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ImageSMART TALK

by Dr. Verbos Metikulos




ANNIVERSARY: Here at the Center for English as a First Language, we were wondering whether to blame the schools. It seems everyone else does. But no; we checked. Here in Underbelly, Texas, both Smith Elementary and Wesson High teach that an anniversary happens once a year.

In fact, both Willy Passer and Shirley Markem Lowe, English teachers at Wesson - Go Oilers! - actually penalize students who proclaim breathlessly that "This is our six-week anniversary!" For that, the offender(s) must wear a pin that says, I JUST LEARNED WHAT INANE MEANS! until the end of the school day.

We at the Center for English as a First Language supply the pins. Our way of giving back.

These teachers also have pointed out that anniversary, annual, perennial, and many other words are built from the Latin word for year. That's exactly how they say it until at least grade 11. They tried writing the Latin root annus on the board during this lesson, but you can imagine the younger kids' reaction.

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