But I love my little student named Sam. Sam is HILARIOUS! He is like the poster child for hyperactivity. I bet his parents are glad that I am here because I wear him out before he gets home. He's kind of like a puppy.
Last week, I wrote a little note on his paper (I write notes in bahasa so they can't understand). He asked me what it meant and I wouldn't tell him. At the end of class he kept on asking and asking and I wouldn't tell him. All of a sudden he unleashed a huge scream and ran out of the room and pouted in the hallway. Luckily, by the time we were to go home, he had forgotten about it and pranced with us all the way home.
Today in class I had the kids re-enact a scene with a thief, 2 witnesses and a police person. Sam really wanted to be the thief, but another boy in his group wound up getting it. So, Sam screams. Next, they present their version of the scene. The thief is fingered by the witnesses with a "Oh my god! Thief! Thief! Thief! Help! Police!" Sam (the policeman) came in saying "don't worry, I'll take care of him". So, Sam pulls down the thief's pants down and tackles him to the floor. Oh, Sam!
Also, we were thinking of different things people could do. Singing, eating, blah, blah, blah. Sam raised his hand, nicely and exclaimed, "Dancing, teacher Molly! Dancing! You know..." then proceeded to do a little strange hula dance while singing.
Okay, so now the walk home. I walk home with the same group of boys every Tuesday at the lunch break. It takes about 15 minutes from school to my apartment. In that time Sam managed to pants 9 kids. Run up and down the block 3 times. Run, skip and dance around me and two other boys about 26 times. He decided that he wanted to look in my bag and carry it for me. He tugged on my sleeve and said, "teacher, wo yao kan kan" (teacher, I want to have a look). So I let him have my bag. He puts the straps over his head and uses it like a feed bag for a horse. He trots around us making noises. Then he has us all stop so he can sing a little song and do a little wiggle dance. Then for the rest of the way he was jumping up and down saying, "Teacher! Teacher! He is a Horse Tiger! Horse Tiger! Horse Tiger!" Then he would circle around me skipping and running while singing "horse tiger, horse tiger!" My, oh my.
What will I do in Beijing without all of this entertainment?
Also, congratulations to the fabulous Sarah Goldfarb back from Europe with more than just vacation photos (nice rock, girl!) Best wishes and I want details!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Random
I haven't felt like posting much lately (or really doing much of anything) so here are some random things that I have for you from over the past couple of weeks. I have a pile of papers about a foot high that I need to enter, but haven't. Procrastination! Whoo-hoo!
The Senior 1 students were planting trees today, so Matt got the day off.
Drama club is going well, we went over Act 2 last session - the kissin' scene. It went over about as expected - lots of giggling. So, for now, it is a very heartfelt handshake. We'll have to work on that.
The expression that is popular right now is, "Oh my God!" My students have been trying to include it in every dialogue I have been having them practice. The winking has subsided - which makes me happy as it was, well, creepy.
Last week, I found myself breaking up fights - 3 fights in 1.5 hours. Two within 5 minutes. It is better if I do it as I don't really punish like the other do. Oh, if you can think of good English songs with pretty easy vocab, please post suggestions! I'm looking for everything from "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" to Pavoratti. So, please, suggest away!
I like to walk home with a little group of boys. Last week, they told me that they are afraid of their head teacher because he "boxes" them. Today, a bunch of them had to line up in front of his office to get palms slapped. At least it wasn't on the face this time. But I saw something more disturbing than the first kid hitting incident I wrote about a little while ago.
I saw one of my kids running out of an office, crying. A little later, the head teacher came running out after the kid. He went into the classroom during the eye exercises and started to hit him. Hard. It wasn't discipline. It was beating a child. It wasn't punishment. It was rage. I saw him hit the kid with a closed fist at least once. I couldn't see it all - I was trying to see what was going on through a little window on the door. But it went on for several minutes. It was rage. Full wind-up and contact. I told Matt about it to just to hash it out. A little later in the afternoon, Matt was having a conversation with our waiban and she brought up the subject of teachers hitting kids here. Coincidence? I think not. Yup, we're bugged.
