China: Day 8: July 12, 2010

First day of school…. somehow, all of the planning and the communication and the miscommunication is behind us and we have now completed the first day of school. Actually, they are calling it the first day of camp, but it had very much a first day of school feel about it.

We were up early, and had meeting with other teachers over breakfast, arriving at the school at 8:15 with a lovely sign welcoming us all to the American Scene Summer Camp.

There was a bit of scrambling because some of the supplies that we needed had not arrived yet yesterday, but were there today.

The beginning part of the day included a one-hour assembly that was a remarkable opening ceremony. This was filled with lots of speeches and government and school officials, as well as being introduced on stage as the distinguished teachers from America.

One Chinese student gave quite a wonderful speech. We all had tears in our eyes as he encouraged all of the children to take advantage of the amazing opportunity to learn “authentic English”. I was reflecting that most of the English these students hear is by non-Native speakers. They played “We are the World” and, even though it was kind of schmaltzy, it was also nice. These really are very beautiful children.

When the assembly was complete, the students arrived in our classrooms. The students are group by ability level (beginning,

advanced beginning, intermediate, and advanced. And then within those groups they are also divided by ability, so the students really ranged in how much English they are able to speak and to understand. The students that my team is working with are mostly 3^rd and 4^th graders with one class of 5^th and 6^th graders. And there is quite a range within those groups, too.

The day went well. Some groups were able to really tear through a lot of material and activities, and some didn’t get through as much. All students introduced themselves with their English names. Popular names include David, Helen and Jenny, with some having chosen for themselves names such a Candy, Dodo, Killer and Martini.

The students were highly impressed with my photos of me telling stories in an actual classroom in the US. They also really enjoyed the movement activity where I had them move around the room ‘very slowly” or marching or crawling like a baby or on your stomach like a snake. The teacher in the room below me wishes I would do less marching, so I’ll try to keep it a bit more quiet.

We have the tension of a huge amount of curriculum that they would like us to cover, but also to have the students had a lot of fun. This is a tricky balance. Oh yeah, we also have a performance for the parents already on Friday afternoon. We introduced the concept of reader’s theatre (choral reading of short scripts) and then had the students try them. A range of how successful, but one group was able to quickly memorize a script and say with enthusiastic articulation.

Trying to figure out what vocabulary we need to teach is interesting. I ended up having quite a discussion with one class about the word "cave" verses "cage"….quite a different. They also didn't understand the word "partner" as in "find yourself a partner." Things that we take for granted, they have never heard of. We are supposed to be studying animals and their different environments around the world. Fun, but a challenge for some of these little kids for whom English is still highly mysterious. Thank goodness for the Chinese teachers who could translate as wee needed it. My last class of the day, which was the lowest class, ended up teaching me a few words of Chinese, and they laughed at my terrible pronunciation. They especially loved the moving around the room. We had very interesting discussions about the phrase “goodness gracious” (okay, try explaining THAT one!) They also often use the phrase, "Oh my God!" although they don't seem to really know what that means.

We teach only 4 hours out of the day, with morning and afternoon breaks, plus two hours off for lunch and trip back to the hotel…where some people sleep and I talk with my husband, Dick, by Skype on the internet. This sounds like a cushy workday, but this takes a lot out of the teachers and the students. It is more difficult because many of the classes are being taught in non-air conditioned rooms.

Which are VERY hot, dripping sweat hot.I am lucky with my air-conditioning, which I learned how to tell which switch was the on and off button…how cool is that?

So far, this is VERY hard work, but I am also learning a ton. For example, today I read the quote “every little makes a mickle.”

A typo you wonder? No, a British or Scottish proverb meaning every little bit counts or adds up. Who knew?

We have quite good comradely among most of the staff. It is a highly talented group of teachers. And everyone is teaching their hearts out. Another 14 teaching days to go…may it all allow us to touch the hearts and minds of one another.

After school, we had a big debriefing meeting, and them back to the hotel for dinner, a little more planning and off to bed. Tomorrow is another school day.