the story about noodles

the story begins like this:

- okay, kids, how do we greet each other in the afternoon, in english? (in french)

- bonjour?

- yes, you're right, but that's in french?

- hello?

- correct, but in another way? (in french)

- salut?

- that's french? (in french)

- i know i know i know! (in french) a kid was so enthusiastic.

- okay, you!

- euh, what's your name?!

- (faint) c'est a dire comment tu t'appelles, donc, non.

silence...

okay, it's good afternoon, repeat after me.

sounds good when they did it together.

then i checked on each one of them for their pronunciations.

- goood ar-tar-nouille.

- non, c'est good, arf-tar-noooon. c'est pas nouille, nouille, c'est pour manger, mais noon, c'est midi, d'accord?

other kids laughed and mocked him, nouille.

- good afternoon, tom.

- gooo-a-far-nouille, tom.

- no, i just said nouille means noodles, now, slowly, again, good af-tar-noooonnnnn. and you don't say tom to me, i'm not tom. (in french)

- gooo-a-noooouille. (slightly shocked and more confused)

- no, noooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. i did a really long nasalised N and pointed at my nose.

- nooon.

- okay, tres bien, again, good afternoon.

- good afternoon.

phew~

after having checked on all the kids, we did it once again altogether, good afternoon.

seemed they finally got it.

then i taught them something else and went back to ask how to say bonjour during the afternoon.

nobody could answer me, and it was like, what, 2 minutes ago!

- okay, it's good afternoon, repeat after me.

- gut afternouille.

good lord!