Three Presentations In One Week

This is the first of a three-part entry. Simply because I am writing two final papers and studying for three final exams, I can't spend as much time on this update as it needs to be, so I present to you “Part One.”

Last week I had three presentations to deliver for classes, each in a different language; Spanish, German and of course English. The first presentation I gave was in German for my German class. My presentation was about music and the different genres like I liked. I didn't think I did very well since I was constantly stumbling over my words and didn't have a real flow to things. I thought I had made a C, but later learned that I had made a low A.

The next presentation I gave was for my German film class (in English.) This presentation was a group presentation over the formal aspects of a given scene from one of the German movies we had seen that semester in the class. I was a little worried about this presentation since the professor is a tough grader and I hadn't made anything over a 89% on any of the tests or quizzes. My group (of three other people plus one more who never showed up to anything,) was randomly given the movie, “The Marriage of Maria Braun” directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. At first I was bummed about getting a “Fassbinder movie” because I really didn't like his plots and style, but as I started looking at the more formal aspects of the film, I at least developed a respect for his “mis-en-scene” or all the detailed aspects of the film that really add to the story.

I did my part in the group commenting on the lighting and composition of the scenes where Maria visits her husband in jail several times. I was pointing out how each time, the guard becomes more and more prominent in the scenes as far as his physical position in relation to the protagonists. I also pointed out many aspects of how Fassbinder used lighting and shadows to convey “hidden” meanings. Anyways, after our presentation was over, the professor initiated an applause by knocking with one fist on his desk (which was the first group he had done that for.) Then he said “Excellent presentation,” and then proceeded to probe us with a few questions about some of the things we had brought up (also the first group he had done that for.) After he questioned us, he again complemented us on our presentation. Once everyone else had presented and students were filing out of the room, he again said to us, “That was a wonderful presentation, guys.”

The next day I got an email from the TA of the course with the following text:

Dear Maria Braun group,
Fantastic job on your presenation. Prof. Rogers and I unanimously decided you deserve a 100% on it! That was exactly what we were looking for and it was definitely the best presentation. So thank you for putting forth so much effort to present lots of new and interesting information.

Isn't that sweet!? I was so excited that I forwarded the email to many of my family and friends.

The third and last presentation that I gave was for my Spanish class which I had no problems standing up in front of the class and talking in Spanish since that was what I did in Guatemala for hours at a time for seven straight months. So, of course I made a high A. :)

“Part Two” of the three-part entry will be about the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Since I need some pictures to help tell my story, I will have to wait until after Tuesday (when I will have only one final left,) to spend some time editing the pics.

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