and so it turns out americans fail too..

So this week, one of the teachers asked me to do a lesson on something cultural/American. It was a busy week, what with St. Patty's Day (which was incredible) and spring finally arriving and all, and so I wracked my brain for a few minutes trying to think of something cultural, and all of a sudden I remembered that I had brought some pictures from prom in 11th grade. Plus, it's prom season back aux Etats-Unis. Perfect!! So I dug them out, and then came up with a lesson plan about Prom. I really actually got excited about it, I mean who doesn't get excited about prom? It's a night devoted to beaded long dresses, rented tuxes, hairspray, corsages, limos, dj/band, dancing... etc. So I set up a whole lecture starting with "Prom Committee," who I told them decided on the theme, raised money for decorations, did the decorating, and did the elections for prom king and queen. Then, I told them about girls going shopping for the "perfect" prom dress, trying on thousands, and finally settling on one that has just the perfect amount of beads/bright color ratio. Asking prom dates came next, they had a little trouble with that concept, here in France you only go on "dates" if you are with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Then, we arrived at "Prom Night." I told them about all the hype that leads up to it, girls getting their hair and nails done, and then all the boys arrive at one of the girls' houses to "pick them up," which also doubles as a photo op. I had photographic evidence of this, so I passed a few 11th grade photos taken at my house around (thank goodness i didn't still have braces..). I watched their faces as they recognized me and my hot pink dress (and yes it had hot pink beads too, and it still has a special place in my heart), and instead of the "oohs" and "ahhs" and basic jealousy that they don't get to do this that I was expecting, I heard snickers and whispering. I thought to myself: "Oh well, they'll get into this once I get into the actual prom part." So, I kept going. They did get excited when I told them that most groups are picked up by a limousine, which drives them to dinner and to the prom. Apparently that doesn't happen very often in France. Then I told them about "Prom Pictures." And yes I also had photographic evidence of this, my date and I in the typical prom pose, facing each other, hands clasped, corsage and boutennière i perfect view, the train of my dress carefully arranged behind me.. I thought "Surely they'll recognize this from movies and laugh and finally get into this lesson." Instead, they all had quizzical looks on their faces as they passed this photo around. So I kept going. Next topic was "Prom Presentation." I told them about how all the seniors and their dates are presented before the prom actually begins, and how everyone watches. I also had photographic evidence of this, which I then passed around. It's actually a really nice picture, the hot pink-ness of my dress really stands out. My students, however, were still not impressed. After that, I told them that the dj or band starts playing music, and that everyone dances the night away. It was a very anti-climactic finish, I know, but this audience was impossible! At the end, I asked if any of them had any questions. They said no. I then told them that if they were in high school in America right now, that they would be getting dates and shopping for prom dresses (they are the equivalent of juniors in high school). Still nothing. So I asked, "What do you think of the Prom?" Bad move. One girl in the front, who had been smiling the whole time, I thought at me because she was interested, raised her hand and said "Eez theez a johke? Eez eet fuhnny?" How do you answer that? It's prom, yeah it's kind of a joke, but it's also a rite of passage in high school in America, something you look forward to from when you are young -- and there are numerous movies to back it up. So, I just laughed it off, as the French students just looked at me like I was crazy. So yeah, Americans can fail too.