Anyhow, I don't know what to do. I honestly did not think that I would find myself in this position here. I thought that there would be some cultural differences when it comes to classroom management, maybe some knuckle wrapping. But I really did not expect to be in this sort of moral battleground. Shit. I really don't know what to do. What is my place here?
The Senior 1 students were planting trees today, so Matt got the day off.
Drama club is going well, we went over Act 2 last session - the kissin' scene. It went over about as expected - lots of giggling. So, for now, it is a very heartfelt handshake. We'll have to work on that.
The expression that is popular right now is, "Oh my God!" My students have been trying to include it in every dialogue I have been having them practice. The winking has subsided - which makes me happy as it was, well, creepy.
Last week, I found myself breaking up fights - 3 fights in 1.5 hours. Two within 5 minutes. It is better if I do it as I don't really punish like the other do. Oh, if you can think of good English songs with pretty easy vocab, please post suggestions! I'm looking for everything from "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" to Pavoratti. So, please, suggest away!
I like to walk home with a little group of boys. Last week, they told me that they are afraid of their head teacher because he "boxes" them. Today, a bunch of them had to line up in front of his office to get palms slapped. At least it wasn't on the face this time. But I saw something more disturbing than the first kid hitting incident I wrote about a little while ago.
I saw one of my kids running out of an office, crying. A little later, the head teacher came running out after the kid. He went into the classroom during the eye exercises and started to hit him. Hard. It wasn't discipline. It was beating a child. It wasn't punishment. It was rage. I saw him hit the kid with a closed fist at least once. I couldn't see it all - I was trying to see what was going on through a little window on the door. But it went on for several minutes. It was rage. Full wind-up and contact. I told Matt about it to just to hash it out. A little later in the afternoon, Matt was having a conversation with our waiban and she brought up the subject of teachers hitting kids here. Coincidence? I think not. Yup, we're bugged.
Anyhow, I don't know what to do. I honestly did not think that I would find myself in this position here. I thought that there would be some cultural differences when it comes to classroom management, maybe some knuckle wrapping. But I really did not expect to be in this sort of moral battleground. Shit. I really don't know what to do. What is my place here?
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Yinchuan Part 3
Hello -
I don't have too much to say right now. Last Friday we went to the big city again. We needed to find a couple of DVDs that we can't get here in Guyuan. Luckily, we were successful in our pursuit.
The trip up was a little nicer this time - they have just finished the interstate, so all smooth sailing up to the provincial cap.
Pretty uneventful this time. Matt didn't get a haircut or anything. Hey, what do you expect? Can't expect a party every where we go. This may be our last trip to Yinchuan. It is a nice city to escape to every now and then. We did a little shopping for some special stone only really available there - from the Helen Shan range. Had some fun in one of the local stores. The man who owned the shop said that Americans were not good (was laughing when he said it), but then said that Koreans were very, very good. I guess we came out even in the end with him. At least my Korean status probably helped us in not getting ripped off too badly. Most of the business was conducted through his wife. For whatever reason, I feel that I am fleeced less by the women - they don't bullshit as much as the guys do.
We also went to Napoli's for a Chinese version of pizza - the closest thing we can get in the province. It is pretty good but the crust tastes kinda sweet and there is no sauce. At least there is a lot of cheese. It is also a buffet which is nice. Really good pasta salad (Chinese, but good). We met some other foreigners there. It was strange to see so many white people all in one place! Matt and I find ourselves staring at the white folk, just as much as the Chinese stare at him! When we catch ourselves doing it we always start to laugh. I must admit, it is kind of fun to look at the whiteys. I always want to point at them all yell, "foreigner!" Anyhow, so we wound up talking to a younger couple teaching at the Liupan Middle School. She is from the Milwaukee area and he is originally from around Memphis (I think) but they both went to school in Minnesota. They were nice - it is always fun to practice our English with foreigners as it is deteriorating, quickly). Later we found out that the Liupan school is the arch rival of our middle school. The other school gets a lot of its students from Guyuan. It is also a special school and new. I guess they are allowed to recruit students from the other middle schools. So what they do is go to Guyuan at before the academic year and telephone all of the top students and offer them special incentives to go to there school. Because the school that I work for doesn't have the same arrangement, they cannot do this kind of recruitment. So, Liupan steals a lot of the best students.
