Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Grinch
I am unable to look up "Grinch" in most prevailing dictionary (both printed and electronic) but then I google it and find out it's a character in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" created by Dr.Theodor Seuss Geisel and it's been used to describe one who spoils the pleasure of others. Why is a search engine more powerful than Oxford Advanced Dictionary?
The Grinch
I am unable to look up "Grinch" in most prevailing dictionary (both printed and electronic) but then I google it and find out it's a character in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" created by Dr.Theodor Seuss Geisel and it's been used to describe one who spoils the pleasure of others. Why is a search engine more powerful than Oxford Advanced Dictionary?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Beijing
I really like teaching debate. It's gotten to the point where everyone knows each other, so practices are really fun and we joke around. The students know that we are looking out for their best interests. They're excited about their recently announced scholarships and travel opportunities. I've been selected to teach at a debate workshop in South Korea, and hopefully the students can come with me!
It's funny to call them "students" since at least one is older than me. Debate has opened up some really interesting conversations about democracy, need for free speech, etc. These are the same debates we have in the US and Europe -- with the exception that relatively few people in the West genuinely think that those things aren't fundamental or neccesary. But in China this is a different story. Some of my students think that for China, the priorities are bringing a billion people out of poverty and maintaining stability. They point out success in dictatorial places like Singapore, the failure of the World's largest democracy (India) against corruption, the collectivist nature of Chinese culture. These are not arguments that I haven't heard before, but it's really interesting to hear them from intelligent people who really believe them. It's interesting to hear young people like me defending the practices of their nation, while asking me to do the same about the US.
Chinese education is really focused on rote memorization. People point out how the US is falling way behind Asian countries in math and science-- but this is only measurable on standardized exams. Of *course* Asian countries are doing better -- it's all memorization-based, which works out very well for these exams. After working here, I am less worried about developing nations taking over the West intellectually. Students also lack 'basic' education -- it's all highly specialized. As long as these countries focused on memorization over critical thinking skills, I don't think the West has anything to fear.
This makes debate an especially interesting activity, as students are actually encouraged to have an opinion and use creativity in forming arguments.
While visiting Tianammen, I told a student about how any US citizen could go to the White House and shout "Obama Sucks!" all day long and not get in trouble. She didn't believe it. This is now my dream field trip for my students.
It's funny to call them "students" since at least one is older than me. Debate has opened up some really interesting conversations about democracy, need for free speech, etc. These are the same debates we have in the US and Europe -- with the exception that relatively few people in the West genuinely think that those things aren't fundamental or neccesary. But in China this is a different story. Some of my students think that for China, the priorities are bringing a billion people out of poverty and maintaining stability. They point out success in dictatorial places like Singapore, the failure of the World's largest democracy (India) against corruption, the collectivist nature of Chinese culture. These are not arguments that I haven't heard before, but it's really interesting to hear them from intelligent people who really believe them. It's interesting to hear young people like me defending the practices of their nation, while asking me to do the same about the US.
Chinese education is really focused on rote memorization. People point out how the US is falling way behind Asian countries in math and science-- but this is only measurable on standardized exams. Of *course* Asian countries are doing better -- it's all memorization-based, which works out very well for these exams. After working here, I am less worried about developing nations taking over the West intellectually. Students also lack 'basic' education -- it's all highly specialized. As long as these countries focused on memorization over critical thinking skills, I don't think the West has anything to fear.
This makes debate an especially interesting activity, as students are actually encouraged to have an opinion and use creativity in forming arguments.
