All my students have a MAJOR English language assessment on Wednesday and Thursday this week, which determines whether they are eligible for a Canadian high school diploma. People are stressing, and I am no sunny vacation sitting over here in my cubicle. I spent every available hour prepping them in the library, I am up until midnight still doing term 3 evaluations, and when my principal sent an email reminding our grade eleven team to relax, I could have cried. Haha!
I confess the last two weeks have been stress-filled, what with midterms last week and ESLA exam this week; which is probably why I have been stress-eating Ichiban noodle soup, and why I have fallen madly in love with the lead singer from The Strokes. I sent a drippy email to Chad this morning complaining about how love sick I am for this sketchy-lookin' dude, and I download music video upon music video just to watch him out of the corner of my eye while I am lesson planning.
Little Michelle in the back of my brain is warning me to implement some healthy choices to relax and unwind so I don't crack; but I'm still a first-year teacher and this really isn't the time of year to practice new career skills. So instead, I blog, I kick co-workers yoga mats around the office, and listen to terrible music (like Timbaland's 'Undertow').
Oh! Before I skip out on this blog, I met Helen's parents on Sunday afternoon and she was a riot as usual! She nearly tackled me when she saw me crossing the courtyard, and was complaining how her parents went inside the cafeteria where all the other students were and she was so embarrassed of them. Later, she introduced me to her mother and I commented how beautiful she was, to which Helen translated and then leaned in and said, "Yes, I think so too, but a little fat I think." Haha! The next day she told me how proud she was to have me meet her parents, and she was sorry for yelling at them in front of me. "That's okay Helen, I don't understand Chinese and it doesn't matter because Chinese people are always yelling at each other. Loudest people in the world."
Gotta go, thanks for listening.
PS. I love and dedicate this blog to my deskmate Jess-she is the best.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
I Heart Nanliguxian and Pie, Always
I watched a live Improv showdown in Beijing last night and soaked up every moment-I think I was the loudest laugher in the whole room! 7 improv teams from around Asia (Tokyo, Korea, Shanghai, Beijing) came together for a weekend Improv showcase and I got to watch the round robin event. I thought it was so awesome because many of the teams were mixed nationalities, the whole thing was in English except for the occasional Chinese phrase thrown in there for giggles, and it was just really cool to see Asian performers jump the second language barrier time and time again in something as high intensity as improv. Outrageous!
The theatre was in this hard-to-get-to-as-a-white-person kind of place, so Jess and I were really lost, but when the show let out we decided to find some good on sticks for dinner, and wandered through the area. The area was called Nanluguxian, and it is hands-down my new favourite spot in Beijing. It's all cute little stores and boutiques, cafes, pubs, and clubs all set inside these teeny tiny Chinese Hutongs (which are very very small traditional Chinese houses with cool looking thatched roofs).The streets are cobbled and sometimes you catch the strong whiff of toilet outrage as you walk along the streets-but the place is rad! I can't wait to go back next weekend! I think I might even go there for my birthday in a few weeks! YeeYee! On another note, May is an fabulous month because next weekend I am going to an international/local music festival that features many great local bands as well as Avril Levigne (!!!), The Editors, Hot Hot Heat (!!!), and Ladytron. Actually, I am excited fro them all. It will be hilarious to see literally millions of Chinese teenagers rocking out to Avril-they abslutely LOVE her over here. They are OBSESSED with her. And in turn, I too have grown to appreciate the tattered and torn acoustic side of fair Avril. Go girl.
And this month of May also brings my 26th birthday, which officially means there are sections of H&M that I can no longer shop in, there are certain neons colours I should not wear unless I am crunk, it means I am a couger (yep-it does), and that my high school reunion is only two short years away. Yay 26. To celebrate, I have planned a day of rollercoasters at the Happy Valley themepark here in the city-it's like a smaller Disneyland and super cheap. Then, we are ordering pies from the pie shop to be delivered to a location and we are eating many kinda of pie for dinner. Pie for everyone. EVERYONE! PIE!
So I love what is to come in May. And I love Beijing Improv. And I need to work on my concluding summary-writing skills because I am setting a very poor example for my students: "To conclude, improv I like and pie very delicious. Go roller-coaster! You too?" Yep. I've got some work to do.
PS. Today I am going to a tailor to have some clothing made!!!
PPS. Tonight I am seeing a great band, The Radio Dept. from Sweden, in a teeny tiny club in Beijing. Stoked. STOKED!
Mich
xox
The theatre was in this hard-to-get-to-as-a-white-person kind of place, so Jess and I were really lost, but when the show let out we decided to find some good on sticks for dinner, and wandered through the area. The area was called Nanluguxian, and it is hands-down my new favourite spot in Beijing. It's all cute little stores and boutiques, cafes, pubs, and clubs all set inside these teeny tiny Chinese Hutongs (which are very very small traditional Chinese houses with cool looking thatched roofs).The streets are cobbled and sometimes you catch the strong whiff of toilet outrage as you walk along the streets-but the place is rad! I can't wait to go back next weekend! I think I might even go there for my birthday in a few weeks! YeeYee! On another note, May is an fabulous month because next weekend I am going to an international/local music festival that features many great local bands as well as Avril Levigne (!!!), The Editors, Hot Hot Heat (!!!), and Ladytron. Actually, I am excited fro them all. It will be hilarious to see literally millions of Chinese teenagers rocking out to Avril-they abslutely LOVE her over here. They are OBSESSED with her. And in turn, I too have grown to appreciate the tattered and torn acoustic side of fair Avril. Go girl.
