NOSTALGIA UK
Ms Gay who wasn't one (1994)
All the foreign students in my course were required to attend a communication skills class—a sort of hybrid between an English lesson and a discussion workshop. If I recall correctly, it was held once per week. Personally, my English was already improving at a steady pace, and I like to think this class helped speed things up a little more. The sessions usually revolved around current topics, articles, or book excerpts, which we would then discuss and share our opinions on. It was all about comprehension and conversation, really.
The class took place in a small group setting in one of the rooms in another department and building. It was led and facilitated by Ms. Gay, whom I later learned was the wife or partner of Mr. Brent Work, our American Systems Analysis & Design lecturer. Judging by the different surnames, I’m guessing it was the latter.
Ms. Gay was a soft-spoken English woman, likely in her late 30s or early 40s at the time. And when I say soft-spoken, I mean really soft—her voice was so gentle and soothing that, honestly, it could put you to sleep. Looking back, her personality and voice were probably not the best fit for a class meant to be lively and discussion-heavy... she just didn’t bring the energy needed to keep the conversation flowing.
But what really made things interesting—and I know I probably shouldn’t laugh about it—was that Ms. Gay had crossed eyes. This sometimes led to hilariously confusing moments when she asked one of us to read or speak. You were never quite sure whether she was looking at you or someone else at the other end of the table!
Those were the days. And while most of us dreaded the class, I’m pretty sure we all gained something valuable from it in the end.
