Rave Reviews from China

"Marie is so good for your teaching, she almost remeber every word you taught."

- Amy, the leader of the Internet teaching branch of Opal (June 1, 2011)

"Wendy's English is improving so fast. Her mother is so happy and appreciate you very much. Especially her listening and speaking."

- Susan, my assistant/translator (May 31, 2011)

"You are a good teacher and you make the students enjoy your class not only the students can get more knowledge in class. that is great. so i will give you one new class. ... you are a good and patient teacher so you will adapt for teaching young kid more in my opinion."

- Amy, the leader of the Internet teaching branch of Opal (April 26, 2011)

"Your class is perfection."

- Susan, my assistant/translator (April 6, 2011)

"Thanks for your hard working these months. I will miss you and you are a great teacher truly. It is my pleasure to work with you. You are so nice patient and lively teacher. I really like you."

- Amy, the leader of the Internet teaching branch of Opal (August 24, 2011)

"Thank you for your class. I love it so much."

- Alicia, a substitute assistant (August 24, 2011)

Marie Moves Me

I've been teaching a 5 year-old in China for just over a month now. When we began, neither she nor her mother knew any English at all. But now she sings the alphabet perfectly, can draw the letters beautifully and pronounce them flawlessly. I am so proud of her.

As her first English teacher, it was my responsibility to give her a name. I gave her "Marie," the middle name that I share with Sophia (my daughter). Every time I praise her good work, she says "thank you, Jen!" It is a joy to share my Wednesday evenings with Marie and her mother.

The best part of our lessons is the love I get to witness between Marie and her mother. When Marie is particularly proud of herself, she beams and reaches out to her mother to hug her and kiss her. Their affection is almost palpable and I am so privileged to participate in this small piece of their lives.

I've heard of harsh Asian parents who drive their children to perform at any expense. When I was offered this job, I was afraid that teaching English to a 5 year-old might somehow participate in a cruel, inhumane system. But it has been anything but. Marie loves our lessons, is a delightful and enthusiastic learner, and is supported by -- not commanded by -- a loving and patient mother. I am so honored to know Marie and her mother, and their love for each other.

Play Dough

One of my students, Veronica, posted a recipe for making play dough for me to make with my daughter, Sophia.

We made red and green (for Christmas).

We had so much fun playing with that play dough!

Thank you, Veronica!

The Gettysburg Address

Here's a fun and cool way to learn a little about US history:

http://www.openculture.com/2010/11/the_gettysburg_address_animated.html

The voices are AWESOME and the animations are clever, helpful, and attractive!

Check out other important films at http://www.openculture.com/freemoviesonline.

Monkey Business for Veronica

While Emily Post might not be much fun, she sure is helpful!

We can read her ideas about etiquette here.

Once we finish reading a bit of Post, we can relax and watch 5-10 minutes of Tuck Everlasting, here. Then we can compare it to the book and see if we can find any allusions...

We'll have more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

Keble, on learning

[F]or a man to profit as he ought, even from the best of truths, they must not be merely taken up from his teacher, but must be rooted and grounded in his own understanding and practice.

- John Keble

An Anecdote for Veronica

Hammering

I am a mother of a 2 year old. Her name is Sophia. For the last two weeks my husband has been doing wood working projects at night while Sophia sleeps. We thought that she was sleeping soundly. But last week, when my husband said good night to Sophia, he told her he was going to the living room. To his surprise, Sophia looked up at her Papa knowingly and exclaimed “and hammer and saw really loud!” It was then that my husband and I began to wonder what else Sophia had heard while we thought she was sleeping!