And this month of May also brings my 26th birthday, which officially means there are sections of H&M that I can no longer shop in, there are certain neons colours I should not wear unless I am crunk, it means I am a couger (yep-it does), and that my high school reunion is only two short years away. Yay 26. To celebrate, I have planned a day of rollercoasters at the Happy Valley themepark here in the city-it's like a smaller Disneyland and super cheap. Then, we are ordering pies from the pie shop to be delivered to a location and we are eating many kinda of pie for dinner. Pie for everyone. EVERYONE! PIE!
So I love what is to come in May. And I love Beijing Improv. And I need to work on my concluding summary-writing skills because I am setting a very poor example for my students: "To conclude, improv I like and pie very delicious. Go roller-coaster! You too?" Yep. I've got some work to do.
PS. Today I am going to a tailor to have some clothing made!!!
PPS. Tonight I am seeing a great band, The Radio Dept. from Sweden, in a teeny tiny club in Beijing. Stoked. STOKED!
Mich
xox
Hey Lady! is Ms. Frizzle for a Day
I hate it when those nagging life/career lessons show up in the classroom and cause me to walk back to my desk with sinking shoulders, biting my lip and feeling like a total sack of crap. A sack of crappy crap. It’s also raining today, and I look awesome—but now I am having a hard time enjoying those two things (just sayin’).
As I mentioned in my post before, it is mid-term week and I am done marking (Hallelujah!), and compiling all the grades for term 3. Most of my student’s marks are considerably lower this term because many bombed the exam (they always go into the exam thinking it’s too easy so we kind of slammed them this time-but in a healthy way…)-well they bombed heinously, made sloppy mistakes and rushed outta there. We also introduced a few new skills this term, like essay writing and a hefty novel study and more speaking tests-so their marks were lower in the assignments/testing areas too. It was a hard term, okay!
So I decided the marks should be posted by student number and after my mini lecture on grades being lower, and how they should light a fire under they asses for term 4 because universities look at their grade 11 final grades etc etc…(same lecture I heard in high school, yes, I know-shoooooosh!) I put their grades on the wall.
Well I must have forgotten to remind them to not cry until after I left the room, because holy mo it was heavy in there. My 11-4’s are needy anyway and they think they are absolutely brilliant (all needy people do)—so I was expecting some dismayed looks—I mean, and let’s put this in perspective here—they all scored over 72, so tears are a little dramatic and as they quickly discovered, an ineffective way of earning my sympathy. Naturally I invited them to speak to me after school and work harder than ever in term 4, and come see me for help as much as possible—but many just refused to even acknowledge me in the room. Fine. Play your game. I’ll be waiting for you at my desk with a chipper smile and a little candy in the jar for you.
I did the same song and dance for 11-11, and there were more 50’s and 40’s in that class because though I love those kids, many are lazy, or cheat, or sleep. Beggers can’t be choosers…what? Anyway...**Lucy scored 1% higher than Helen and Helen hit the roof (to the point that I had to remind her that I am the teacher and she is the student and if she wants to speak to me about HER grade, she needs to be polite and respectful and stop demanding my mark-book and poking my arm). Actually it was more like this, “Helen, stop being crazy and stop poking me!”
So my crappy sack of crap lesson is that it’s tough to give out grades and become the most hated person in the room, but it’s true that I’m not their friend—I’m their teacher and teachers have shitty jobs. Wait—no—that’s not the lesson. I need to feel okay about being hard as nails about their grades this term-and being hated for a little while. These kids get the best of me, everyday—my roommate would be happy to confirm that for you. They get all my patience, my leniency, creativity, generosity, smiles and sarcasm. The rest of the world gets my nuggets. Sorry world.
But it is time for me to be more firm (here we go): a deadline is a deadline and yes I give zeros if you waste my time or hand something to me that was due 2 months ago just because you failed the class. I will not tell you your essay is great if it reads like a bunch of chinglish sentences on a T-shirt sold for 30 cents beside the sugar-roasted rat stand. If you get a 58% on the midterm exam, I will make you write a whole other exam to try to score higher, but that is the pinnacle of my leniency. You will work hard and type everything, and ask for help for every assignment until you are blue in the face because I notice those who ask for help and those who don’t, it’s true—and it matters to me. I will spend hours with you after school practicing your English and I won’t even complain about how hungry I am and how my ears sometimes bleed from listening too closely, and I do this because I like you and I know you can make it to university because I have never seen anyone so young want something so much. We have crazy classes where we build and mold and watch and record and create and explore and laugh and share-but if you ever stop reflecting on what you are learning from the assignments, I will notice you slacking and don’t you dare utter the words, “The E.L. midterm is so easy, teacher, we don’t have to study” because I will make sure you spend the rest of class with duct tape over your mouth. GREENZO OUT!! (Thank-you Taylor Mali and 30 Rock for that moment).
Holy-I’m not even kidding-Helen and two other students came by my desk just now and apologized for what happened in class and promised to work harder. I gave them cute Canada pencils and used encouraging adjectives. I love these kids and the ones with low marks keep me awake at night, but upping their grades into the 80’s doesn’t do them any favours down the road. It’s just for some of them, they work so hard and they really want to master English and go straight to university in Canada and make their families proud and have the prosperous lives they were promised—so when they only get 72% and they look at me like, “how could you betray me like this? I worked hard for you!” I get all messed up and crappy-feeling.
So why is it that I work my butt off all term to motivate and give them the skills they need, they end up with low marks and disdain in their mouth anyway, and I am awake until 3am asking myself, “Am I doing enough?” “Does this get easier?” “Is now the time to have children?” Wait—that last one is a digression and completely off-topic.
It’s really hard.
I only have 70 days left with these guys and 70 days left with this blog.
Okbye.