Anyhow, it is strange, I am losing my English to a certain extent, but I can't really communicate in Chinese at all. Kind of stuck between communication worlds. Kinda sucks. Right now I am at the point where I find myself forming sentences in my head, using about 3 different languages - when I can't find the word in one lang. I just use a different one. Poor confused kids.
What else is gong on... Oh, there is an English competition coming up and many of my students are competing. I have been trying to help them where I can, but I refuse to do the work for them. Pronunciation help, yes. Writing an essay, no. Matt mentioned that the board of education may invite us to be guest judges. I wouldn't mind going to cheer on my students, but I don't feel right about judging. The other middle schools do not have foreign teachers and have not had any help with the preparation for the contest. But, things like fairness and such don't always have a real bearing on how things are conducted here.
Anyhow, I think the contest in on the 1st or April - I'll let you know what happens. I guess that is all for now. Ta-ta!
I don't have too much to say right now. Last Friday we went to the big city again. We needed to find a couple of DVDs that we can't get here in Guyuan. Luckily, we were successful in our pursuit.
The trip up was a little nicer this time - they have just finished the interstate, so all smooth sailing up to the provincial cap.
Pretty uneventful this time. Matt didn't get a haircut or anything. Hey, what do you expect? Can't expect a party every where we go. This may be our last trip to Yinchuan. It is a nice city to escape to every now and then. We did a little shopping for some special stone only really available there - from the Helen Shan range. Had some fun in one of the local stores. The man who owned the shop said that Americans were not good (was laughing when he said it), but then said that Koreans were very, very good. I guess we came out even in the end with him. At least my Korean status probably helped us in not getting ripped off too badly. Most of the business was conducted through his wife. For whatever reason, I feel that I am fleeced less by the women - they don't bullshit as much as the guys do.
We also went to Napoli's for a Chinese version of pizza - the closest thing we can get in the province. It is pretty good but the crust tastes kinda sweet and there is no sauce. At least there is a lot of cheese. It is also a buffet which is nice. Really good pasta salad (Chinese, but good). We met some other foreigners there. It was strange to see so many white people all in one place! Matt and I find ourselves staring at the white folk, just as much as the Chinese stare at him! When we catch ourselves doing it we always start to laugh. I must admit, it is kind of fun to look at the whiteys. I always want to point at them all yell, "foreigner!" Anyhow, so we wound up talking to a younger couple teaching at the Liupan Middle School. She is from the Milwaukee area and he is originally from around Memphis (I think) but they both went to school in Minnesota. They were nice - it is always fun to practice our English with foreigners as it is deteriorating, quickly). Later we found out that the Liupan school is the arch rival of our middle school. The other school gets a lot of its students from Guyuan. It is also a special school and new. I guess they are allowed to recruit students from the other middle schools. So what they do is go to Guyuan at before the academic year and telephone all of the top students and offer them special incentives to go to there school. Because the school that I work for doesn't have the same arrangement, they cannot do this kind of recruitment. So, Liupan steals a lot of the best students.
Anyhow, it is strange, I am losing my English to a certain extent, but I can't really communicate in Chinese at all. Kind of stuck between communication worlds. Kinda sucks. Right now I am at the point where I find myself forming sentences in my head, using about 3 different languages - when I can't find the word in one lang. I just use a different one. Poor confused kids.
What else is gong on... Oh, there is an English competition coming up and many of my students are competing. I have been trying to help them where I can, but I refuse to do the work for them. Pronunciation help, yes. Writing an essay, no. Matt mentioned that the board of education may invite us to be guest judges. I wouldn't mind going to cheer on my students, but I don't feel right about judging. The other middle schools do not have foreign teachers and have not had any help with the preparation for the contest. But, things like fairness and such don't always have a real bearing on how things are conducted here.
Anyhow, I think the contest in on the 1st or April - I'll let you know what happens. I guess that is all for now. Ta-ta!
Friday, March 17, 2006
Uhhh...Anatomically Correct, Ahem, Ahem...
