The Language Barrier

Yes, this is my school!

It's the last week of classes before winter break and I can hardly force myself to believe the first semester is done. Typically that would mean I would be sitting through final exams here and there, from time to time, throughout the week. But as a master's student in the UK I no longer take tests.

WHAT?

You heard me. Instead, we write literature reviews on highly specific topics related to our majors. (I approve of this method, by the way.) I, for instance, am doing one paper on the potential role of omega-3 fatty acids in neurodegenerative conditions at the moment, followed by a discussion on the aetiology of obesity and possible treatment strategies, followed by an analysis of the current research being done on the inflammatory markers of obesity and how they are influenced by exercise. Interested? Well, thankfully you all don't have to be. Only me.

And this is the same building, different angle.

The education system is markedly different over here. Besides the mere elimination of final exams at my level, the grading system is completely new to me. In fact, it's so unusual I can't even begin to describe it because I don't understand a bit of it, myself. All I know is that they rarely give out high grades; you actually have to earn upper-level percentages, grade-wise. How original! Meaning, most people end up with mere passing grades, but this is acceptable and common. In this way, I think of the grading system simply in terms of pass/fail instead of A,B,C etc (which they don't have) or percentages. As long as I pass, I'm satisfied, they're satisfied, we're all satisfied. And life is good.

The courtyard in Whitelands College

Stairs to classrooms, Whitelands

In every class, every week, attendance is taken. But instead of calling out names an attendance sheet is passed around and you have initial it. And it isn't called 'taking attendance', it's called 'signing the register'.

Even more unusual is the fact that a slew of different teachers, called lecturers and not teachers, teach for the same class from week to week. They rotate, I guess you could say. However, they tend to overlap/cross-teach a bunch of courses...so when a teacher sends out a vague email pertaining to an unspecified class you have no idea which class to which he/she is referring. Any of you who are friends with me on facebook have probably noticed my complaints on the matter. In the end, though, this teacher-rotation isn't all bad because then each class becomes very specialized and detailed in accordance with that lecturer's own strengths. Plus, in the case you happen to not like a specific lecturer, you know it'll only last a week and then the following week a new lecturer will take the podium. Thankfully, I really like all my lecturers. And I think that may be a first. Of ALL the 11 schools, this one is the only one where I really, actually like every speaker. Yes, even Cambridge had one I wasn't so crazy about. Hm, wild. 

Classroom and computer lab hallway, first floor

Classes are called modules or courses, not classes. And I only have one day a week of classes. The rest is meant to be for singular study and writing, ideally. However, I think we all know I've spent far more time out in the city up until now when things are nearing their due dates. Hence all the blogs about things I've done off-campus.

Roehampton University is split up between two campuses.

Mine is call Whitelands and is the smaller of the two, and admittedly not the prettier of the two.

The following is a Panorama, of sorts, inside the boundary wall of Whitelands Campus.

(going clockwise)

Standing at the Main Gate, looking toward the front door

front door is just out of view on the left

The Main Gate is just to the right, now.

-The Main Gate would be here-

My room = top row, very center of the photo, gate is to the left

Left of the front door is the chapel

Capel, then the front door is on the right

HOWEVER, if you walk past the chapel to the opposite side of Whitelands...

Then you find the prettier side of Whitelands!

...And close-up. Nicer than its backside, I have to admit!

In class, in particular, I notice differences in language in both pronunciation and word choice. And I say particularly in class because, like a good student, I sit quietly and listen and absorb what I hear. These are a few:

A wider view, in watercolor

US vs UK

vitamin (pronounced VITE-amin) = vitamin (pronounced VIT-amin)

elevator = lift

a shot (meaning a vaccine) = a jab

cell (phone) = mobile

ferris wheel = observation wheel

zucchini = courgette

eggplant = aubergine

estrogen = oestrogen (pronounced EEST-ro-gen)

apartment = flat

toilet = loo

trash can = bin

booger = bogey

the cafeteria = the canteen

shopping cart = buggy or trolly

“thanks” = “cheers”

fries (as in french fries) = chips

chips = crisps

high school = college

college = university

elementary school = primary school (pronounced PRIME-ry)

the mail = the post

we say we speak English, but they say we speak American

granola bar = flapjack

football = American Football

soccer = football

people's weight is measured in stones, which is about 7 pounds, I think.

A period (in a sentence) = a full stop

gas (for a car) = petrol

freezer = ice box

a sweater = a jumper

mom = mum

doctor's office = the surgery

sidewalk = pavement

a Band-aid = a plaster

a doorman = a porter

to line up = to queue / a line of people = a queue

raisins = sultanas

to call someone = to ring someone

an eraser = a rubber

to deal with it = to sort it

immediately = straight away

ass = arse

cotton candy = candy floss

parking lot = a car park

an ATM = a cash point

pop/soda = fizzy drink

vacuum = hoover

Popsicle = ice lolly

math = maths

highway = motorway

diaper = nappy

a braid (in hair) = a plait

bar = pub

bacon slices = rashers

backpack = rucksack

a sedan (4-door car) = a saloon

tennis shoes = trainers

“what's up” = “you alright?”, which, to this day always makes me assume I look unwell or depressed. It's a very offsetting greeting, in my opinion.

And finally, for Pat and Jeff, in reference to a game we played way back when:

zero = nought

Z (the letter) = zed

Remember the movie title “A Zed and Two Noughts”? At the time we thought it must have been an alien invasion movie, when in fact it meant Z – O – O . Oh, those crazy British people.

PS. Sorry, but none of these photos are mine. I stole them all. Oddly enough, considering my photo-taking obsessive compulsiveness, I haven't taken any of my own school! For shame, I know. But at least I can blame the washed-out, grainy quality on someone else, then.

Kidding.