As I mentioned in my post before, it is mid-term week and I am done marking (Hallelujah!), and compiling all the grades for term 3. Most of my student’s marks are considerably lower this term because many bombed the exam (they always go into the exam thinking it’s too easy so we kind of slammed them this time-but in a healthy way…)-well they bombed heinously, made sloppy mistakes and rushed outta there. We also introduced a few new skills this term, like essay writing and a hefty novel study and more speaking tests-so their marks were lower in the assignments/testing areas too. It was a hard term, okay!
So I decided the marks should be posted by student number and after my mini lecture on grades being lower, and how they should light a fire under they asses for term 4 because universities look at their grade 11 final grades etc etc…(same lecture I heard in high school, yes, I know-shoooooosh!) I put their grades on the wall.
Well I must have forgotten to remind them to not cry until after I left the room, because holy mo it was heavy in there. My 11-4’s are needy anyway and they think they are absolutely brilliant (all needy people do)—so I was expecting some dismayed looks—I mean, and let’s put this in perspective here—they all scored over 72, so tears are a little dramatic and as they quickly discovered, an ineffective way of earning my sympathy. Naturally I invited them to speak to me after school and work harder than ever in term 4, and come see me for help as much as possible—but many just refused to even acknowledge me in the room. Fine. Play your game. I’ll be waiting for you at my desk with a chipper smile and a little candy in the jar for you.
I did the same song and dance for 11-11, and there were more 50’s and 40’s in that class because though I love those kids, many are lazy, or cheat, or sleep. Beggers can’t be choosers…what? Anyway...**Lucy scored 1% higher than Helen and Helen hit the roof (to the point that I had to remind her that I am the teacher and she is the student and if she wants to speak to me about HER grade, she needs to be polite and respectful and stop demanding my mark-book and poking my arm). Actually it was more like this, “Helen, stop being crazy and stop poking me!”
So my crappy sack of crap lesson is that it’s tough to give out grades and become the most hated person in the room, but it’s true that I’m not their friend—I’m their teacher and teachers have shitty jobs. Wait—no—that’s not the lesson. I need to feel okay about being hard as nails about their grades this term-and being hated for a little while. These kids get the best of me, everyday—my roommate would be happy to confirm that for you. They get all my patience, my leniency, creativity, generosity, smiles and sarcasm. The rest of the world gets my nuggets. Sorry world.
But it is time for me to be more firm (here we go): a deadline is a deadline and yes I give zeros if you waste my time or hand something to me that was due 2 months ago just because you failed the class. I will not tell you your essay is great if it reads like a bunch of chinglish sentences on a T-shirt sold for 30 cents beside the sugar-roasted rat stand. If you get a 58% on the midterm exam, I will make you write a whole other exam to try to score higher, but that is the pinnacle of my leniency. You will work hard and type everything, and ask for help for every assignment until you are blue in the face because I notice those who ask for help and those who don’t, it’s true—and it matters to me. I will spend hours with you after school practicing your English and I won’t even complain about how hungry I am and how my ears sometimes bleed from listening too closely, and I do this because I like you and I know you can make it to university because I have never seen anyone so young want something so much. We have crazy classes where we build and mold and watch and record and create and explore and laugh and share-but if you ever stop reflecting on what you are learning from the assignments, I will notice you slacking and don’t you dare utter the words, “The E.L. midterm is so easy, teacher, we don’t have to study” because I will make sure you spend the rest of class with duct tape over your mouth. GREENZO OUT!! (Thank-you Taylor Mali and 30 Rock for that moment).
Holy-I’m not even kidding-Helen and two other students came by my desk just now and apologized for what happened in class and promised to work harder. I gave them cute Canada pencils and used encouraging adjectives. I love these kids and the ones with low marks keep me awake at night, but upping their grades into the 80’s doesn’t do them any favours down the road. It’s just for some of them, they work so hard and they really want to master English and go straight to university in Canada and make their families proud and have the prosperous lives they were promised—so when they only get 72% and they look at me like, “how could you betray me like this? I worked hard for you!” I get all messed up and crappy-feeling.
So why is it that I work my butt off all term to motivate and give them the skills they need, they end up with low marks and disdain in their mouth anyway, and I am awake until 3am asking myself, “Am I doing enough?” “Does this get easier?” “Is now the time to have children?” Wait—that last one is a digression and completely off-topic.
It’s really hard.
I only have 70 days left with these guys and 70 days left with this blog.
Okbye.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Midterm to Homeward Bound
It is mid-term week and I am marking what feels like hundreds upon zillions of exams. This morning I listened to 3.5 hours of the Weakerthans while marking and I feel like a renewed woman all zipped on caffeine, HiChew candies, and outrageously addictive lyrics.
Last night, Mark and I played badminton with Helen, JW, Sunny, Lucy and Paul (our 11-11 gangstas-because Mark teaches them too) and I am certain that it was the best night I have had yet in China! The girls cornered me and made me choose my favourite male teacher on staff--since they really can't let it go that neither Mark nor Kyle is my boyfriend (this just baffles them to no end)--they were severely disappointed and confused when I made up a name and insisted that I loved this person they'd never heard of. That'll stall them for at least another week. "But Michelle, why no Mark, why no Kyle?" "No why, Sunny. No why."
When Helen challenged me to a badminton-off she walked up to me like some kind of concert security figure and pointed her racket at me and said, "I show you how to be great woman of sport!" She whooped my ass and owned her sport. The funniest point was when someone's Tennis ball flew into out court and Helen picked it up and tried to throw it back over the fence, but she couldn't get it high enough so each time it would rickashay off the the fence and go hurling across the court. She freak out and have to go get it and try again while we all just stood and laughed.
I'm gonna miss that girl more than anyone.
I'm out, the bell just rang and it is snack time.
