Caitlynisher's Xanga

"This is stupid topic."

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:19:16 GMT

In the computer lab today, I got an earful when I assigned this writing task:

"Imagine that you woke up this morning and discovered that you have been transformed into a dog, a cat, a fish, or some other kind of animal. How does the world seem different when viewed through the eyes of this animal? Write an essay using sensory details to describe the world from an animal's point of view."

I thought this would be a fun, enjoyable essay for my students to write. In their Writing classes, they often have to write argumentative essays and compare/contrast essays on heavy topics. "This should be a nice change for them," I thought.

After I explained the assignment, most of the students got started right away, but I noticed that one student was just sitting there. I walked over to him, hoping to encourage him and suggest some techniques for beginning.

"How are you doing?" I asked.

He glared at his screen. "I have no ideas."

"Okay, well you could try--"

"I have no idea. This is stupid topic!"

If I were new at this whole teaching English as a Second Language thing, I might have gotten offended. Instead, I burst out laughing, causing some other students to jump. "I know it's a stupid topic!" I responded. He looked at me like, "Wha?"

"It's stupid, but you're still going to write about it." I continued. "Here, open up the 'Make a Plan' screen and try freewriting or listing to get your ideas flowing." Then I just left him to it for the rest of the period. He mostly stared at the keyboard, his hands or the window blinds, but occasionally I saw him type words here and there. Sometimes, you have to just let students struggle on their own.

Head-banging in Conversation Class

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:51:10 GMT

My beginning conversation class was a riot today! We played a game where one student acted out an ailment, such as a stomachache, and the other students had to guess what the ailment was. You can imagine how lively this class of 17 became as they acted out all manner of sicknesses, but I was still very surprised when one of my most mature students walked up to take his turn. This is a guy who got 100% on his last quiz and who always knows the right answer because he studies so effectively. He calmly approached the front of the room, then suddenly reared his head back and banged it against the board! This was not a little tap; it made a resounding whap and the board shuddered in reply. I gasped in horror, but the student slowly turned around, grimacing, and held his forehead as the students yelled out, "Headache! Headache!" He then beamed as he went back to his seat. I was so shocked that I almost forgot to give a point to the team that had answered. Never a dull moment!

Adventures with Writing

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:33:30 GMT

I learn a lot about other countries' cultures when I teach writing. Today, I asked my level 7 students write a how-to essay about the process of cleaning a room. I thought it was a rather simple assignment, perhaps even too easy for my advanced students. Twenty minutes after I had given the assignment, however, one student raised his hand and called me over to his computer. I walked over to him and saw that he had not typed anything yet. Puzzled, I asked him what was going on.

"I have never cleaned a room before," he explained. "I have no experience with this, so how can I write about it?"

"Um..." I fished about for some sort of answer to this dilemma. Who has never cleaned a room? I truly didn't understand how one could be in his mid-30's and not know such a thing. I mean, seriously? Was he joking?

The student sensed my confusion. "That doesn't mean the room is dirty. It gets cleaned," he further clarified.

"Oh! So someone cleans it. You just don't do it yourself," I caught on. (I also thought I had a pretty good idea of the gender of the actual cleaner.) "Well, maybe you can write about how to get someone else to clean a room for you."

"Okay," the student answered. Problem solved. Kind of.

ELS Pictures!

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:15:02 GMT

I just added a new photo album to this blog entitled "ELS/Indianapolis." Click on "Caitlynisher" at the top of this page, then scroll down to view the album. Enjoy!

Is there a boar in this?

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:55:49 GMT

Today in my Beginning English class, I was about to start my students on a new reading passage when a goateed man raised his hand and asked, "Teacher, is there a boar in this?"

"Um," I hesitated, "Sorry?"

"A boar, a boar," he repeated, pointing to a bag of Skittles he had taken from his bag. Some of his friends tried to explain what he was trying to say. -"No, he mean bort." -"No no, do it have bord!"

I was confused and quite embarrassed that I had no idea what my entire class was asking of me. They were very earnest and I could tell this was important to them. I tried to use what I knew about them to conjecture what they might be getting at. Let's see, they're from Saudi Arabia, they're men...and that was all I could think of. We hadn't gotten to anything deeper in our class discussions. As I puzzled over the possibilities of what my students wanted to communicate, another energetic student pointed emphatically at the Skittles and said, "An American say this have boar. My friend ask and the American say yes it have boar."

I was still stumped. Again, I reviewed what I knew about my students. They're from Saudi Arabia, they're men, and...oh! They're Muslim! They don't eat pork.

"You mean pork!" I exclaimed, ecstatic that I finally knew what was going on in my classroom. "No, Skittles do not have pork in them. Who told you that?"

"An American," my Skittles-holding student replied. "He say it have pork. Right here." He pointed to the ingredients list.

Now, I was pretty sure that Skittles do not have pork in them. But what kind of a horrible person would tell a Muslim - who clearly doesn't speak very good English - that there was pork in something that didn't actually have pork in it? Especially if it's something delicious like Skittles which the Muslim learner of English was clearly looking forward to eating. I checked the ingredients list just to make sure. Nope, no pork. No meat products of any kind in the Skittles.

