a little coffee

Chris and I went in to speak to Gerald, Ger Bear, Sir Gerald of Idiotdom, this afternoon.  Earlier this morning, between my classes, I stopped at his office to make sure he’d be in later to discuss these incredibly shitacular  classes we have.  He agreed to 4:30 and I allowed myself to hope that something could be done about these useless computer and art majors.  

I dashed off to my computer majors who, to my shock, actually behaved in class.  I played them a song (Drive by Incubus) and when we went over the lyrics, me soapboxing on why the song is so awesome, I stopping to ask if there were any words they didn’t understand.  And they actually told me!  In the previous classes they stared blankly at me when I asked them anything and it’s impossible to tell what’s happening in their doodle brains.  Comprendo?  Too shy?  Think this monkey is a bit cuckoo? But they (by they I mean about eight of the 48 students) spoke up!  Even later, when we did our discussion about families, a couple of those 8 girls volunteered to say something in front of the whole class!  What the crap?  Had I judged them too harshly?

Perhaps.  Three girls came up to me during the class break and explained to me (between doodles to each other) that they’re used to speeches (read: lectures) from their teachers.  To be a good student in China is to be attentive and absolutely silent.  Yes, yes I understand that.  BUT I’ve told all of you 80 times that you have to speak up, at least let me know if you don’t understand something.  How am I to know if you get it?  This is also not a normal doodle class, this is an oral class, a speaking class, which is much different.  I’m running this classroom like an American classroom where it (gasp!) is encouraged for students to share their opinions, to ask questions. 

I simply, slowly, explained that to the girls who insisted they’d try harder next time.  Good, good, very good.

Blaaaaargh… so now I’m confuzzled.  Only a fraction seem to care about this class, but they’re trying.  Trying I can work with.  The other forty can rot at their desks if they want.  But then I get annoyed with this university, who did doodley-squat in preparing us to deal with these types of students whose language skills aren’t developed enough to really have the conversations that they insist we exert our energies into making the students have.  It’s not fair, or realistic to expect a classroom full of shy students who’ve been trained to be silent, who have little English, to suddenly be able to intelligibly talk in front of their classmates.  It’s difficult enough persuading well-spoken English majors to say a few words, let alone these groups.

My strategy shifted.  I would tell Ger Bear that these students have underdeveloped language skills and would be better suited for this type of class in a year or two.  But if he insisted on this nonsense, I would need a little advice on what to to with these students.  How can I get them to more freely communicate at the language level they’re at? 

Ready to go, I met Chris after his class and we went up to see Ger Bear.  He wasn’t there.  Door looked, no sign.  What the hell?  I had an appointment!  We lallygagged in the lounge near his office for twenty minutes until we decided it was a lost cause- most of the other teachers and officials on the floor were packing up for the evening.  Ger wasn’t coming back.  We had had clues on his incompetence before but this was just plain rude.

Upon returning home, Chris immediately called him and got an answer (which, frankly, surprised me).  Evidently he had a meeting and couldn’t get ahold of us because he had the wrong number.  Sure.  Chris explained our concerns and he said he’d talk to the department leaders.  Which I think is doodles for, “too bad, you’ll just have to deal with it.”  Sigh…

We tried.  But it’s still early in the semester so if things go downhill, he’ll be hearing from us again- sans appointments!