PS. I'll be home in 90 days! Meep!
xox
Last night, Mark and I played badminton with Helen, JW, Sunny, Lucy and Paul (our 11-11 gangstas-because Mark teaches them too) and I am certain that it was the best night I have had yet in China! The girls cornered me and made me choose my favourite male teacher on staff--since they really can't let it go that neither Mark nor Kyle is my boyfriend (this just baffles them to no end)--they were severely disappointed and confused when I made up a name and insisted that I loved this person they'd never heard of. That'll stall them for at least another week. "But Michelle, why no Mark, why no Kyle?" "No why, Sunny. No why."
When Helen challenged me to a badminton-off she walked up to me like some kind of concert security figure and pointed her racket at me and said, "I show you how to be great woman of sport!" She whooped my ass and owned her sport. The funniest point was when someone's Tennis ball flew into out court and Helen picked it up and tried to throw it back over the fence, but she couldn't get it high enough so each time it would rickashay off the the fence and go hurling across the court. She freak out and have to go get it and try again while we all just stood and laughed.
I'm gonna miss that girl more than anyone.
I'm out, the bell just rang and it is snack time.
PS. I'll be home in 90 days! Meep!
xox
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Google Translate is Ruining My Sunday
I just...need to share...because...it's, just, so, exhausting.
Watching movies and reading books are two ways to learn. I think they both have good points and bad points. But to me. I prefer to watch movie.
Watching movies is the most interesting way to learn. For example, math is so boring and I do not like math. But I will like math if I watch movies to learn math. If math teacher could show us the geometry by movies, we would study effectively. I think the joy of (math-learning) would be found by me. I also think to young students who do not have interests in learning, will enhance their learning skills dramatically. When students are tired or they fell boring, watching movies will carry more fun.
There are also have good point to reading, it can help us understand knowledge better. But this world is changing rapidly. We need to adapt to this world. For example, “1+1=2“may be true, but may be wrong next week. By contrast, watching movies is more quickly. we can learn from many area-learn for people’words.action.cases and situations. So watching movies is a fantastic way to learn.
I strangely suggest every teachers to teach by watching movies. It will give students a chance to learn happily. This is a new, innovative learning method. So let’s make a change.
I love this student, she is just a gem, but not only does she need to read more books, she also needs to write more.
Worst Sunday ever. I want to go back onto the patio into the sunshine, reading my trashy summer novel like I did at 8am this morning. Who could have known that I'd have 25 of these to mark? I really need to stop assigning essays.
Help.
xox
Watching movies and reading books are two ways to learn. I think they both have good points and bad points. But to me. I prefer to watch movie.
Watching movies is the most interesting way to learn. For example, math is so boring and I do not like math. But I will like math if I watch movies to learn math. If math teacher could show us the geometry by movies, we would study effectively. I think the joy of (math-learning) would be found by me. I also think to young students who do not have interests in learning, will enhance their learning skills dramatically. When students are tired or they fell boring, watching movies will carry more fun.
There are also have good point to reading, it can help us understand knowledge better. But this world is changing rapidly. We need to adapt to this world. For example, “1+1=2“may be true, but may be wrong next week. By contrast, watching movies is more quickly. we can learn from many area-learn for people’words.action.cases and situations. So watching movies is a fantastic way to learn.
I strangely suggest every teachers to teach by watching movies. It will give students a chance to learn happily. This is a new, innovative learning method. So let’s make a change.
I love this student, she is just a gem, but not only does she need to read more books, she also needs to write more.
Worst Sunday ever. I want to go back onto the patio into the sunshine, reading my trashy summer novel like I did at 8am this morning. Who could have known that I'd have 25 of these to mark? I really need to stop assigning essays.
Help.
xox
Thursday, April 14, 2011
This One Is For Liz
Summer has arrived in Beijing! Everyday the sun shines (even through the smog!), the cherry trees blossom bright pink and then turn to green within a few hours...a place that once looked like black and white Pleasantville now looks like the height of a great renaissance! It's a wonderful time to live in Beijing! Supposedly the weather is magical for a few weeks, and then the epic sandstorms hit and we are covered in dust and dirt for about a month, and then the heat wave washes over us and we claw our way toward the airport to get the heck outta China. Supposedly...
This is the first time I have ever taught classes everyday through the winter season and then transitioned into Spring, and I have to admit; it feels like a rebirth in the classroom. Students shed layers, and wear the coolest converse shoes and brighter clothes, we laugh more, and listen to music in class while we work, there is less complaints about quizzes and late assignments, I give them more independence and raise my expectations to which they meet without hesitation--it's just the greatest feeling for everyone. We have midterm exams next week and the their Canadian High School diploma mock-exam the week after, so everyone is wound tightly in periods 1, and 4 (at least this is what I have observed-the one after lunch is a killer because their brains are buzzing from cramming too much information into their brains while sipping litres of prune juice and eating dried fish snacks). This is why I was not surprised at what happened first period today-my class 11-4 was working really well, finishing a written assignment before the weekend, I noticed a bit of quiet commotion at the back of the room and so asked what was going on. "An insect."
"Gross," I responded, "I want to see-what kind?" They couldn't think of the name, but it didn't matter, I took one look and panicked-it looked like a cockroach to me! Naturally I lifted my leg dramatically and they screamed, 'Nooooooooo!!!" It was too late, I crunched that sucker insect before it could pray for forgiveness. The class was silent. I turned and looked at them, realizing that I might have made a huge cultural mistake-but how? They eat bugs on sticks all the time!!! They eat baby birds! "Well--it was an insect! It could carry diseases and it could hurt you!! I had to kill it to protect you!" They started murmuring to each other, and staring at me, some staring in disbelief at the smooshed bug on the floor. "Teacher, it smells." "Huh?" I've had the most discusting cold for a week now, so I haven't been able to smell anything for a week (which is great because I can use the toilet at the school without gagging-result!), "That bug, it smells when you kill it. It smells bad." "Oh. Sorry guys. I can't smell it because I'm sick." Then the bell rang. "Well, Have a good day and weekend, everyone! Sorry..." And I left them with that putrid stink and the smooshed insect on the floor.
