Devan's World by Devan | English, baby! Blogs

Halloween

Devan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:03:17 GMT

Halloween

So Halloween was last weekend and it was so exciting. Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday, purely for the absurdity of it. I love dressing up and i always put a lot of effort into making my costumes. I've even won a few costume contests in the past. Do you guys like to dress up? What's your all time favorite Halloween costume? What did you wear this year? My roommate was a cat and I was a 70's dicso queen...on roller skates! I don't know how to skate at all, but I managed not to hurt myself.

Learning new languages

Devan — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:39:03 GMT

Learning new languages

So yesterday was my first day of school. I am a sophomore in college, and I am taking my second year of French. I can't help but feel like French is a very complicated language! I wonder if I think this because I am biased since English simply comes easier to me since it's my first language, or if French is indeed more difficult. What do you guys think? Do your native languages seem like the easiest, or when you look at them objectively do other languages actually seem easier than your own?

I also was talking to my friend Scott today who is starting his first year as a French teacher in high school. He was telling me about how his lesson plans include songs, art projects, and games to help the students learn French easier. We laughed at the realization that learning a foreign language is kind of like going back to kindergarten again: learning your ABC's, playing games to help with memorization, learning basic spelling, etc. I guess that's one perk to learning new languages: you get to be a kid again!

Back to school

Devan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:37:40 GMT

Back to school

So I have been having an amazing summer, but it's almost time to go back to school. It's funny how even though college is a far different experience than grade school and high school, I still get those same butterflies in my stomach at the start of every school year. The anticipation of not knowing what the school year will bring is always there. I also continue to get the same pleasure from going back to school shopping for clothing and supplies. I only wish my mom was still paying for it!

I'm going to register for classes this week, but I'm not sure what I want to take. What classes are you guys taking in school?

If I really had 200 G's

Devan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:30:14 GMT

If I really had 200 G's

G's stands for Grand, which is slang for a thousand dollars in English. Today we filmed a soap opera episode where I find out I have been left an inheritance from my great Aunt for 200 G's, or $200,000. Pretty exciting.

This makes me wonder what I would do if I was left that much money in real life. Would I be responsible, buy a home or invest it in the stock market? Hmm.... probably not. I don't think I'd go crazy and blow it all either. I'd definitely go on a mini shopping spree, get some new clothes, and make-up, maybe even an expensive haircut, but I'd try to continue to use most the money for my true dream- to travel the world.

What would you do with 200 grand?

no doubt reunited

Devan — Tue, 12 May 2009 02:55:42 GMT

no doubt reunited

Today I did a lesson about No Doubt's reunion. I was obsessed with No Doubt for 10 years. Gwen Stefani was my hero growing up, she inspired me to want to be a female musician, and had a big influence on me bleaching my hair. I'm curious- what bands did you guys idolize growing up? It would be interesting to know what people grew up listening to all around the world. Was there a musician or actor that was your hero when you were young?

I really want to see No Doubt on their reunion tour but tickets are $80! Pretty outrageous.

What Makes a Good Teacher?

Devan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:19:08 GMT

What Makes a Good Teacher?

Today we did a lesson on good and bad teachers, which has really got me thinking, "what makes a good teacher?" everyone seems to have different opinions on this. I have professors at my university that I love, meanwhile I have friends who hate them, and vice versa.

I like to use "Rate My Professor" on Myspace before I sign up for classes so I can see what other students say about the professor. It has different categories to grade the professor, such as grading, lectures, fairness, etc. It's always nice to have an easy professor, but even if they grade tough I'm OK with it as long as they seem passionate about the subject matter. You can tell when a teacher is emotionally invested in their work.

What qualities do you guys look for in a teacher?

I Get to Have Hair Again!

Devan — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:01:17 GMT

I Get to Have Hair Again!

I'm so relieved I get to have hair on the show again! Every time I show up to work at English, baby!, I never know what to expect. I seem to be the favorite character to pick on. First it was, "Devan, you have a drug addiction !" then, "Devan, you love Mason but he doesn't like you ," and finally, "Devan, you have cancer." Why can't anything ever go right for Devan on the show? It was starting to bum me out! But finally, my character is cured , and I am relieved! Maybe this will be the start of a streak of good luck for Devan. Maybe Jason will propose, I'll win the lottery, I'll get to meet my hero Barack Obama (English, baby! cameo?), and I will get my dream job (become a rock star) and can quit my day job waiting tables!

What do you think? Is this a new era of good things for Devan on English, baby!? Or will I continue to be plagued by back luck? Will I get fired? Will a crocodile eat my arm off? I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

Love,
Devan