Austin TP5

Most recently, I helped my partner Michel work on his writing. We worked on a personal essay, creating a resume', and filling out an application. Michel wants to go and get another masters degree in Los Angeles, California, at Pacific State University. I sometimes forget that Michel has much more schooling than me (he already has his bachelors AND 1 masters degree). But my English is still much better, and I never let him forget it.

First, I helped him translate his current resume' (which was in French) into English, and update it. Apparently, High School in the Ivory Coast and alot of other countries for that matter, ends when you turn 16, not 18 like here in the U.S. So maybe their curriculums are more intensive than ours. Maybe our public school system sucks.

Next, we worked on his application for this university. Apparently, the fact that they ask you your race, income level, marital status, etc. etc. is something you only see in America. Michel says in other countries they don't ask this, presumably because it doesn't matter. Why do we care so much? Is affirmative action strictly an American idea? Does it do more harm than good? Fortunately, I don't have to answer these questions.

Finally, we worked on his personal essay. He began his essay "Dear Sir or Madame", a little formal but  we kept it in there. It sounds like your getting an invitation to a Ball. "Dear Sir or Madame, the Duke and Dutchess of Stankonia request your presence at the charitable ball, in honor of his esteemed royalness blah blah blah." I explained to Michel that "To whom it may concern" would be fine, but he thinks "Sir or Madame" will get their attention. They look at thousands of these, so maybe his would stand out. Okay.

He still has trouble with possessive pronouns. Especially when they should be singluar or plural. "His, theirs, ours, hers", and sometimes changing the nouns unnecessarily. We're gonna work on that some more.