Letters from Overseas

September 2008

• The Amity Foundation
  Education Division
  71 Hankou Road
  Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008
  CHINA

Hi!

This has been an amazing week. Apparently I love teaching adults! My students are wonderful. They listen so attentively, they try to follow every instruction (once they have figured out what it is), and they work very hard to complete all assignments. Often at home when leading workshops, we ask teachers to share information with other participants. It is not unusual for the conversations of one or two of the pairs to turn quickly to other topics. Such is not the case here. I am amazed at how seriously they take this opportunity to share with others and practise their English.

We had an interesting discussion about rules and punishments. I may have mentioned before that Chinese students like to have punishments attached to the breaking of rules. In our first class I outlined some standards of behaviour: cell phones off, respect and encourage all participants, only use Chinese when you have run out of English. The participants seemed aware that, previously in this course, fines were attached to the "breaking" of rules. They are quite amused and puzzled, maybe a little skeptical, that I don't believe in that practice. Instead we are building a community in which it is safe to practise and therefore, a place where they want to try out their English. I already can see this community developing!

At the end of each day my students write in a journal reflecting on what they have learned, teaching methods they have observed, and any questions that might have arisen from the day's lessons. Here are a few journal snippets: One of the things that we discussed this week was Multiple Intelligences. One of the activities helps students to explore their own intelligences and they get a score out of five for each intelligence, such as interpersonal, naturalist, musical, etc. Never before have my students taken the results so seriously: one person is questioning his major which he has been involved in for 15 years! I must explain that this is just one theory and one simplified test.

After watching The Wizard of Oz, I asked students to identify the character who was most like them. I was reminded of children when they are learning English going through a phase of overgeneralizing the rules: e.g., saying "eated" when they have learned that you form the past by adding "ed." I enjoyed Lily's expression "My 'likest' is Dorothy." Several participants suggested that I was strict because I make them listen to each other. I have observed before that listening to the questions and answers of other students does not seem to be highly valued in the Chinese classroom. I think reading their journals will be a highlight of my week. Most of the entries are carefully constructed and include interesting analyses of their daily learning. It is an honour to have them share.

I have had an interesting time trying to find a cane/walking stick! My first thought was to try pharmacies. I checked many, but no canes. When I asked the Foreign Affairs office they directed me to a huge multi-level marketplace, a small outdoor market, and the shops outside a park. I checked the outdoor market and saw some wonderful hiking sticks but not a plain walking stick. I finally booked a student to go with me on Saturday to the park to see what we could find. She really seemed doubtful that this was the place to find a walking stick. We went to a pharmacy at the gates of the park and of course, they did not have one but the shopkeeper was able to direct us to the shop where we would find one: the photography shop! Now, why didn't I think of that! Now that I actually have a walking stick, I expect my knee will improve tremendously.

I hope the first week of school has gone well for those of you who have started or have family members who have started a new term. I think and talk about you often as my new students are very keen to learn about my friends and family and how they spend their time!

Love,
Mary

Mary Fraser is a United Church of Canada Overseas Personnel serving with the Amity Foundation in China. The work of this ecumenical partner and the work of overseas personnel are made possible through your gifts to the Mission and Service Fund of The United Church of Canada.