While visiting Tianammen, I told a student about how any US citizen could go to the White House and shout "Obama Sucks!" all day long and not get in trouble. She didn't believe it. This is now my dream field trip for my students.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Getting Told off By ESL Students
An email from my student:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Dearest Buttface,
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/cGciecKdi-g
maybe we can try their training way, what do you think?
hehe~
Dorothy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Dearest Buttface,
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/cGciecKdi-g
maybe we can try their training way, what do you think?
hehe~
Dorothy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Words
OK so some background before I explain a silly text: Chinese doesn't have designated "name" words. I.e., in English, "John" or "Susan" can only be person's name. In Chinese, a person's name can be any word--but there aren't special "name words". (Shiyuan explains it more here: http://torrentmagazine.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/did-you-say-shy-yan-shu-yen-can-i-just-call-you-sheila/
So, my language partnter's name is "White". I asked her why, and she said it was her favorite color. She then asked me why native english speakers always asked why she had that name. She sort of understands that there's something wierd/funny about it, but she didn't seem to totally understnd my attempt at explaining why it's strange. Anyway, I forgot about last week's language lesson. Tonight, I recieved this text from a strange number:
"Hi Holly! Don't forget language lesson tomorrow. I am White."
This morning, Amy (fellow ETA) found out that she had a facebook virus that posted on friend's walls about some product that was supposed to clean your colon. We're friends with a lot of our ESL students, and some of them were very, very confused.
Teaching English makes you really aware of the language that you are using. The other day, my apartment-mate and fellow ETA Amy, called the music I was listening to "rapster" music. This set off giggling with me and Emily. So Emily and Amy got into an argument about whether or not it was a word. So they looked it up on urban dictionary, and there it was. They submitted an additional entry, which was accepted this evening. This is the email that Emily then sent to Amy, who has already gone to sleep:
"Good morning, sunshine.
I have a feeling that you are going to have a good day. And not only because of the toxins that you cleaned out of your colon yesterday. Check this out:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rapster
That's right baby. We're #1!!!
Sincerely yours,
Future Amy"
So, my language partnter's name is "White". I asked her why, and she said it was her favorite color. She then asked me why native english speakers always asked why she had that name. She sort of understands that there's something wierd/funny about it, but she didn't seem to totally understnd my attempt at explaining why it's strange. Anyway, I forgot about last week's language lesson. Tonight, I recieved this text from a strange number:
"Hi Holly! Don't forget language lesson tomorrow. I am White."
This morning, Amy (fellow ETA) found out that she had a facebook virus that posted on friend's walls about some product that was supposed to clean your colon. We're friends with a lot of our ESL students, and some of them were very, very confused.
Teaching English makes you really aware of the language that you are using. The other day, my apartment-mate and fellow ETA Amy, called the music I was listening to "rapster" music. This set off giggling with me and Emily. So Emily and Amy got into an argument about whether or not it was a word. So they looked it up on urban dictionary, and there it was. They submitted an additional entry, which was accepted this evening. This is the email that Emily then sent to Amy, who has already gone to sleep:
"Good morning, sunshine.
I have a feeling that you are going to have a good day. And not only because of the toxins that you cleaned out of your colon yesterday. Check this out:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rapster
That's right baby. We're #1!!!
Sincerely yours,
Future Amy"
Friday, November 13, 2009
Bali, Singapore, Thailand
A lot has happened since I last posted.
I went to Bali for 4 days, and spent a day in Singapore on the way back. Bali was AWESOME. I didn't do the beach/surf thing. I stayed in a home stay in Ubud (cultural center) and stayed really busy. The first day, I took a tour to Tulamben, and went scuba diving for the first time. It is probably the coolest thing that I have ever done. The ocean was so full of life. Approaching the wreck of this ship (USAT Liberty) was amazing. The water is pretty clear; once you are within 50 ft or so you can sense a massive dark shape in front of you. Being able to move so freely in three dimensions is amazing. The ship was covered in rust, corals the size of monster truck tires, neon-colored eels, and brightly colored fish. On our way back to the beach, were were surrounded by a tornado of jack fish trying to confuse a predator. Amazing.
The next day, I hiked a volcano caldera (starting at 3 am to make it up there), and toured a hindu temple, as well as a coffee/spice farm.
