Test Day

The Spanish curriculum my school uses tries to make the grammar interesting by using a theme for each chapter.  For example, the chapter on the passive voice has a media theme.  So we learned to say things like “In 2001 a new minimum wage law was passed…” and “In 2008 a serious financial crisis began…”.  Another chapter, on the conditional tense, is titled “I would never do that…” and one of its topics is tattoos and piercings.  The teacher went around the room and asked everyone if they had tattoos, and if they had any other piercings.  She asked everyone except me, that is.  When she started to move on, I said, “Hey, Marta—what about me?  Am I too old for the question?”  Marta, who is at least 15 years my junior, turned red and apologized.  I assured her that I was only joking.  Still, I do feel like the mother hen in the group.  Everyone else’s stories feature their boyfriends and roommates, while mine tend to be about my children.

As I sat down at my hard little chair with the built in desk today, I realized just how long it has been since I have taken a test.  It is a humbling experience. Although I did not feel 100% solid on all of the material—you learn A LOT in 40 hours over two weeks—I really did not want to repeat the level.  The idea of talking about tattoos and piercings again was enough to light a fire under my butt.  When I came home early yesterday and announced to Alec that I planned to study for a couple of hours before dinner instead of going to the gym, he said, “Don’t you think you either know it or you don’t at this point?  Do you really think cramming is going to help?” 

“I’m not cramming, I’m studying.  I’m consolidating all of this knowledge,” I announced, pointing to my notebook.  Still, I realized he had a point.  Why had I not reviewed the previous material every night during the course?  Easy.  Because I barely had enough time to get the homework done, while also trying to work, stay healthy, and be with my family.

The test consisted of 40 multiple choice questions—most of them offering options for verbs, which was enough to make my head swim—a reading comprehension passage, and a writing assignment.  I was to pretend I was living with a Spanish roommate who had habits I did not like, and other positive qualities.  I had to write an email to a friend about the situation with this roommate and ask for advice.  The whole assignment was designed to get me to say things like:  “I hate it when she leaves dirty dishes in the sink.  It bothers me that her boyfriend practically lives with us.  But she is a lot of fun.  I should probably talk to her…”  Basically, I had to showcase my new facility with the subjunctive, the tricky, awful verb tense that is used much more in Spanish than it is in English.

I think I did okay, but I won’t know for sure until tomorrow.  And, even though C.C. got better quickly, I still feel like I have not made up for that sleepless night.  Which is why I’m headed to bed at 9:30 pm.