Sedaris

The writer starts the essay by giving us ensight on the situation in which he's writing about.  He gives us details to help us understand how it's hard for him to return to school later in life with peers who are younger and more experienced.
The writer gives percise details to help us imagine the story he is telling.  He is focusing on one event rather than telling us of his entire life's story.
He does a terrific job of describing the peers in his class and even the teacher.  He describes his feeling throughout the class which helps us see the point of the essay.  The detailed accounts of his teacher helps us see how he felt during his time with her.
He quotes the teacher often to help us see what abuse he and his peers put up with during the course of the class.  He also remember a time when his mother talked about the things she loved and uses a good quote to help us visualize his memory of her.
Sedaris does a great job of relating his characters to ones in our lives. 
In showing us how the teacher treated him and his peers, we see why it was so important for him to conquer French.  I am guessing the teacher knew this abuse would weed out the week and cause the stubburn to work harder.  The teacher purposefully taunted him hoping to cause him to work harder in learning the language.
Sedaris concludes by letting the readers know he finally can understand the teacher's words.  Only the first step in fully learning French, but a great step towards his achievement.  He wrote about even being joyed in understanding the putdown.