First Impressions
By Collins
Before coming to China, my only exposure to Chinese culture was eating Mandarin food from the local fast food restaurant, and watching Kung Fu movies. So saying that I was nervous about coming to China was an understatement. My only experience before coming to the middle kingdom was teaching high schools students as an art teacher. I spent 3 years as an art teacher in the suburbs of Chicago.
While flying 13 hours in the airplane over the Artic, I had a lot of time to think. I wondered if my skills as a teacher would some how help me as an ESL instructor. I wondered whether the students would be able to understand me at all. I wondered if the Chinese cuisine would be any good, and if not how would I survive?
In any case while waiting for my luggage in Beijing airport, I noticed how few people from America I saw. Most of the English speaking Chinese people I met on the airplane told me that they were going to visit their families in China. One older couple had visited their son in Chicago and were now returning home. I thought about how I would miss my loved ones, and how nice it would be to see them once again.
My first day of class was interesting. The students were amazed when they saw me. They stared with wide eyes and mouths agape. There were giggles and snickers throughout the classroom. One student told me that I looked like Michael Jordan. With green eyes and yellow bronze skin, I have never been told that I looked like the 6 foot 7 all time NBA scorer leader, and 6 time NBA Champion. When I told my mother what the student had said she roared with laughter and told me ”You will never be as handsome as Michael Jordan”. In Chicago Michael Jordan is something of a god.
As the semester went on I noticed how the structure of Linyi No.1 Middle School reflected the structure of some high schools or junior high schools in Chicago. The students stayed together throughout the day. They also attended a “homeroom”. This I felt creates a sense of togetherness and family among the students. This was more structured than any American schools I had attended. American students are allowed more freedom to make use of their time as they pleased. This creates a “sink or swim” environment. The students who spend their time wisely will swim and succeed. Those who don’t use their freedom wisely sink and fail.
As my first semester of teaching in China came to end, the ideas about the differences between American students and Chinese students also came to an end. I learned that students forgot there books, need encouragement, lose their homework and look up to their teachers just like American students.
Also my students quickly learned that I was the same as their native teachers. I expect hard work, no tardiness and absolutely NO CELL PHONES IN CLASS!
注:Collins 系临沂一中中美班的学术英语和AP美国历史教师