Mrs Greaves

How many languages does Mrs Greaves speak? No-one knows, however she taught Latin and French for a number of years.

Apparently she once fell through a chair (a nugget of info passed onto me by a parent during an open day), that must have been fun to watch.

One of her teaching methods for french is to make the class sing the verb. This, suprisingly, works for one verb in particular.

Quotes

• During a lunch time leaving party for pupil in her year 9 form (whilst changing music cassettes) "Look at me, I'm Fat Boy Slim"

• Trying to explain to a student the meaning of the Latin word 'lascivis': "You know, wanton, lascivious," (blank look from student) "erm, you know [vague hand gesture]...nookie, (blank look again) Nookie Nookie".

(To a Y9 student before a French Exam)

• Greaves: "Can you actually say the numbers one - ten.... please?"
• Student: "Erm........ sorry."

(To a year Seven pupil that she was teaching (7s 2003-04)

• Greaves: Stephanie, carry on (Steph is fast asleep)
• Steph: Wot miss?
• Greaves: I SAID CARRY ON!
• Steph: I don't know where we are miss...
• Greaves (Tuts and then chooses someone else, Steph falls asleep again)

Habits

• Referring to Classical poets, especially Catullus, as if they were still alive and turning up at dinner parties.
• Attempting to locate the Spring of Bandusia.

Conjugation 101

Mrs.Greaves verb song:

 Je peux *shout* X
 Tu peux *shout* X
 Il peux *shout* T
 Elle peut *shout* T
 Nous pouvons *shout* O-N-S
 Vous pouvez *shout* E-Z
 Ils peuvent *shout* E-N-T 
 Elles peuvent *shout* E-N-T

In one of the most memorable verb songs, Mrs Greaves overenphasised the pronunciation of the verb, leading the class to believe it was correctly pronounced "peeeerrrrve".

 Je peux
 Je ne peux pas
 Tu peux
 Tu ne peux pas
 Ils pppeeeuuuv[ent]
 Ils ne pppeeeuuuv[ent] pas.