Classes

It is Friday and I just made it through the first week of classes.  It wasn't too stressful, as I found I fell into teacher-voice very easily.  I don't know where my teacher voice came from...maybe from last year in Vienna teaching the Kinder.  I also don't know if it's good or not, but it feels comfortable to be up there talking.  It is so tiring though.  Teaching an hour-long piano lesson to a single student is tiring and these classes have 30 students and are an hour and forty minutes long.  I have classes with freshman, pre-masters students, and masters students, and for some reason all of the classes have about the same level of English comprehension.  I guess this makes my job easier.  But I was also sort of expecting to have some folks with kickass speaking skills, so that we could do in-depth, fun stuff.  It can't imagine how I'm going to teach...language.  haha.  I understand how to teach the "th" or "v" sounds, how to talk about Western universities, how to organize a classroom or an activity.  But how do you explain how to go about saying, "I just made it through the first week" or "Would you please hand me a tissue?"?  I feel like I need to be taught a process.  This is why people get degrees in education, I'm sure - to learn the process of teaching.  I suppose I've taken so many language classes, I should know by now.  But I've never been sitting in a language class thinking, "OK, remember this so you can recreate it when you're teaching in China."  I remember my first Italian teacher at Skidmore just had us chant, and repeat phrases, over and over until our mouths were dry.  I liked that a lot but is that too dumbed down for masters students who speak decent English?  I don't know. It's like, everything probably seems boring and lame to me, because it's not hard, but for them, a really basic activity is probably fine.  Like saying "Where do you live?" a bunch of times probably does not bore them.  I don't know. 
Anyway, all the students are very friendly.  Well, my one class of Huanan folks (pre-masters students) seem a bit grumpier than the rest, but this might be because I made the mistake (didn't know it was a mistake) of asking them what they'd like to learn, you know, because they're old enough to have a say in what they're taught.  Apparently this is a big no-no.  I have since been informed that Chinese students are "passive learners" and do not want to think about what to learn, but would prefer the teacher to just tell them what to do at all times.  Um...I have trouble with this.  If I told a professor at Skidmore, home of Creative Though Matters, that my pre-masters students weren't willing to participate in the creation of the course...that would not be OK.  In any case the three classes of freshman I had were all very excited and friendly and lovely.  The students are not quiet or shy like people say they will be.  In fact some of them are outright bold, and I think any shyness comes from a lack of confidence with English.  I gave every class a chance to ask me questions about anything, and it was so interesting to hear what they are curious about. 

Here are some of the standard questions:
What do Americans think of China and Chinese students? (I have to lie a little bit for this one, as I think it would be dangerous to explain our views on the Communist issue)
(that sentence will probably be cut from this blog by whomever is monitoring it)
Do you like Chinese food? Do you like American fast food?
Do you like Gossip Girl? High School Musical?  Lady Gaga?
What was your major at University? (When I reply, music, there is a wave of excited "aaaahhhh"s from the crowd. very few of them have heard of a "harp" so I have to do some gesticulation and drawing, and then another wave of "oooooohhhhh".)
What is your religion? (to which I reply, I was told not to talk to you about religion)
Do you have a boyfriend? Have you ever been in love?
What are you looking for in a husband? Would you consider a Chinese man for a husband? 
I think your golden hair is very beautiful.  Is it natural? 
Do you like to travel? Where have you visited? 
What are some points of interest in your hometown?
What are your first impressions of China? 

And then there was also:
Can I kiss you? (from a girl)
Why are you not married, if you are so pretty?
You say your brother is very handsome.  Will you bring him to visit? 

So, things are alright so far.  I just need to do some serious planning.  Everyone offers to take me shopping, teach me Chinese, find me a boyfriend, go to dinner with me, etc. although I don't feel comfortable accepting the offers.  I will have to try.  One girl said she plays the flute and is learning some part from Carmen, and would I like to play the piano part?  This is a definite yes.  I had my "personal assistant" take me to the room with the piano the other day, and although I couldn't actually play because there were all these people milling about, I got to listen to a rehearsal of a group of people playing Chinese instruments.  I asked the girl playing the Guzheng if she would teach me to play and she said yes but that there is also a course for beginners.  So I tried to look into it but of course when I ask someone, they say ask this person, who says I don't know.  You know, the usual.