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Post by schlager7 on Dec 10, 2010 8:27:59 GMT -6
The first time I found myself teaching an introductory fencing course, I realized how diverse my own past instuctors had been. I found myself slipping back and forth between French and English terms for the same positions and actions. This caused some confusion and I try to be more consistent.
For many students, using English numbers for the guards seems to shorten the learn-time. Other terms (fleche, croise) don't seem to make any more sense if I deliberately translated them and seem less problematic... that and they represent concepts I only learned in French and so have a harder time catching myself.
I was just curious what others use when they are trying to explain actions, whether you are a coach or just someone helping a clubmate out with a concept or action.
For Italian terms (ballestra, passatta soto, in quartata), if you use those answer as if they were French. The foreign vs. English arguement would be the same.
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Post by Aldo N on Dec 10, 2010 8:48:54 GMT -6
My early coaches all used the French/Italian terms so that is what is natural for me. Back in my own teaching days I did not find it particularly detrimental. I think not a few of my students rather enjoyed being able to toss around French and Italian terms. Perhaps they thought it sophisticated.
Back in the 1930s Julio Costello wrote a text on fencing in which he made a dedicated point to "translate" all fencing terms into English. Some results were amusing. IIRC he translated "fleche" (French for "arrow") into "flash" some years before the comic book character of the same name.
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Post by seguin on Dec 10, 2010 8:52:21 GMT -6
I don't teach and do not have just a lot of interaction with beginners, unless they are friends or I draw one on strip. I've had a lot of different instructors and some spoke little English. Others spoke little else. I just use English and French terms interchangeably and, if I see confusion on someone's face, I try to use another term or phrase.
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Post by Coach Manny on Dec 10, 2010 9:02:12 GMT -6
I believe we should train our students with the french calls. French is the international language and if students have a chance to go abroad to compete it would be easier for them. In Cuba, every year we have International World Cup and the calls are made in French. I teach all footwork and blade work in my class in French.
My kids enjoy it. Actions such as coupe, froissement, reprise etc. The Magnum Libre d'Escrime by Dr. Rudy Volkann is an excellent source book. My coach Ziggy Kaktins, from Latvia thought us in french. Hai Le, one of our coaches, multiples times Vietnamese Champion learned fencing in french.
Hope this helps Coach Manny Fort Bend Fencing Academy
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Post by brynwulfr1 on Dec 10, 2010 10:33:34 GMT -6
If one is teaching on the subject of quantum mechanics, then the language and symbols related to quantum mechanics must by necessity be employed.
In didactic fencing, the instructor is influenced by their maestro di scherma, the style or school of fencing, and the attendant terminology. As I instruct in classical Italian fencing, I employ both Italian and French terms. Naturally, my students understand that in a bout the director will be using French.
Additionally, I adhere to the concept that learning foreign terms is part of the broadening of one's education and provides insights not otherwise encountered or acquired.
Bryn Ralph, Fencing Instructor Tyler Junior College, Continuing Education Division
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Post by brynwulfr1 on Dec 10, 2010 10:35:57 GMT -6
Merry Christmas! and may God bless us each and everyone.
Bryn Ralph
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Post by bermudablades on Jan 2, 2011 20:05:28 GMT -6
I don't see how you separate the two in todays world. It must be what it is.
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Post by phillipmj on Jan 8, 2011 23:11:06 GMT -6
This is 'Mercah. And in 'Mercah, we speak English!!! We don't speak no dandified French or EEE-talion!
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Post by Dan Gorman on Jan 9, 2011 16:02:09 GMT -6
I teach in English because it's the only language I speak and also the only language most my students speak. I don't see how saying the same number in a different language is going to help my student do a better parry 4. It just strikes me as elitist. For a specific action like a fleche, that's an English word to me in the same sense as many others we've appropriated in this language.
Mind you, I'm not opposed to others doing it, it's just not for me.
Dan
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Post by grace on Jan 22, 2011 21:47:59 GMT -6
I only speak in English, yet I use lots of French terms when teaching fencing. I got this list a number of years ago when I attended a coaches' training at Palo Alto with USFCA. I had to study that list for the written exam to recieve my Moniteur.
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