"There is definitely no pork in this," I said, as kindly as I could while trying not to laugh. "The American was only joking." Privately, I was thinking that that American, whoever he was, was a huge jerk. But if I focus on the positive aspects of this experience, I can remind myself that I am privileged to be a teacher. By virtue of my position, my students trust me to tell them the truth. I will not betray that trust; I will always be honest with them.

Doing What I Love in Indy

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:35:05 GMT

I'd like to take a moment to make sure you all understand where I am and why I'm doing this blog. First, a little history. The original purpose of this blog was to update family and friends during my 2005 study abroad trip to Vienna, Austria. I was a student and research assistant for Brigham Young University's German Department at the time. Later, the purpose of this blog was to share my experiences as a US Peace Corps Volunteer while I served as a Teacher of English Language Fluency in the Philippines from August 2008 to April 2010. Now, I use this blog to comment on my current (and super-awesome) situation in my home state, where I get to teach cool subjects to exceptional people.

During the day, I teach English as a Second Language at a private language school called ELS/Indianapolis. ELS Educational Services has over 50 centers in the US and Canada, as well as locations in Asia and the Middle East. We teach English language skills - especially speaking, listening, reading and writing - to adults from all over the world, many of whom wish to study at American universities and need to increase their English proficiency in order to do so. In the classes I'm currently teaching, I have students from China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Venezuela, Italy, Turkey, and Taiwan. I consider it a privilege to get to work with students from all over the world every day.

Twice a week, I teach an evening class called Accelerated Beginning German at Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI). Last semester was my first time teaching a college course, and I was delighted to be able to teach it to seven students who took responsibility for their own learning. I feel that taking responsibility for one's own learning is the most important choice a student can make for success, so it was a pleasure to teach students who had figured that out.

Here at ELS Language Centers...

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 02:53:56 GMT

My English as a Second Language students are hilarious, often without trying to be. Last week in Reading and Writing class, I turned to one student and asked, "If I were to visit your country, what would you suggest I wear?"

He thought for a moment. "Nothing," he finally answered. He looked confused when my face turned red and the rest of the class burst out laughing. He had meant that he had nothing to suggest, but it had come out sounding as if he wanted me to run around his native land in the nude.

Sunburst

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:07:05 GMT

I feel inadequate as a writer as I sit down to record what's happened since I returned to Indianapolis. I was a teary mess as I left the Philippines, and I felt that my heart was completely broken. However, if my heart was completely broken in April, I was gradually given a new, whole one between then and now. One new piece came from seeing my family again; another, from returning to the church congregation of my youth. One piece came from securing a deeply fulfilling position as a Teacher of English as a Second Language at ELS Language Centers; the next from accepting an unexpected offer to teach German at Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis. The world seemed black and foreboding in April, but now I've been blessed with a sunburst. The Lord is so good to me!

It seems that I should write some sort of insightful "wrap-up" statement regarding my Peace Corps experience, but I actually don't feel the need to say much more about it. I've striven to share my thoughts on this weblog since day one of the experience, and now I have moved on to opportunities that came to me because of my service. I will always be grateful for the characteristics and skills I developed as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I understand why the Peace Corps is called "the toughest job you'll ever love," but I hope it won't be for me. I look forward to even greater experiences in the future.

Making It a Blessing in Disguise

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:55:55 GMT

I have been a whirlwind of activity lately. I've been teaching guitar at the DSWD every morning, having the more advanced students teach the beginners. I've been helping at Young Women's Camp and leading a choir. I've continued actively participating in all my church meetings, and I've been spending time with friends, doing yoga, and practicing guitar often. All of that came to a standstill when I woke up last Tuesday unable to move my legs. I was hospitalized for three nights and seem to have recovered. However, Peace Corps feels that the best thing for my health and safety is for me to return home. I'm being medically separated.

You can imagine my disappointment yesterday when I heard the news. An appeal was made and denied. As I lay awake late into the night, I considered my options. It's clear that I can't change this fact: I have to get on a plane on Saturday and say goodbye to this country I've been striving to serve for the past 20 months. I can't change that. I can, however, choose the way that I react to this situation. If there's one thing I know how to do, it's dealing with situations that I don't want to be in. My history has shown that I can do it, and I will do it again now.

This is what I choose. I choose to joyfully embrace my mother when I see her again. I choose to hug and kiss my two newest nieces, whom I've never met, until they squirm with annoyance at my effusion of affection. I choose to look my father in the eyes, face to face, and tell him that I love him. I choose to express my joy at seeing my brothers and enjoying their company once again. I choose to focus on the joy of associating with my family in person.

During my service here, I have learned much about the Philippines, life, and myself. To the people I have grown to know and love here, thank you for welcoming me into your lives. I care for you and wish you deep peace and happiness. I have become a better person because of what I've learned from you. To my friends and family back home, I look forward to seeing you again. I appreciate your support as I've done my best to follow the Lord's will for my life.

I usually do not speak much of spiritual things online because I feel that some things are too sacred for this setting. However, at this time I wish to say that I know that God knows me personally, loves me, and has a plan for me. As I continue to seek His will, He will guide me to become the woman He knows I can become. I will trust that this medical separation, though initially disappointing, can become a blessing to me and to others.

Til There Was You

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:25:42 GMT

On Valentine's Day, I was invited to sing at a small gathering held at the home of a fellow church member. Here's a video of my a capella performance of "Til There Was You" from "The Music Man."