I had two great "teacher moments" this week that I have to write about because I'm scared that if I don't I won't remember them for next time--plus, I like to brag! One of my students, we'll call him Peter, is so smart-he loves facts about wars and countries-he talks a mile a minute and no one understands him, I just adore Peter. However, as with most brilliant people, he is an absolute mess of a boy. His desk always looks like a horder's dream house, he is never working on what I give him whenever I walk by him, he hands nothing in on time, and never seems to know what is going on. Like-this kid is a mess. Even his glasses are so smudged I can't look at them. I gave up on trying to organize Peter into a successful human in November; now, I just choose to accomodate him and play "baby-sitter" only for really important things. The students had to give me a persuasive speech after school this week, they had to book an appointment and I even gave them 2 library periods to get ready. But when Peter didn't show up on Monday, I reminded him. No show Tuesday also. By Wednesday I was at wits end. I stalked into the library to find him reading Forbes Magazine (what??!!), "Peter you missed you speech again today." He gave another weak excuse. I explained that this is the third time and I've lost patience. He asked if he could do it right now. Yes. He asked what topic he should speak about. I explained that he was to pick the topic last week and do research, I am not looking for an impromptu speech, Peter. (How dare you waste my time-I'm a busy woman on beautiful afternoons, I like to eat meat off sticks down the street, don't you know?!) I repeated the assignment instructions for him and he said he would be ready tomorrow for sure. I wanted to walk away and just leave it, but I was annoyed, there has to be some consequence for this behaviour. "Peter, this can't keep happening. You rarely hand assignments in, you never know what the assignment is, you have missed your speech time three days in a row now--I am having a hard time respecting you as my student right now. I need you to think of some kind of consequence for yourself and your actions. I am not going to punish you, or suggest a consequence for you, you are going to think of one and tell me what that will be tomorrow. Okay?" He tells me he will be better, he promises, but I stand firm-the child must put lotion on his skin. So the next day rolls around and he gives me his speech, it's not bad, scattered, but not bad at all. He also informs me that he will punish his actions by asking me to take three marks off his total grade for this assignment (Impressive!), and in the future, he wants to bring his calander to me and ask me to write deadlines on the calender dates for him, and furthermore, can I please make him come in after school for a "make up class" if he is late with an assignment?
As he was saying all this, I was pretty sure the heaven's opened up. I don't know where he got this performance from, but I was melting.
The next great moment this week was when I decided to give some recognition to my improving students by giving them a little EL Improvement Award in class, wagonwheels for everyone, and an encouraging letter home to the award winner's parents. Well, **Chris really struggled in term 1, and 2. I mean, that kid was on every hit list-he did nothing, he talked non stop, he was getting suspended for spoking, and sneaking "outside food" into campus over the wall at the back, he had zero regard for EL class and he was a scrapper. But Chris also had this sense of humour that would come out, and this is why I still thought he was gold even when I wanted to throttle him in class. He'd make me laugh when I was angry and it just about killed me every time. Chris hadn't passed EL in term 1 and 2, but somewhere along this term, I began noticingthat Chris was handing in assignments, they were finished and pretty decent for 11-11 standard. He was working with **Paul a lot and together they were becoming a force to be reckoned with in my class-they even had Helen on edge sometimes! But Chris is still a fighter, so he was still catching hell from for touching people, I made him sit on his hands for 5 minutes one day! What is this--1919?? Chris' attitude has changed too, he is helpful and funny--earlier this week when **James asked if I like "SM" (Thanks Rhianna and Brittany for that one...) I was shocked and Chris immediately stood and told James to shut up in Chinese, to which I could only answer, "Yes James, shut up."
So Chris got an award this week and a letter home to his folks, he was blown away in class, and blushing like crazy, I saw him reading the letter afterwards and Paul patted him on the back and he just smiled and shook his head. I seriously wanted to cry. It was awesome. It made me think about that Taylor Mali sketch, "What Teacher's Make" and how he says something about calling home during dinner time, and it sounds so sinister, but he just wanted to tell the kid's parents how awesome the kid was, how he was courageous and stood up to a bully in class and they should be proud of him. Well yeah! I know I'm new at this, but it is so rare that as teachers we even think to reward the kids for just working hard that week, finishing their work early, or that we think to contact oparents and say how rad their kid is. I'm excited to integrate this into my teacher-lifestyle in the future. Sigh. I could really go for a hot lunch hot dog and icecream cup right about now.
I just bit my co worker, Jess, lightly on the arm a moment ago. She is so patient.
Anyway, I'm feeling good about the weather, I'm feeling good about eating meat and tofu off of sticks at the BBQ down the street again, I'm feeling good about coming home in a few months, and I'm feeling good about my students and their efforts. I am so lucky. I even applied for a teaching job in Calgary at a charter school, and will continue to apply to every vacancy I come across. Feels good.
This weekend will be a balmy 33 degrees, and I plan to take my denim shorts out for a stroll in a trendy area called Hou Hai, it's on a lake and there are bars on rooftops and cool antique stores and vintage fashions up and down the streets. I'm going to stroll and sip my coffee and snap my camera, and then plant myself on a roof and drink cheap beer for a few hours in the heat. I'm really looking forward to the subway ride home when I am sunburned and tipsy, surrounded by hot, sweaty Beijingers who can't help but stare incessantly at "Whitey with the pale legs in the denium cutoffs." It doesn't get more American than that.
