Classroom Observations I

I’ve had two days in the classroom at this point. By the time most of you read this, I will either be sleeping, or back in the classroom for day three. If you haven’t caught on already, I observe. A lot. In fact, I didn’t realize how much I did until the last week or so. I love culture, hence my major, so this is prime time for me.

Here’s a big one: We are required to be in the classroom by no later than 15 minutes before class starts. We are encouraged to be there 30 minutes before. This is so we can mingle with our class. I arrived 30 minute before class one day and half of the class was already there. In fact, every time I thought I was early, I had roughly half or more of the class who had beat me to it.

They take notes on everything.

They remember even more.

Nothing slips past these folks. We read short stories and then ask questions afterwards. They always have the answers. They are quick, sharp, even with a second language handicap. Their vocabulary amazes me sometimes. Today, one of the other teachers asked if anyone knew what "carbonated water" was. Someone said, "Carbon dioxide in water to make it bubbly." That blew me away. I did a test today and during a game I wrote ALASKA on the board. They were supposed to ask me questions to see how that word connected to me. When I introduced myself to all 175 participants, I mentioned I was from the great state of Alaska.

They all remembered.

In fact, they wrote ALL of our names down during that introduction and ALL of the information we presented on the board.

These folks are humbling me. They are diligent, quick, and excited. I love to ask questions when I’m teaching something because they love to respond (and I hate just talking). They love to test words. If I say a hard word like anticipation, there would be a murmur in the room as they all repeated it quietly. They answer in unison very often.

Oh, and by the way, these are 98% adults. Middle school teachers. One guy I talked to has two English classes of 80 students. In the 7th grade. He’s been teaching for 6 years.

And yet, they are excited. I always ask people how class was or how the evening movie was (once a week we have an evening movie and have a lecture), and they always beam and say how great it was. They love this stuff.

Even though I am so much younger than many of them, they respect their teachers very much in this culture. I ALWAYS have participants trying to help me order food (and I appreciate them for that). They always buy me things (even when I refuse. It’s polite). I’m sure before too long, we will be buying meals for each other, as is proper in this culture. There is no “going Dutch.” If you invite, you pay.

I’ve been with these great people for only 2 days, and already I’ve learned so much from them.