>I’m testing the English majors today. One of the students (who I may have mentioned before) never speaks. Under any circumstances. Since it is an oral test, if he does not speak, I will have no choice but to fail him.

I don’t know much about him, but he doesn’t seem to be some brat who’s here because daddy has money. He comes in every day and reads from his Phonetics book and writes down a lot. So why does he not speak?

Is it a lack of ability? Or is he too shy? Is the education system to blame? Or is he just bad at languages? Did his parents force him to choose this major?

That’s another thing I’m not too clear about. When I tested the Computer Science (or Computer Engineering, they didn’t know the English translation, which was but the beginning of the fun) majors, several of them said they had to pick this major due to scores on their entrance test.

Well, I am off to test. I’ll post later and tell you how it went. Biz!

>I am at the coffee shop at the New Campus. Last week, Louise had taught me the word for sugar, “tang”. So, when I ordered my coffee, I applied my new knowledge.

“Mei you tang.” [may yo tahng]

She looks at me.

“Mei you tang,” I say louder. Nothing.

“Mei you sugar.”

“Ah, mei you tang.”

Tang with a rising tone. Not the neutral tone. Not the American accent either.

I hope to apply this new knowledge next time.

————-

My girlfriend and I are outside my apartment. Earlier that day, a student had given me a term of endearment to use for her: “bao bei”. I turn to her.

“Bao bai.”

She looks at me. I try again.

“Bao bai.” I grow impatient and translate, “It’s sweetheart. Bao bai.”

She starts laughing. “Bao bei”. And it clicks.

>Some photos of Christmas displays are up at the Flickr Account.

From what I gather, families here do not celebrate Christmas.

Families might not, but local businesses sure as hell do. Everything, from cafeteria serving authentic Chinese food to McDonald’s serving western shit, all have Christmas displays up. Some have their employees dressed up; beautiful girls wearing cute Santa hats.

I am trying to convince my girlfriend to wear one. So far, no luck. :(

>

Next week I am moving to classes five and six for the last two weeks.

They did not give an exact reason, but do they really have to? I am foreign. I have the key to unlock the box to mastering English.

Too bad I’ve seemed to have misplaced it. If I find it, good for us, but that looks unlikely, as I cannot recall ever possessing it in the first place.

The last week will be tests, and then travel. I am going to Beijing and Xi’an. Possibly Harbin, and if my RMB supply is good, Hong Kong. I’d love to go to Cambodia and see Angkor Wat, but we’ll see.

>The last couple posts have dealt with disobedient students. This often coincides with a poor grasp of English, so it’s not my teaching per se that infuriates them, but rather, their own frustration at not understanding English.

It’s not just the two I mentioned. Occassionally, you’ll get a brat who talks back, who interjects dumb comments. Teaching these kids is like teaching kids—it’s sometimes like teaching high school students.

What to do about these students? Opinions differ.

Teacher 1: Do not fail them if they’re not English majors.

Teacher 2: Fail the little smart-ass. Give him a zero, but if he speaks some English, give him a 1.

I did not fail the one from the last batch. I doubt I’ll fail any of them.