The first class for the month fell on the public holiday. Undeterred, those who were not otherwise committed travelled to view musical shows at a member‘s home theatre in great comfort. Thank you Horst for the invitation and drinks, also Lin and Judy for the food. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will think of our last time together longingly, even as we look forward to repeating the experience at the end of the year.

The second class was abruptly cancelled due to the U3A directive. We have quickly set ourselves up for many months of distance learning. Firstly, there is a ‘phone a friend‘ set-up to speak German on a weekly basis to a different person month by month. Secondly, we have a different ‘pen pal‘ every month with whom to practice our written communication weekly by email. Thirdly, a written piece will be circulated weekly to expand our comprehension, vocabulary and pronunciation. Perhaps our most ambitious project is to study a 4 act play, so that we can do a play reading at the end of the year when we are together again. The main challenge is how to get the material to everyone. We will also have a perpetual sentence, in which everyone will contribute. At the end of our confinement, we will have a story to tell. Lastly, several members will be individually tutored.

It‘s almost as if we were a group travelling down a road when this blockade set us another route, one by which we are travelling in different pairings. Our plan is to be so mentally busy doing our German that we get our minds off this coronavirus angst. Just keep well everyone!
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Pauline Bailey