“Forget about your mistakes!”
“Perfect doesn’t exist!”
“No one cares about your tenses and conditionals!”
That’s what I’m always telling my students.
But, just like a big, boring grammar book, my rules also have exceptions.
So while I tell students, Don’t worry about your mistakes, there is one situation when you should be very worried about your mistakes.
But first…
Apartment Number Three
Another week, another apartment.
I’ve moved back to Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, the city where I got my start as a teacher.
After a short 23 months away from the city, I returned at the end of October to a city of closed shops and no tourists.
But instead of renting an apartment like a normal person, I’ve decided to have a bit of fun. I’m bouncing around the city, renting a new apartment every week or two.
This week I’m in the Old Town, in what used to be known as The Jewish Ghetto.
But it’s hardly a ghetto these days.
Around the year 1900 the entire neighborhood was razed (destroyed).
In its place, they built some of the most beautiful buildings in the city.
But somehow my building survived the demolitions.
While it’s beautiful, it’s also a couple hundred years old.
This is my favorite part…a private garden, hidden from the street, only visible to those who live in the building.
Lovely, right?
The Unforgivable Mistakes
When you’re in a conversation and you make a mistake, a second later the other person has forgotten (if he/she even noticed).
But when does your mistake last longer? For months or years? Just hanging in the air like a bad smell….?
The answer is, when you create a sign.
So while I say, Forget about your mistakes, let me ad, if you’re creating a sign, spend a few extra minutes to make sure it’s correct.
Here’s an example of someone who didn’t do that. This is the sign next to the entrance to the secret garden:
Can you spot the mistakes?
Or rather, “mistakes” (I see five).
If you think you can write a correct sign, hit “reply” and send it to me.