Hello - just a quick post before we head to Yinchuan (Matt’s students have exams and I don’t have a Friday class this week). So, hopefully we will be able to find a Romeo and Juliet DVD for our drama class. If I can’t, I might be asking one of you loyal readers to send me a copy.
So, teaching this week was interesting. In my Junior 1 classes, we were working on a lesson on animals. But, of course, nothing is easy or without its snaffoos. The kids had fun making up an animal and all that. But the difficulty that I ran into was in every class, without fail, was that each class asked me about a particular picture. A nice elephant family, mother, baby and father. The father was the one in the front of the picture, you how I know? Guess. Yup. As clear as day. None of my kids shied away from the opportunity to ask, “Teacher Molly, what is THAT in English?”
After a couple of classes went by I began to recognize the warning signs of when the dreaded anatomical question was going to be raised. First, a group of kids would start to giggle during conversation practice time, then the groups around the initial gigglers would start. Then, students would start elbowing each other until, the bravest student, usually a boy, would raise his hand and call me over, point to the picture and ask (after much more giggling). In all cases I just smiled and told them to ask their other English teacher. Which I doubt they would do.
I think that man parts and woman parts were very much on the minds of my kids this week. Many of the animal pictures had um...additions. Also, my Junior 2 classes made some interesting women robots last week. I guess spring is in the air?
Okay, enough of that. The wind is really starting to pick up. So kites have been going up. It is kinda fun watching the kids with their kites. I have been trying to spend a little more free time with them. They can be pretty cool.
What else...this week I observed a new game. It involves a group of boys, one will try to pull down another’s pants while the rest of the boys try to punch him in the nuts. This happened in the middle of one of the presentations in class. A boy was up presenting his dialogue to the class, suddenly, no pants. Then he was on the floor, groaning. Man oh man! I had to break up a couple of fights in the hall (better if I do it, I won’t hit them for it).
I got a nice ego boost this week (I think...the Chinese confuse me sometimes). I had some extra time on my hands, so I curled my hair and decided to wear my contacts. First, my kids were concerned that I lost or broke my glasses, after I told them about the contacts they were relieved. They all really liked the curls and played with them (sprong! Sprong! Sprong!) The teachers told me that I was much, much, much more beautiful than before (thanks, I think). And my students oohed and aahed whenever I walked into class. My girls would run up to me and say, “Miss Molly, you look so beautiful!” The boys would whisper something similar and run away or yell it down the hall and run away.
Yesterday, my SFS got an A+ for participation in class, so I was proud of him. I also got some good video of some of my kids playing in the hallway. After my Junior 2 Class 1 class (my favorite class) we usually walk home together (last class of the day). My SFS yelled down the stair well, “Miss Molly, I think you are very, very, very beautiful today!” Then he blushed and ran down the stairs to walk out with me. Then he said to me that he was very sorry and he forgot that it was my week to teach his class (I alternate weeks with another teacher) and that he took his bike to school. I said that I would wait for him to get his bike, he insisted that I go and he would try to catch up. Then he promised that next time we would walk home together. Cute.
Anyhow, off to Yinchuan! Talk to you all next week!
So, teaching this week was interesting. In my Junior 1 classes, we were working on a lesson on animals. But, of course, nothing is easy or without its snaffoos. The kids had fun making up an animal and all that. But the difficulty that I ran into was in every class, without fail, was that each class asked me about a particular picture. A nice elephant family, mother, baby and father. The father was the one in the front of the picture, you how I know? Guess. Yup. As clear as day. None of my kids shied away from the opportunity to ask, “Teacher Molly, what is THAT in English?”
After a couple of classes went by I began to recognize the warning signs of when the dreaded anatomical question was going to be raised. First, a group of kids would start to giggle during conversation practice time, then the groups around the initial gigglers would start. Then, students would start elbowing each other until, the bravest student, usually a boy, would raise his hand and call me over, point to the picture and ask (after much more giggling). In all cases I just smiled and told them to ask their other English teacher. Which I doubt they would do.
I think that man parts and woman parts were very much on the minds of my kids this week. Many of the animal pictures had um...additions. Also, my Junior 2 classes made some interesting women robots last week. I guess spring is in the air?