Tell me some fun Spring stories of your own via email, I need some sugah!
exes and ohs
PS Playlist: Adele, 'Rollin' In The Deep' and 'Rumour Has It'
Neon Indian
Theophilus London
This is the first time I have ever taught classes everyday through the winter season and then transitioned into Spring, and I have to admit; it feels like a rebirth in the classroom. Students shed layers, and wear the coolest converse shoes and brighter clothes, we laugh more, and listen to music in class while we work, there is less complaints about quizzes and late assignments, I give them more independence and raise my expectations to which they meet without hesitation--it's just the greatest feeling for everyone. We have midterm exams next week and the their Canadian High School diploma mock-exam the week after, so everyone is wound tightly in periods 1, and 4 (at least this is what I have observed-the one after lunch is a killer because their brains are buzzing from cramming too much information into their brains while sipping litres of prune juice and eating dried fish snacks). This is why I was not surprised at what happened first period today-my class 11-4 was working really well, finishing a written assignment before the weekend, I noticed a bit of quiet commotion at the back of the room and so asked what was going on. "An insect."
"Gross," I responded, "I want to see-what kind?" They couldn't think of the name, but it didn't matter, I took one look and panicked-it looked like a cockroach to me! Naturally I lifted my leg dramatically and they screamed, 'Nooooooooo!!!" It was too late, I crunched that sucker insect before it could pray for forgiveness. The class was silent. I turned and looked at them, realizing that I might have made a huge cultural mistake-but how? They eat bugs on sticks all the time!!! They eat baby birds! "Well--it was an insect! It could carry diseases and it could hurt you!! I had to kill it to protect you!" They started murmuring to each other, and staring at me, some staring in disbelief at the smooshed bug on the floor. "Teacher, it smells." "Huh?" I've had the most discusting cold for a week now, so I haven't been able to smell anything for a week (which is great because I can use the toilet at the school without gagging-result!), "That bug, it smells when you kill it. It smells bad." "Oh. Sorry guys. I can't smell it because I'm sick." Then the bell rang. "Well, Have a good day and weekend, everyone! Sorry..." And I left them with that putrid stink and the smooshed insect on the floor.
I had two great "teacher moments" this week that I have to write about because I'm scared that if I don't I won't remember them for next time--plus, I like to brag! One of my students, we'll call him Peter, is so smart-he loves facts about wars and countries-he talks a mile a minute and no one understands him, I just adore Peter. However, as with most brilliant people, he is an absolute mess of a boy. His desk always looks like a horder's dream house, he is never working on what I give him whenever I walk by him, he hands nothing in on time, and never seems to know what is going on. Like-this kid is a mess. Even his glasses are so smudged I can't look at them. I gave up on trying to organize Peter into a successful human in November; now, I just choose to accomodate him and play "baby-sitter" only for really important things. The students had to give me a persuasive speech after school this week, they had to book an appointment and I even gave them 2 library periods to get ready. But when Peter didn't show up on Monday, I reminded him. No show Tuesday also. By Wednesday I was at wits end. I stalked into the library to find him reading Forbes Magazine (what??!!), "Peter you missed you speech again today." He gave another weak excuse. I explained that this is the third time and I've lost patience. He asked if he could do it right now. Yes. He asked what topic he should speak about. I explained that he was to pick the topic last week and do research, I am not looking for an impromptu speech, Peter. (How dare you waste my time-I'm a busy woman on beautiful afternoons, I like to eat meat off sticks down the street, don't you know?!) I repeated the assignment instructions for him and he said he would be ready tomorrow for sure. I wanted to walk away and just leave it, but I was annoyed, there has to be some consequence for this behaviour. "Peter, this can't keep happening. You rarely hand assignments in, you never know what the assignment is, you have missed your speech time three days in a row now--I am having a hard time respecting you as my student right now. I need you to think of some kind of consequence for yourself and your actions. I am not going to punish you, or suggest a consequence for you, you are going to think of one and tell me what that will be tomorrow. Okay?" He tells me he will be better, he promises, but I stand firm-the child must put lotion on his skin. So the next day rolls around and he gives me his speech, it's not bad, scattered, but not bad at all. He also informs me that he will punish his actions by asking me to take three marks off his total grade for this assignment (Impressive!), and in the future, he wants to bring his calander to me and ask me to write deadlines on the calender dates for him, and furthermore, can I please make him come in after school for a "make up class" if he is late with an assignment?
As he was saying all this, I was pretty sure the heaven's opened up. I don't know where he got this performance from, but I was melting.
The next great moment this week was when I decided to give some recognition to my improving students by giving them a little EL Improvement Award in class, wagonwheels for everyone, and an encouraging letter home to the award winner's parents. Well, **Chris really struggled in term 1, and 2. I mean, that kid was on every hit list-he did nothing, he talked non stop, he was getting suspended for spoking, and sneaking "outside food" into campus over the wall at the back, he had zero regard for EL class and he was a scrapper. But Chris also had this sense of humour that would come out, and this is why I still thought he was gold even when I wanted to throttle him in class. He'd make me laugh when I was angry and it just about killed me every time. Chris hadn't passed EL in term 1 and 2, but somewhere along this term, I began noticingthat Chris was handing in assignments, they were finished and pretty decent for 11-11 standard. He was working with **Paul a lot and together they were becoming a force to be reckoned with in my class-they even had Helen on edge sometimes! But Chris is still a fighter, so he was still catching hell from for touching people, I made him sit on his hands for 5 minutes one day! What is this--1919?? Chris' attitude has changed too, he is helpful and funny--earlier this week when **James asked if I like "SM" (Thanks Rhianna and Brittany for that one...) I was shocked and Chris immediately stood and told James to shut up in Chinese, to which I could only answer, "Yes James, shut up."
