Another term has started. The first year is suppose to be the hardest, or so they say. I sure hope so. Well one more semester to go and never again will I have my very first  year of teaching. I”m looking forward to being able to look back and say I did it. I have one year under my belt and a full foot in the water of teaching.

This semester I’ve lucked out with a decent schedule. Three morning classes and the rest right after lunch.

I must admit I did not think I would enjoy teaching as much as I do. I could never understand my parents enthusiasm but I’m beginning to understand a little. I’m still not ready to make this my career but I’m thoroughly enjoying my time as a teacher.

This semester I’m excited to use the pronunciation text I’ve brought back. I’ve learned the vital importance of textbooks in lesson planning. Oh how naive I was last year to think freedom from assigned curriculum was a good thing. Ha, well you live and learn I guess.

Cheers to the upcoming semester!

First and foremost Chinese take pride in their Country, second their province and third their county or city. This pride is displayed in the products produced in their locale. Two of my students presented me with local products they were eager for me to try.

from: Alan - Pickled minced veggies?

from: Matinda - Sesame Cakes! Yumm!

Mixed emotions, okay not really, just plain relieved. I’ve survived my first term. One more to make my first year and then Mom promises it only gets better.

Teaching has been surprisingly invigorating. I’ve enjoyed the challenges and am beginning to see real potential for travel opportunities in the future. I still find it odd some days that I have followed in my parents footsteps.

I’ve most definitely learn more about myself this year as I’ve had to confront my fears and frustrations on my own. I’m learning to explain things more clearly and simply. I’m learning for the first time in my life to go with the flow. If there’s only one lesson I’ll take from China it is the lesson of flexibility.

I’ve still not been able to drop my Americaness of needing to know WHY before doing anything but there are worst qualities to hold onto I guess.

Overall this semester has been a learning experience I wouldn’t try for too many things. I’m looking forward to next semester with eager anticipation.

A few weeks ago I was approached by a student about judging and English competition I figured I’d wait for Wendy to mention something before I made any inquires. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping the comment would come to nothing, what do I know about judging an English competition.

No luck, Wendy approached me last Friday and asked if I would be willing to participate. Of course, for Wendy I’d do anything. As the Foreign Teacher I was to ask questions for the practical application section.

2009 Business English Speech Competition. Yes, I know it says 2008 but "Welcome to China!"

The competition consisted of three parts. First: Read a provided text regarding business. [Students would be judged on pronunciation, intonation and fluency]

Second: Provide and explanation on a graph displayed. The topics varied and so did the graphs. [Students would be judged on content, clarity and explanation]

Third: My part, Answer questions from the foreign teacher using an advertisement provided. No pressure just direct the questions and confuse the poor nervous participants.

I’ve never participated or even watched a language competition before, so can some one please tell me how I qualified to be a judge. Yes I know I speak English but what qualification is that in the world today?

Some examples of the above stated advertisements.

Questions: What three services are provided by this company? Is this a convenient service for the customer?

Questions: To what group of people is this advertisement marketed towards? What are the selling features of this product?

Robinson and Roxanne hosted the event, their English was great! I'm not going to lie they are my top students.

During an intermission a few students sang songs, it took me about two verses to figure out these girls were singing in English.

Matinda took 1st! I felt it was well deserved. (She is my Chinese tutor, she teaches in English)

The panel of judges and winners.

After the competition the teachers presented me with a beautiful kite.

"Zhou Jing" one of the Seven Beauties in Chinese Literature

Wednesdays are always horrible days for me. They are my busiest. The first change I make next semester is my Children’s night class. I’m putting my foot down and refuse to do it on the night of my craziest day. A full day of classes and then a night class just about does me in.

I woke this morning in a slight depression no real reason but I just can’t seem to shake the funk. Thank goodness tomorrow is Thursday and I get to see the rest of the gang for lunch. Okay if I can just make it through the afternoon and then the evening things will brighten.

Well off to class.

If I didn’t know with certainty that the Chinese are incapable of subtle hints my first Christmas present would have offended me. Two students dropped by for photos Friday afternoon. I’m really quite touched my students want to take pictures, they don’t seem to want to pay attention or participate in class. But hey the Chinese will never miss a photo sho0t, which is what “Can I come to your apartment for a quick picture” really means.

By now I know the drill. The standing half hug with the victory sign, then the stoic face, then the sitting leaning, then we get all crazy and take pictures all over my living room (the backgrounds varying, the nativity and scrolls seem to be the biggest hits). They always come bearing gifts, usually oranges, crackers or the occasional  bracelet. Today’s was a shocker. It was a Christmas gift Lucy said as she knew Christmas was coming soon. I was touched, my first Christmas gift of the season!

I really hope my face didn’t give away my taken back feelings.

I’ve stopped wearing make-up as of late because well I’m just lazy and really who am I trying to impress around here? My first thought was she was trying to make a statement but that was very very wrong of me. Lucy would never, could never make such a statement, wish I could say the same for some of her classmates. I was debating to pick up a new blush so now I’m good.

So Merry Christmas to all!

Matinda cornered me the other day and asked if was busy on Sunday, I hesitated to answer wanting an explanation of the impending proposition before I replied. She quickly responded I want to cook dinner for you. Oh in that case, I’ll be unbusy for you. Her offer seemed out of the blue until she followed up with, then after could you help me with my English Competition speech. I’ll do just about anything for a home cooked meal so listening to Matinda’s speech was a very small price to pay.

