Tag Archives: lessons
Chinese School After-Action Review
Chinese school is over for the semester. I’ve been teaching here for two years now, the longest time I’ve worked in one school. RACL is really a special place, I’m glad I could work here. I had the best class this semester, thanks to … Continue reading
By Any Other Name
I have a great class at Chinese school this year. Some of it is just luck. I’ve been incredibly fortunate this year not to have a single parent corner me before or after class to tell me how I should … Continue reading
Leaf Subsides To Looseleaf
Reading poetry with teenagers can be such a random encounter, sometimes there’s a blank stare and complaints that no one really talks like that, sometimes they vibrate with the shock that someone from a dusty old century ever wrote a … Continue reading
Wesleyan Commencement Speech
When I went to Bethie’s graduation last month, Anna Quindlen was the commencement speaker. (I know this is not exactly timely, but it took me a while to get my thoughts into a coherent shape) I was really excited to … Continue reading
Be Prepared
I don’t mean to sound like a bitter old schoolmarm, but when did it become the teacher’s job to stop lessons to provide supplies? I remember forgetting my pen or pencil and asking to borrow one in whispers, hoping my … Continue reading
ChinesePod!
If my stories of frustration have made you yearn for the masochistic joys of studying Chinese, you can get a free ChinesePod account here and try it out for yourself! I opted not to use the “Learn Chinese / It’s … Continue reading
Too Much Information
I’m teaching my kids the “This is the way I” song this week. I’m starting with the basic version, with simple actions like Brush My Teeth and Read My Book. I haven’t taught them the Meg version yet… Once when … Continue reading
Life In China
I’ve often wondered at the futility of making advance plans in China. Black And White Cat explains why. The boss says to his secretary: I’m taking you to Beijing for a few days. Get ready to go. The secretary phones … Continue reading
This Picture Is Not Photoshopped
This week most of my English classes were rescheduled and moved to the McDonalds as a cultural field trip. Instead of doing regular lessons, I was to teach them hamburger, fries, chicken, ice cream and Coke. Yes, Coke and not … Continue reading
Ali Bali
We had another lame department meeting on Friday, at which the foreign teachers were asked to sing more songs, add more chants, and more “action songs.” Now, I’m not adverse to teaching and singing Head&Shoulders, or the ABC song (with … Continue reading