Okay, enough of that. The wind is really starting to pick up. So kites have been going up. It is kinda fun watching the kids with their kites. I have been trying to spend a little more free time with them. They can be pretty cool.
What else...this week I observed a new game. It involves a group of boys, one will try to pull down another’s pants while the rest of the boys try to punch him in the nuts. This happened in the middle of one of the presentations in class. A boy was up presenting his dialogue to the class, suddenly, no pants. Then he was on the floor, groaning. Man oh man! I had to break up a couple of fights in the hall (better if I do it, I won’t hit them for it).
I got a nice ego boost this week (I think...the Chinese confuse me sometimes). I had some extra time on my hands, so I curled my hair and decided to wear my contacts. First, my kids were concerned that I lost or broke my glasses, after I told them about the contacts they were relieved. They all really liked the curls and played with them (sprong! Sprong! Sprong!) The teachers told me that I was much, much, much more beautiful than before (thanks, I think). And my students oohed and aahed whenever I walked into class. My girls would run up to me and say, “Miss Molly, you look so beautiful!” The boys would whisper something similar and run away or yell it down the hall and run away.
Yesterday, my SFS got an A+ for participation in class, so I was proud of him. I also got some good video of some of my kids playing in the hallway. After my Junior 2 Class 1 class (my favorite class) we usually walk home together (last class of the day). My SFS yelled down the stair well, “Miss Molly, I think you are very, very, very beautiful today!” Then he blushed and ran down the stairs to walk out with me. Then he said to me that he was very sorry and he forgot that it was my week to teach his class (I alternate weeks with another teacher) and that he took his bike to school. I said that I would wait for him to get his bike, he insisted that I go and he would try to catch up. Then he promised that next time we would walk home together. Cute.
Anyhow, off to Yinchuan! Talk to you all next week!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Women's Day, Shwemmin's Day
Whew!
The cheapskates at the school made my life a whole lot easier on Women's Day! They didn't want to shell out this year for a banquet for the women teachers. All of the teachers were very disappointed, all but me! Instead, I got a pen and flowers from the junior school and a cup from the senior school.
Some of my kids made me some sweet drawings, I tried to fly a kite with some of my kids (the activity crashed and burned, like the kite - power lines, yikes!) I also watched some of my other students play soccer. All in all it was a pretty laid back day! It was nice not to have to worry about another 3+ hour banquet. It is pretty hard to psych up for those - it might not have been so bad with just women (the likelihood of drinking games is pretty nil).
So, I still haven't quite figured out the whole winking thing and it seems to be spreading to some of my other classes. Cute but creepy! Last week, one of the other English teachers invited me to one of her English classes (my favorite Junior 2 Class). They had prepared little singing performances for Women's Day and were hoping that I would be able to come and watch. It was so sweet! All of the boys prepared a song for the teacher (and me!) None of the girls were really forced to sing like the boys were - I think that only one girl gave a performance. At the end of class, I was pressured to sing. Standing ovation and chanting. Geez. What to do, what to do. I went up to the front of the room and belted a very nervous rendition of "Killing Me Softly". The kids seemed to like it at least. After class, we all walked home together. Gotta love 'em.
Last Thursday Matt and I had our first meeting of our Drama Club. What is having a Drama Club meeting without a little drama ala administration. So, this is something that they had known about for over a week and we were told that a room had been all arranged, nothing to worry about. So, on the day of, there are over 100 kids lined up in the hallway, and whaddoyaknow? the door is locked. We wait, and wait, and wait. Finally our waiban said that they are getting the key to unlock the room. So, we wait, and wait and wait. Finally, we get word that we are moving shop to the library. So, we, Matt and I, 4 English teachers, waiban, and about 150 student make the pilgrimage to the library. We manage to interrupt all of the independent study going on there with our very loud and noticeable presence. Matt and I rip through the play (Romeo and Juliet) and the students are entertained. I hope that they aren't too scared off by the difficult language though. I guess we will see by how many show up this week.
Anyhow, nothing too exciting, but hey! I'm doing nothing - in CHINA! I am trying to play Bingo for dummies in my Junior 1 classes, and well, I don't think that they can handle prizes. We'll see. They just go nuts!
