One of the frustrating things that I have been struggling with, like I always did at OSU as well, is the collection of feedback, suggestions and evaluations of the course. I asked my students to write a final journal entry about how the course was for them with specific questions to answer. During the course of this semester I have found that Chinese students are quite honest in their writing and sharing their opinions about my class was no different. I would not recommend reading 220 evaluations in one sitting as even though I received some supportive and favorable comments I only remember the negative ones. I have also found it is hard to teach sophomores who had a strong connection with their first foreign teacher as freshmen last year - especially some of the female students who were completely enamored with them. Really. Some of them openly confessed to me in their journals that they weren't ready to accept another foreign teacher yet because their "hearts were still filled" with the last one. Yikes. Last year's teachers of my students, Ken and Dave, were highly favored and are proving to be tough acts to follow especially because I am in no way outgoing, sarcastic or politically/argumentatively inclined.
Sean's present from his not-so-secret-admirerWhile I found some of the comments discouraging, it also made me appreciate the sophomores for their candor and for the time they took to give me helpful (and sometimes not-so-helpful) suggestions. There were plenty of generic, repetitive and obvious suggestions that one would expect in any oral English class evaluation like "speak more English" and "learn more American culture" as well as the highly popular suggestions of "having class outside" and "learning American songs and dance moves". There were many contradictory opinions like "less group work" and "more group work", "activities were too hard" and "activities were too easy", "loved the journals" and "hated the journals" and "topics were fun" and "topics were boring". The most constructive advice that I came away with (and ideas that I will include in future classes) were an overwhelming interest in poetry, drama and songs, debate, punishing spoken Chinese more harshly and more often, more time for questions in class, current events, new partners/groups more often, making handouts available online, playing more games, and help with suggesting pop culture media for reading and watching. Unfortunately, I probably won't teach these sophomores next semester which is too bad because I think it would have been a fun challenge to keep them engaged and entertained while getting to know them better for three more months.
Things are different with my sole freshmen class and I was already feeling a little shaky, tired and emotional this morning after listening to 35 oral exams when I walked into their class. I started class about the environment and was very happy to take a break after an hour of teaching to eat my orange. All of a sudden students started bringing gifts and cards up to my desk and I was totally shocked and surprised. To cries of "open it" and "read it" I opened my strange and interesting gifts and read the cards aloud and promptly started crying. I didn't mean to and I didn't want to but I couldn't help it and I explained to their confused expressions that I was just a little overwhelmed and very grateful for their show of kindness to which one of them replied "we hope our gifts make you feel warm while you are away from home on Christmas". The piles of crazy cell phone charms, unrecognizable candy, coffee, tea, candles, combs and decorative light shakers (?) made me realize that I think these students have more Christmas spirit than I am feeling right now. I am impressed and humbled. (Sean also received gifts from his students including a cactus dressed as a Santa and a large, stuffed Santa himself.
Presents from studentsIn other, more interesting news, Sean now has a stalker/admirer. I am told that this is common for many male foreign teachers but wasn't expecting it from students when they were aware that he had a girlfriend. Every week this student (he still doesn't know her name) waits for Sean in specific places in order to walk with him to his next class. As far as I know she isn't staking out his apartment (yet), but who knows. This week she waited for him with an elaborately wrapped present and an equally poetic card. I would tell you what she got him but the gifts may or may not show up in the white elephant gift exchange on Christmas...
Finally, I would encourage you to read Ken's and Daniel's recent posts about being an American in China because I think it accurately (and humorously) describes the sometimes ridiculous treatment of Americans living and teaching abroad here.
Thanks for reading this long post and thanks to all who sent Christmas cards and packages. We miss you a LOT! Merry Christmas!
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