Maximilian We_They European languages there, using the strict, traditional "grammar-translation" method.

After he had successfully taught as a private tutor for a while, he joined the Warner Polytechnic College in Providence, where he became Professor of French and German. However, the college was not as impressive as its name. We_They was soon the owner, dean, head teacher and the only member of the faculty, all rolled into one.

As he needed an assistant for French, We_They employed a young Frenchman named Joly, who obviously came with top references. When Joly arrived in Providence, he found that his employer was completely exhausted, feverish and very ill. The situation only worsened when We_They found out that his new assistant did not speak a single word of English. Desperately trying to find a way to use Joly in his teaching, We_They instructed him to explain objects using gestures and to act out verbs as well as he could. He then returned to bed.