Over the past couple of weeks, I have been giving speaking "tests" in all my classes. While I could have administered it in a variety of ways, I decided to really make it what it was: a test of conversational English skills. So, we talked.
Having a conversation with each of my 500 students in a private one-on-one setting has been, though potentially stressful to some of the students, possibly the best part of being here so far. Each of the 500 names and numbers come alive with concerns, interests, and dreams. So far, concerns have included fights with girlfriends, breaking up with girlfriends, stressing about tests, stressing about parents. Interests have ranged from soccer and Starcraft to design and music composition. Dreams have included becoming a diplomat, a president, a CEO of a big company, and a doctor, among other professions.
But they have also included something less practical, and more moving.
"Tell me, XOXO, what is your dream?"
"Teacher, my dream is to be a good father."
I sometimes wonder who is the real student.
In addition, during a couple of these interviews, students actually just thanked me for being a great teacher. They told me that my classes are a lot of fun and that their favorite class is English because of what I have done so far.
That many of these students have felt comfortable enough to not only share with me their personal matters like girlfriend problems or familial issues, but also tell me that they enjoy my teaching, has made me feel just wonderful, and awfully grateful. It truly has been a gift. I get to see the facts, stories, and the human that constitute each of my students, and they in turn have a chance to get to know me a bit more, to see the human behind the teacher.
And we begin to bond. And love.
I am starting to really care about these students. I think I'm really beginning to love these students, both individually and collectively. It's almost like I embrace them like they were my own children.
Who would have thought? Haha.
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