Well, what do you know????

I'm back... with the end of the story... finally.

So, we started to discuss "naughty" words (using euphemisms, of course)...and they pretended to be "shocked" that I knew those words, and I, in return, pretended to be shocked that they knew those words. At last, one female student asked me if the "B" word was one of those "naughty" words. I replied that it depended on the context. If someone were calling someone else a "B" then, indeed, it an was inappropriate metaphor. However, if I were talking to someone whose profession was raising dogs then the word Bitch was appropriate and correct. Immediately, the classroom went silent with shock (He said, "BITCH").
Then, they rebounded and shouted their incredulity that I would ever consider such a
word "correct."

One girl asked, "Mr. Zolotoi, what would you say if I said 'That bitch peed on my floor?' "

"Well...," I answered, "...depending upon the context... I would tell you either your dog needs more training,...or ... you need better behaved friends!" ...and we all laughed.

As we were laughing, I happened to look up on the board and I saw the Fun With Words phrase on the board and suddenly I realized that, yes, indeed, we were having fun FUN WITH WORDS!

I simulated shock, and said "Oh, my goodness!"

"What? What?" they all wanted to know.

So I shared my revelation that today really was FWW - day and that's what we were doing... having Fun With Words. There was an immediate sharp intake of breath as students do when they learn a "truth" and then, just as quickly, there was the loud clamor as students do when they feel they have been "tricked" into learning.

But I hadn't tricked them, ...couldn't have... I hadn't even planned the course of events ...but I and the class both learned something.

They learned that language can be enjoyable.

I learned that sometimes the "Teachable moment" works both ways.