So Chris got an award this week and a letter home to his folks, he was blown away in class, and blushing like crazy, I saw him reading the letter afterwards and Paul patted him on the back and he just smiled and shook his head. I seriously wanted to cry. It was awesome. It made me think about that Taylor Mali sketch, "What Teacher's Make" and how he says something about calling home during dinner time, and it sounds so sinister, but he just wanted to tell the kid's parents how awesome the kid was, how he was courageous and stood up to a bully in class and they should be proud of him. Well yeah! I know I'm new at this, but it is so rare that as teachers we even think to reward the kids for just working hard that week, finishing their work early, or that we think to contact oparents and say how rad their kid is. I'm excited to integrate this into my teacher-lifestyle in the future. Sigh. I could really go for a hot lunch hot dog and icecream cup right about now.
I just bit my co worker, Jess, lightly on the arm a moment ago. She is so patient.
Anyway, I'm feeling good about the weather, I'm feeling good about eating meat and tofu off of sticks at the BBQ down the street again, I'm feeling good about coming home in a few months, and I'm feeling good about my students and their efforts. I am so lucky. I even applied for a teaching job in Calgary at a charter school, and will continue to apply to every vacancy I come across. Feels good.
This weekend will be a balmy 33 degrees, and I plan to take my denim shorts out for a stroll in a trendy area called Hou Hai, it's on a lake and there are bars on rooftops and cool antique stores and vintage fashions up and down the streets. I'm going to stroll and sip my coffee and snap my camera, and then plant myself on a roof and drink cheap beer for a few hours in the heat. I'm really looking forward to the subway ride home when I am sunburned and tipsy, surrounded by hot, sweaty Beijingers who can't help but stare incessantly at "Whitey with the pale legs in the denium cutoffs." It doesn't get more American than that.
Tell me some fun Spring stories of your own via email, I need some sugah!
exes and ohs
PS Playlist: Adele, 'Rollin' In The Deep' and 'Rumour Has It'
Neon Indian
Theophilus London
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Lazy Sunday + I ran 10km
I ran 10km's in 1:03 today. I didn't come in first, not even close; but I am pretty self righteous at the moment! ESPECIALLY because I have a sinister chest cold that leaves me coughing up all kinds of special treasures on the side of the road.
And now that that accomplishment has a checkmark beside it, I have an afternoon planned with my good friends Mr. Couch, Mr. Toast, and Mr. Mark (who is lovely, risking his own health to sit with me and watch Kill Bill 1 and 2 all afternoon). He says he likes my raspy voice. I do too!
Have a beautiful Sunday, my lovelies-another week gone!
exes and ohs
And now that that accomplishment has a checkmark beside it, I have an afternoon planned with my good friends Mr. Couch, Mr. Toast, and Mr. Mark (who is lovely, risking his own health to sit with me and watch Kill Bill 1 and 2 all afternoon). He says he likes my raspy voice. I do too!
Have a beautiful Sunday, my lovelies-another week gone!
exes and ohs
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I Got My Hur Did...
I took a vote a couple weeks ago after showing my students a picture of a total babe with short hair, asking them if I should also cut my hair. In each class, at least 85% of them said “no.” So naturally, I did. I’ll admit, it looked pretty les’y when I was sitting in the stylist’s chair, and I was really bummed when I got home. Luckily, I work with some of the greatest girls and they crowded into my apartment to do damage control. There was hair straightening, hairspray battles, pomade wars; before I knew it, I was pulling on tights, a rad black dress and high heeled boots-ready for a night out in the city. They taught me that the best way to deal with a lesbian haircut is to rock it out on the town and tell yourself you love it until you do. And now I do (even if it still is a teeny-weeny bit short ;))
As for my students; they were shocked, some were hurt. Haha! Keep in mind that Chinese students will tell you exactly what they think without care for how it might make you feel-I admire their bluntness, but I also fear it as if it were a Lamper Eel. I explained that in the Spring, I need a change-but the change can initially be shocking and upsetting. Sometimes in life, you get a bad hair cut, but you need be a big girl and make yourself love it. So in turn, they must call me beautiful every single day. When my 11-11’s come into class late, they stand at the door and say, “Beautiful teacher, may I please come in?”
This is what I will miss about teaching in China.
This weekend a number of us flew down South to Wunan and Xiantou to witness a traditional Chinese wedding between one of our Canadian co-workers (Rod) and his beautiful Chinese wife, Jo-Jo. Imagine 17 ‘whiteys’ flying to a remote place in China (okay-it was explained to be a small town-but with a population of a little over a million!), to not only bear witness to a Chinese wedding, but to BE THE WEDDING PARTY! Typical unexpectedness for China…The city we were in actually did act shocked to see so many white people-there were hard stares, and lots of giggles. One woman came up to me with her baby and put her face 3 inches from mine! It was the coolest thing! In a Chinese wedding, the wedding party are dressed in Chinese garments and some walk in front playing instruments, carrying signs, and some carry a giant box that the bride is supposed to sit in once we go to her home and pick her up. Imagine our surprise when we were handed Chinese clothes and instruments. Basically, we participate in a LOUD OBNOXIOUS processional around town for a couple hours in the morning, stopping traffic, and drawing crowds, setting off fireworks, and banging drums. Then, we go to the bride’s home and the groom gets off the horse he has been riding (yep!), and goes inside with us all. His family asks a series of questions about the bride and he has to answer them perfectly and each time hand over a red envelope with money in it-essentially buying her from her father. Then he is permitted to see her in her childhood bedroom, made to search for her shoes, and then together they bow and are blessed by the family. He must carry his bride out into the streets and place her into her big box, and then the processional carries on through the town to the ceremonial place. Another ceremony occurs, they must walk down an isle and she must step over fire and an apple, they must pour tea for the sets of parents and then are again blessed by a ‘host.’ After which, we all take photos, back out into the street, more fireworks, more hubalaboo, shots of bijou (like tequila but so much worse), confetti-and on to the after party. It was a real honour to be invited to the wedding, and also to be a part of the wedding party. I can honestly say that I ate so much duck that I think I might be off duck for life. On the other hand, I am obsessed with tofu skin now—oh me oh my—It is “delicers,” as my students would say! Also, a newfound dish that I love is white rice, spinach paste, and salty peanuts all mixed together. Simple and earthy. I love. OH! I forgot this one piece of gossip from the wedding (because all good weddings have drama)—so—the bride’s family were incredible, they were the best hosts and some spoke English and really helped us out-we were very gracious. But the night of the wedding, we arrived at the reception to find there were no tables left, so the bride’s father asked a couple families to leave the tables and cram into other tables (which, by the way was really awkward for us because we felt like assholes and had no way to communicate it), so the women at the table got all crazy and started screaming, and one man flipped two tables that were covered in dishes to be served the guests. It was a total scene!