One the way back, I met up with Lauryn. We did a lot of tourist-y things, including drinking a Singapore Sling in the place where it was invented, at the Raffles Long Bar.
The next weekend, I went with Amy to Bangkok. On the first day, we took a bike tour of a rural area. This was probably the highlight of the trip. Our guide bought us lotus seeds, green mango, and gelatinous rice cooked in banana leaves on the way out. The rice paddies were really beautiful, and we ate probably the best lunch of the trip at a farmer's house.
The next day, we went to the Bridge over the River Kwai, which had a beautiful war memorial and museum. I bought my dad a hat and a book since he's really into WWII stuff. We were also able to feed a baby leopard by the bridge. We then rode elephants, rafted down a river, visited a beautiful natural waterfall, and went to the tiger temple. The next day, we went to the national palace and different wats.
Bangkok has terrible traffic, and is home to the most vile form of transportation known to man: the tuk-tuk. These are essentially 50cc scooters with a tiny passenger area built on back. They are open air, so the engine exhaust comes right back to hit you. They drive like Kamikaze pilots - incredibly aggressive. Tuk-tuk drivers will always try to lie to you-- to tell you that the places you want ot visit are closed and only open later, or will intentionally give you wrong directions, so that you will take a ride with them instead. They usually take you to a tailor shop or a souvenir shop instead of your destination so they can get a kickback from the owner. They're rude and try to cheat you. Dislike.
So this week I am working here. Next week I'm going to Bangkok for debate, and Beijing the week after. Woohoo!
I went to Bali for 4 days, and spent a day in Singapore on the way back. Bali was AWESOME. I didn't do the beach/surf thing. I stayed in a home stay in Ubud (cultural center) and stayed really busy. The first day, I took a tour to Tulamben, and went scuba diving for the first time. It is probably the coolest thing that I have ever done. The ocean was so full of life. Approaching the wreck of this ship (USAT Liberty) was amazing. The water is pretty clear; once you are within 50 ft or so you can sense a massive dark shape in front of you. Being able to move so freely in three dimensions is amazing. The ship was covered in rust, corals the size of monster truck tires, neon-colored eels, and brightly colored fish. On our way back to the beach, were were surrounded by a tornado of jack fish trying to confuse a predator. Amazing.
The next day, I hiked a volcano caldera (starting at 3 am to make it up there), and toured a hindu temple, as well as a coffee/spice farm.
One the way back, I met up with Lauryn. We did a lot of tourist-y things, including drinking a Singapore Sling in the place where it was invented, at the Raffles Long Bar.
The next weekend, I went with Amy to Bangkok. On the first day, we took a bike tour of a rural area. This was probably the highlight of the trip. Our guide bought us lotus seeds, green mango, and gelatinous rice cooked in banana leaves on the way out. The rice paddies were really beautiful, and we ate probably the best lunch of the trip at a farmer's house.
The next day, we went to the Bridge over the River Kwai, which had a beautiful war memorial and museum. I bought my dad a hat and a book since he's really into WWII stuff. We were also able to feed a baby leopard by the bridge. We then rode elephants, rafted down a river, visited a beautiful natural waterfall, and went to the tiger temple. The next day, we went to the national palace and different wats.
Bangkok has terrible traffic, and is home to the most vile form of transportation known to man: the tuk-tuk. These are essentially 50cc scooters with a tiny passenger area built on back. They are open air, so the engine exhaust comes right back to hit you. They drive like Kamikaze pilots - incredibly aggressive. Tuk-tuk drivers will always try to lie to you-- to tell you that the places you want ot visit are closed and only open later, or will intentionally give you wrong directions, so that you will take a ride with them instead. They usually take you to a tailor shop or a souvenir shop instead of your destination so they can get a kickback from the owner. They're rude and try to cheat you. Dislike.
So this week I am working here. Next week I'm going to Bangkok for debate, and Beijing the week after. Woohoo!
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