From my youngest students to my oldest, this has been a good week at Shane English Yuxi. Below is a photo (taken on a TA’s mobile phone) of some of my kindergarteners. This class began about three months ago and it was rough at the beginning; there was at least one child crying every week. But now that we’ve all gotten to know each other, they are probably my most beloved kids.
At the other end of the age spectrum, my 12 year olds continue to amaze me with their insight and abilities. This was what one of my students wrote in response to an assignment to write an essay using the target language “you should”:
Students these days often have a lot of worries. Sometimes, they have problems with their schoolwork and sometimes with their friends. What can they do about this? Problems and worries are normal in life. I think talking to someone will help a lot. Unless we talk to someone, we’ll certainly feel worse. If you talk to your parents, they will really understand. It’s best not to run away from problems. If you have a problem, you should talk to someone. Just like putting a plaster on a cut.
They ARE adorable and I bet they love you too! Are they doing the Chinese version of ‘YMCA”? I’m kidding. “Plaster on a cut”–tough kids.
Well, not really. We’re a British school, and in the UK “a plaster” is what we Americans would call a Band-Aid.
Don’t you love how the little ones lack self-consciousness? Cuties!
Ask the 12 year old who wrote the paragraph above and the 12 year old who wrote about killing the Japanese president to discuss their writings with each other. I think the former would benefit. I am curious what he/she wrote for this assignment. Unless–I can’t believe this–the two assignments were written by one and the same student? No, the authors’ “voices” were sooo different. Is there any time for that kind of partner interaction during your teaching day?
Forgot it was a girl who wrote about her lottery-funded assassination.