At the beginning (start) of the new school year I was appointed at T and the first question I asked (put to) myself was whether I was to give (I would be giving) a philosophy class (course) which invariably (inevitably, inescapably) begins with a lesson entitled (called) what is philosophy.
That is how my predecessor began (started, kicked off) last year. This year he is working (employed) in a dairy in Normandy.
Hardly (No sooner) had he asked (raised) the question and set about replying (undertaken a reply) (ventured an answer) when (than) his pupils (students) obviously (visibly) lost interest and started chatting among themselves and opening their biology (natural science) or history notebooks (exercise books). They had understood they told me that he wasn't on the same wavelength as them. (that he was not speaking the same language as them).