I guess that is all for now, talk to all you keen peeps later!
The cheapskates at the school made my life a whole lot easier on Women's Day! They didn't want to shell out this year for a banquet for the women teachers. All of the teachers were very disappointed, all but me! Instead, I got a pen and flowers from the junior school and a cup from the senior school.
Some of my kids made me some sweet drawings, I tried to fly a kite with some of my kids (the activity crashed and burned, like the kite - power lines, yikes!) I also watched some of my other students play soccer. All in all it was a pretty laid back day! It was nice not to have to worry about another 3+ hour banquet. It is pretty hard to psych up for those - it might not have been so bad with just women (the likelihood of drinking games is pretty nil).
So, I still haven't quite figured out the whole winking thing and it seems to be spreading to some of my other classes. Cute but creepy! Last week, one of the other English teachers invited me to one of her English classes (my favorite Junior 2 Class). They had prepared little singing performances for Women's Day and were hoping that I would be able to come and watch. It was so sweet! All of the boys prepared a song for the teacher (and me!) None of the girls were really forced to sing like the boys were - I think that only one girl gave a performance. At the end of class, I was pressured to sing. Standing ovation and chanting. Geez. What to do, what to do. I went up to the front of the room and belted a very nervous rendition of "Killing Me Softly". The kids seemed to like it at least. After class, we all walked home together. Gotta love 'em.
Last Thursday Matt and I had our first meeting of our Drama Club. What is having a Drama Club meeting without a little drama ala administration. So, this is something that they had known about for over a week and we were told that a room had been all arranged, nothing to worry about. So, on the day of, there are over 100 kids lined up in the hallway, and whaddoyaknow? the door is locked. We wait, and wait, and wait. Finally our waiban said that they are getting the key to unlock the room. So, we wait, and wait and wait. Finally, we get word that we are moving shop to the library. So, we, Matt and I, 4 English teachers, waiban, and about 150 student make the pilgrimage to the library. We manage to interrupt all of the independent study going on there with our very loud and noticeable presence. Matt and I rip through the play (Romeo and Juliet) and the students are entertained. I hope that they aren't too scared off by the difficult language though. I guess we will see by how many show up this week.
Anyhow, nothing too exciting, but hey! I'm doing nothing - in CHINA! I am trying to play Bingo for dummies in my Junior 1 classes, and well, I don't think that they can handle prizes. We'll see. They just go nuts!
I guess that is all for now, talk to all you keen peeps later!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
;-)
Yup, winky face.
Classes good and all that shiznit.
Today I was a little caught off guard by one of my classes. They learned about winking. At first, I didn't know what they were doing. Hands were waiving in the air to a chorus of "Teacher, me! Teacher me!" I called on a student and he or she would stand up and *wink* at me and go on to present their dialogue. It took me a little bit to figure out what they were up to. I was walking up and down the aisles while my little kids were winking at me. Strange. The funniest were the ones who didn't quite have it down yet - they would do the double eye close at me and smile. Funny - they first open their eyes really wide and hard shut their eyes for a couple of seconds. Then, open and smile.
Anyhow, tomorrow is Women's Day here in China. I was warned that there might be some "activities" I may be required to go to. I'm sure that it will inspire a post tomorrow. Feeling a long day coming on...wish me luck... and strength!
Classes good and all that shiznit.
Today I was a little caught off guard by one of my classes. They learned about winking. At first, I didn't know what they were doing. Hands were waiving in the air to a chorus of "Teacher, me! Teacher me!" I called on a student and he or she would stand up and *wink* at me and go on to present their dialogue. It took me a little bit to figure out what they were up to. I was walking up and down the aisles while my little kids were winking at me. Strange. The funniest were the ones who didn't quite have it down yet - they would do the double eye close at me and smile. Funny - they first open their eyes really wide and hard shut their eyes for a couple of seconds. Then, open and smile.
Anyhow, tomorrow is Women's Day here in China. I was warned that there might be some "activities" I may be required to go to. I'm sure that it will inspire a post tomorrow. Feeling a long day coming on...wish me luck... and strength!
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