She is one of Dantzelle’s second years, her English is pretty good. I still don’t get how I got roped into coaching Adam and Dantzelles students but hey I’ll do it for dinner. I only insisted she would teach me along the way as I am keen to learn some dishes to take back home for Dad.

She cooked a SiChuan dish which is known for its spiciness! Spicy SiChuan Chicken. It was delicious, spicy and for me to call something spicy it is burning!! The spice comes from a combination of dried red chilies and Red Chili paste. The dish is about as close to a curry as China seems to get. It is a dish of vegetables with the spicy sauce and is eaten with rice, not necessarily on top of the rice but alongside.

(I was hoping to add the recipe but can’t seem to find it)

I am not a slave driver. Recently I have felt like I am as I have had student after student make me dinner and bring me food like I was incapable. They offer I don’t ask.

Several weeks ago two of my students asked if they could cook me dinner, I swear they offered. Of course I accepted with a thankful heart as I hate cooking and my idea of a homemade meal is a a noodle packet. Joy and Roxanne made two amazing dishes and were just tickled pink I liked them so well. They offered to make them again for me later in the semester.

Roxanne

Last week I asked Roxanne if she was up to teaching me how to cook the dishes. She enlisted another student who insisted she was more qualified to teach me and the lesson began. Joy was unable to come unfortunately.

I learn two dishes, a stringed potato dish and a cabbage dish. I was never one for cabbage before China but have grown quite fond of it here.

Roxanne & (okay this is horrible but I can't remember her name)

The food was great, although to be perfectly honest I think Joy’s potato dish was better.

I love Roxanne’s cabbage dish.

This is so sad but I couldn’t remember her name, I didn’t have the guts to ask her to repeat it. I have gotten really good at faking knowing people’s names here.

String Potatoes

Ingredients

-3 Potatoes

-3-4 cloves of garlic

-1 Anaheim Chili

-3 tsp. salt

-2 tbl .vinegar

1. Skin potatoes, thinly slice potatoes

2. Thinly slice chili

4. Chop garlic in large chunks

5. Cover wok with oil heat garlic, add potatoes

6. Add a little soy sauce for color, stir

7.  Cook for about 1 min then add half a wok of cold water.

8. Cover and let simmer until potatoes are soft.

9. Add salt and vinegar to taste.

Cabbage

Ingredients

-1 leek

- 1 Anaheim Chile

- 1 Cabbage

-  1/3 cup of oil

- 1/2 tbl. white vinegar

- 1 1/2 tsp. salt

1. Chop 1/2 leek and thinly slice chili

2. Cut cabbage into thick short slices

3. Heat oil add leek cook for 30 sec.

4. Add cabbage and chili, stir continually

5. Watch heat, don’t burn cabbage.

6. Add vinegar, continue to stir, add salt to taste

I had invited a few girls over for the afternoon hoping to get some tips on Chinese music. I want to start listening to Chinese music to increase my exposure to the rhythm and pronunciation. In exchange I gave a quick run through of English artists.

 It was starting to get late and I knew they would have to return to their classrooms for the nightly lock-in. I really don’t know what I was thinking when I asked if they wanted dinner. I guess I was eager for company. I didn’t promise anything fancy and boiled up spaghetti.

We had a delightful dinner, spaghetti, bread and butter, and a tomato and cucumber salad with ranch (Thanksgiving leftovers). It turned out to be a real hit and they all were thrilled to eat with forks.

It was nice to cook for a group. So maybe there is hope for me and cooking in the future. After dinner I wrote them all excuse notes and they stayed the evening chatting. I had a splendid evening. Maybe there are some perks to socializing.

Emily is on my left, Navy across from me and Hedy is on the front left.

As I sit at the half way mark in the semester I am beginning to question my abilities. What did I sign up for? Why did I think that getting my TEFL certificate, was going to turn me into an English Teacher? Seriously how does a 120hour course turn a novice into a professional even if only marginal. People go to four years of school to be a teacher and here I am thinking I could do it after taking an online course with a weekend workshop.

I feel as if I am slapping all real teachers in the face with my certificate. I have no book and no experience to draw from. Oral English is the biggest joke. What is an Oral English class suppose to be? My idea was a class where you practiced conversations. Not reading and listening skills but on your feet conversations that will better prepare you for the real world. When traveling you will not be able to stop and write a dialogue. You will be forced to respond in a matter of seconds to the speaker at hand. Life is not a script, Oral English is to prepare a student for that fact but none of my students seem to feel that way.

They can all write dialogues great but heaven forbid they answer a question with a complete sentence. What am I suppose to do? I try to make class engaging but I don’t know how to get my students to talk. Discussion groups on guided topics turn into cellphone time or nap time. Reading lyrics to music doesn’t do any good. Chorally reading is the only way I can get at least half the class speaking in complete sentences but I guarantee they have no idea what they are saying they are just repeating words. Is that really helping?

My waiban has suggested debates but my students don’t seem to be at that level if they can’t respond on their feet. Maybe I’m just under estimating their abilities. Who knows.

DAD WHAT WAS I THINKING??