Holding Our Own

We’ve launched into the second week of classes and are still in our preferred building. An email over the weekend from our top administrator said, “Hopefully we can drag on stay at the multiple functional building until the end of the program. That wil make everything easier for us.”

We are all for “drag on stay.” The other night, walking past the building in the dark, I joked with another administrator that we would just take signs and march around the building claiming our turf. He laughed and said that was a good idea. Whatever, we’re one more day in the same place, and today there was no question of whether we had classrooms or not. Tomorrow is another day, but for now, we’re rejoicing.

The English Teacher track began this morning with a class of 15. Most of them are younger than 40, and many in their 20’s. They speak English very well, and share the common problem of trying to teach their students well enough to pass standardized English tests, while not boring them into oblivion. It is a constant tension.

The day proceeded with activity after activity which they did with alacrity. There was not a great deal of discussion between activities though and I wondered if they were baffled, distressed, or bored. Then at the end of the day we circled the chairs for a time of reflection.

Each teacher was asked to give one thing they had learned today. The floodgates opened. They talked for an hour, sharing what had struck them as new and different, and most of all, usable.

In a university of about 30,000 students there are English teachers in each college. But often they feel like they teach in isolation so to gather for two weeks with other English teachers and share ideas is a something they are already thoroughly enjoying.

Meanwhile the other classes are moving along well. I asked one teacher if his class was “clumping” – meaning forming friendships and he said, “Oh, they are like one mass.” Tomorrow the classes will plan field trips for their teacher for the next day. Last week the field trip was planned for them – this week they plan it themselves and can go anywhere if they stay within the budget provided by the University.

This week the lessons begin to move more deeply into values. Today’s lessons dealt with heroes – what makes a hero, who are your heroes, how do you want to be remembered. Tomorrow is on decision making, and the next day on solving dilemmas. As the English improves, discussion moves from the very familiar like family and friends to topics that require a higher level of thinking and speaking. It’s working.

One day at a time.