Last week I had my students fill out a survey covering topics they have already learned, topics they want to learn and their goals for themselves. Last semester I bumbled through some of the book and some topics of my own choosing and got a few of complaints, usually, "We already learned this!" as if they knew everything there was to know about it. The complaining irked me, so I decided that this time I would turn it around on them and make them choose the topics. This kind of move in unprecedented in the traditional Chinese classroom. I think this school is a little more open-minded, but usually the teacher will lecture and the students sleep/stare into space/secretly text message their friends. Since their other classes are so boring, foreign teachers often hear things like, "We want to play games!" or "Can we watch a film?" one, because we are generally more informal teachers and two, because we are suckers.

  The seventh question on the survey was "When you have completed this class, what would you like to be able to do? Be realistic." I added that last part because I didn't want them to fantasize that their English would be perfect or fluent, even though some of them still wrote this. Carol wrote, "I hope I can speak to everyone in fluent English." Carol is obviously an optimist, and refuses to conform to my harsh, realistic world. Not everyone felt this way though, because Pure (yes, that's her name) wrote, "To know about the foreign counties and can make at least a little progress in English." Others were very specific in their goals: Sky said, "I'd like to watch some English plays, for example: Friends." while Erica went the musical route with "I want to talk freely with foreigners and can sing My Heart Will Go On." It sounds like she is informing me of her ability to sing the worst song in the history of mankind, but I'm pretty sure she expects me to help her master the brilliant lyrics, "Near, far, wherever you are." They loved that song in '03 and they still love it. At least Americans have the sense to admit their mistake and move on. For a couple of students, the meaning of the question alluded them completely thanks to that tricky word "class," even though I explained the question beforehand. Angus informed me, "When I have completed this class, we have a new weekend then. I'd like to go to library to read some books and surf on the Internet, and then go to play basketball." while Sunny simply said, "I'd like to go shopping with my friend." Me too, Sunny, me too.

  Number eight on the survey was "Here you may write any other suggestions, advice or comments:" Amid all of the helpful advice to frequently include "small games" and films, I received some real gems of wisdom. Margaret offered that, "The form above are colorful enough, the eccential problem is that not everyone would like to be engaged into some activities. That means we are lack of practice, so create a reasonable active environment please." I feel like only Margaret gets it. Unless the activity is Text Messaging Your Friend, not everyone will like to be engaged into it; that is the eccential problem. Happy offered these nuggets: "Could we have a rest during class? If we needn't be forced to answer the question that we don't wanted to, that'll be better." Sure, just bring your little bamboo mat and feel free to take a snooze whilst I entertain your classmates with "small games." Tracy exposed her neurosis with, "When we are answering questions, I hope the teacher don't give markes, that will make us feel tense. You can give the markes after class." Lisa suggested that, "The class should be active and attack us." I got a lot of "the class should be active/vivid/interesting." March said, "I hope we communicate often, by e-mails or some other ways. We can make friends. Tell us something interesting you experience in China. We may help you." I may help you with your verb choice, March. Eleven (not the only one with this name) informed me, "You'd better tell us what is going to be discussed, so that we can prepare it before the class." They use "you'd better" all the time, thinking it is a suggestive phrase rather than a commanding one. And finally, Kinnel wrote, "Talk with us more and be close to us. After class, we can be together just like friends. Don't be talking or giving speech all the class yourself." I cannot read that last sentence with out adding, "girl!" to the end of it.

  The differences between college in the Western world and college here are astonishing. Can you magine asking your college professor, "Can we play games?" It is unthinkable, even if they do see our classes as entertainment. They are still 22 years old. I should not have to physically push the boys and girls together to talk during dialogues; I should not have to constantly ask them to be quiet; And I certainly should not be asked for a "rest" during class. If anyone needs a rest, its me.

Elizabeth