Communication Techniques (Years 3-5)

[viola]

In all of her years of teaching previously, Annemarie had never felt as....nervous?....as she was feeling at that very moment. The clock ticked as her young students would be soon to arriving, and the woman's dark angelic, but holy nature about her was as frantic as she was. She hoped her nerves would only serve her well that day with the class and getting to know everyone as she was hoping wouldn't be to hard to do. There would be only a few students compared to her classes at St. Cathrine's, though still she wasn't fully aware of why she felt so uneasy.

"Dearest Father, please give me strength..." she muttered to herself, closing her eyes just briefly and reopening them again and smiling. Her demonstration was all set up with multiple items on a table set out in order to discuss how muggles communicated with each other. And to compare, such wizard/witching items were also pla[ced out on a table to be viewed from the desks.

Annemarie had set up the classroom accordingly, seeing that there be only two rows so no one would be hiding in the back to far away from where they couldn't see or could not be seen by her. She didn't need anyone sinking away under their desks or falling asleep in class. No, that certainly wouldn't do. And just in case, one single desk was placed up front next to the table of items. That desk would be for the person who was late...that was, if anyone dared to be.

She sighed and looked over at the items on the table. A phone, laptop computer, and other such items the students may or may not recognize depending on how close to the muggle world they were. There were even stamps on the table for sending letters through snail mail. The items they were probably familiar with were that of floo power, an owl who 'hooed' a bit but didn't make any sudden movements. It looked at Annemarie with wonder on it's face about why it was standing on the table, but made no motions to leave the spot. Annemarie figured that it must have been comfortable.

However, the items would come much later in the discussion that Annemarie planned on having with the children. Also on the table in front of the classroom, was a podium, which she planned to stand behind, the chalk board conveniently behind that. A nice set up, if she didn't say so herself.

Pacing in front of the chalkboard, there was only one more thing that Annemarie realized she forgot to do. Picking up a piece of chalk, for she was used to doing things the muggle way and found enjoyment out of doing it, she wrote on the board in magnificent cursive......

Professor Van Aller, Welcome to Muggle Studies.

Looking at the simplicity of what she wrote, Annemarie found herself satisfied and sighed. Even though it was in the middle of the year, and the students had already had the Muggle Studies classes so far, she was out to make it a better course. A more interesting and tolerant course about how all humans were the same, magical or not. That was her goal, and she hoped to enlighten many in that sense. Footsteps could be heard behind her....it was time for the next chapter of her story to begin.

[Now Open to all Students, and Welcome to Muggle Studies!]

[Felicity Hjort]

It was the only time of the day during classes she wouldn't see the crazy Ravenclaw girl, the only class she had without her. How Celina had shied away from her the first few days of classes, and how Felicity had only persisted in getting the girl to notice her, it was sudden turn of events. Now, Felicity only wanted to hide from the girl. In all reality, she couldn't blame her, being faced with Shaw and being told to give up information, but Felicity still didn't feel she could look at the girl again, not soon anyway.

The relief of having an easy class without the dark haired girl was overwhelming. There were no stresses, or so she hoped. Class would be easy, it was a muggle studies class after all, and she grew up a muggle with just a bit of magic. How hard could the class really get?

Entering the class, she was surprised to see a woman and not Norbrook. Felicity hadn't even noticed the man was gone, but all she could think at that was good riddance. He was someone she didn't care much for after the forest incident. True, it was their own fault, but she didn't like him all the same.

Slipping into a seat up front, Felicity gave a very weakened smile to the professor. It was about all she felt able to manage after what happened.

[jacquelynchaput]

Jax entered into the Muggle Studies classroom obviously after Felicity Hjort and didn't know what to think. Instead of the git Norbrook, stood a very beautiful, but older woman. She was slender with brown locks that fell from her head, and Jax had to restrain from dropping her mouth in awe. And there was something else about her that was funny, or rather fishy, but Jax couldn't put her finger on it. There was just something there. She walked in the room, almost tripping over her own feet and blushing when she looked up to see if anyone had seen her silliness. What had gotten into her?

Looking over to where Felicity had sat, Jax too went to the front of the room and sat down right next to Felicity. "How ya doing?" she nudged the older Gryffindor, hoping that that wasn't stepping over any lines that Jax knew the girl had probably set up after what had happened. Jax's blood started to boil when she thought about it, and Celina. How could she....? Why was that Raven so stupid! She tried not to think anything more of it, and looked away from her friend to the front of the class.

The man items on the table she saw were easy enough to recognize and Jax almost wondered where....Professor Van Aller? That was a strange name. Where was she from? Jax had about a million questions just for the woman herself, but she kept quiet not wanting to sound nosey. Then looking up to the Professor to where her face was, she blushed and shied away again. Jax had determined that they needed younger looking....female....professors. It made class more enjoyable....


....and class hadn't even started yet.

[Felicity Hjort]

It was that question. Again. How was she doing? She just went through a bout of loss of possessions that were precious and dear, she went through the horridness of losing someone very special, and what happened afterwards. How would anyone be doing? It wasn't like she was different from others, everyone would be doing how she was, she was sure of it. People had watched it happen. People had witnessed it happening. People had endured seeing what happened to her. People had heard her lose her friendship. And for what?

Felicity wasn't sure what to think. Why did Celina give her up? She was torn, wanting to no longer like the girl, but still unable to dislike her. And as many rumours that were flying, she couldn't stop it, couldn't make anyone stop talking, make anyone know the truth. Felicity had seen it, her friend had broke, but for the better. If that man had done to Celina what he had done to her, she would've never forgiven herself. Felicity didn't blame her, not for keeping the hurt from herself, but she couldn't forgive her either. How did they even find out?

Jax was like Jax. Nudging at her, getting her attention. It was something she was good at, and the young Eagle provided for good company now and again.

"To be truthful, I don't know," was Felicity's answer, softly spoken.

[viola]

A small class, yet a better learning environment for those involved. Annemarie looked at the two girls in front of her and smiled warmly, almost feeling as if these two were the brightest she would have all day, though she’d never say such things out loud. Maybe she could sense some muggle within them, though that’d be impossible (wouldn’t it?). “Ah, I suppose we’re all that are going to attend today’s lecture,” Annemarie started.

As she stood in the front of the class, a proud stance, she lifted her arms towards the board behind her. “Welcome class, I’ll be your new Muggle Studies Professor. Professor Van Aller, and today we’ll be learning about the different ways in which Muggles communicate.” Annemarie took out her lesson book, and opened it on the podium. Within the book, her role call sheet. “Now before we begin, I am going to call out your name. When I do, please say that you are here and raise your hand to signify that you are here.”

Annemarie then closed the attendance book when she had finished calling out names, and looked at the table where she had placed the various communication tools that muggles used, while the owl hoo-ed from beside her. Looking back to the class, Annemarie smiled again and leaned forward a bit on her podium. And then, she began.

“Communication is what we do with each other every single day. Human to human, we express how we are feeling through our language, whatever that may be. We express through our body language with non-verbal communication and so on. However, there are specific tools in which we also use our language to convey messages. Can anyone tell me, by using the visuals or without using them, how we convey messages to one another as the magical folk that we are?”

And then, she stopped, and waited. A smile still playing on her lips.

[viola]

Class is over

House Points:

Gryffindor
F. Hjort - +4

Ravenclaw
J. Chapux - +2