After the wedding, we all went out with the bride’s drunken cousins to KTV (karaoke), and sang as much Lady Gaga as we could.
Lastly, MY MUM IS COMING TO BEIJING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She arrives July 29th at 4:15 pm, school is done on July 1st, and on July 4th we are flying to Thailand to celebrate her 50th and my 26th birthday in bikinis with Muai Thais in hand! I am so excited to show her off to my friends out here and to take her shopping and to the Great Wall. I feel like I might explode! It means that I won’t be arriving back in Calgary until 4pm on July 18th, but I WILL be home for Folk Fest! It also means that I get to go back to Thailand for a 3rd time in my life—which is the coolest thing ever. It also means that my Mum gets to meet Helen-also the coolest thing ever.
Time to scoot to class,
exes and ohs, mon amies.
M.
As for my students; they were shocked, some were hurt. Haha! Keep in mind that Chinese students will tell you exactly what they think without care for how it might make you feel-I admire their bluntness, but I also fear it as if it were a Lamper Eel. I explained that in the Spring, I need a change-but the change can initially be shocking and upsetting. Sometimes in life, you get a bad hair cut, but you need be a big girl and make yourself love it. So in turn, they must call me beautiful every single day. When my 11-11’s come into class late, they stand at the door and say, “Beautiful teacher, may I please come in?”
This is what I will miss about teaching in China.
This weekend a number of us flew down South to Wunan and Xiantou to witness a traditional Chinese wedding between one of our Canadian co-workers (Rod) and his beautiful Chinese wife, Jo-Jo. Imagine 17 ‘whiteys’ flying to a remote place in China (okay-it was explained to be a small town-but with a population of a little over a million!), to not only bear witness to a Chinese wedding, but to BE THE WEDDING PARTY! Typical unexpectedness for China…The city we were in actually did act shocked to see so many white people-there were hard stares, and lots of giggles. One woman came up to me with her baby and put her face 3 inches from mine! It was the coolest thing! In a Chinese wedding, the wedding party are dressed in Chinese garments and some walk in front playing instruments, carrying signs, and some carry a giant box that the bride is supposed to sit in once we go to her home and pick her up. Imagine our surprise when we were handed Chinese clothes and instruments. Basically, we participate in a LOUD OBNOXIOUS processional around town for a couple hours in the morning, stopping traffic, and drawing crowds, setting off fireworks, and banging drums. Then, we go to the bride’s home and the groom gets off the horse he has been riding (yep!), and goes inside with us all. His family asks a series of questions about the bride and he has to answer them perfectly and each time hand over a red envelope with money in it-essentially buying her from her father. Then he is permitted to see her in her childhood bedroom, made to search for her shoes, and then together they bow and are blessed by the family. He must carry his bride out into the streets and place her into her big box, and then the processional carries on through the town to the ceremonial place. Another ceremony occurs, they must walk down an isle and she must step over fire and an apple, they must pour tea for the sets of parents and then are again blessed by a ‘host.’ After which, we all take photos, back out into the street, more fireworks, more hubalaboo, shots of bijou (like tequila but so much worse), confetti-and on to the after party. It was a real honour to be invited to the wedding, and also to be a part of the wedding party. I can honestly say that I ate so much duck that I think I might be off duck for life. On the other hand, I am obsessed with tofu skin now—oh me oh my—It is “delicers,” as my students would say! Also, a newfound dish that I love is white rice, spinach paste, and salty peanuts all mixed together. Simple and earthy. I love. OH! I forgot this one piece of gossip from the wedding (because all good weddings have drama)—so—the bride’s family were incredible, they were the best hosts and some spoke English and really helped us out-we were very gracious. But the night of the wedding, we arrived at the reception to find there were no tables left, so the bride’s father asked a couple families to leave the tables and cram into other tables (which, by the way was really awkward for us because we felt like assholes and had no way to communicate it), so the women at the table got all crazy and started screaming, and one man flipped two tables that were covered in dishes to be served the guests. It was a total scene!
After the wedding, we all went out with the bride’s drunken cousins to KTV (karaoke), and sang as much Lady Gaga as we could.
Lastly, MY MUM IS COMING TO BEIJING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She arrives July 29th at 4:15 pm, school is done on July 1st, and on July 4th we are flying to Thailand to celebrate her 50th and my 26th birthday in bikinis with Muai Thais in hand! I am so excited to show her off to my friends out here and to take her shopping and to the Great Wall. I feel like I might explode! It means that I won’t be arriving back in Calgary until 4pm on July 18th, but I WILL be home for Folk Fest! It also means that I get to go back to Thailand for a 3rd time in my life—which is the coolest thing ever. It also means that my Mum gets to meet Helen-also the coolest thing ever.
Time to scoot to class,
exes and ohs, mon amies.
M.
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