a little time.  We choose an isolated table far from every body and sitting across from each other, she would read the story out loud to me and then I would read the story out loud to her.  She would read it again to me and I would read it again to her.  She would then try to tell me the story in Spanish.  If she had a problem, I would read that section of the story where she had the problem.  She would try again to tell me the story.  I did the same thing.  Whenever I had a problem, she would read the story again out loud and I would try again to tell the story.  We corrected each other based upon the text until we were able to retell the story with some success.  With a this preparation, when called upon in class, we were somewhat able tell in Spanish what happened in the story.  This is what Miss Arbour made us do.  We were never called upon to translate the story into English. 

As I wrote earlier, I was eighteen lessons behind in Spanish Three and just barely passed.  I passed Spanish Four with a "B".  The following semester I enrolled in Spanish Five and French One. 

If you want to know what I did in French One, click here.