The Breakdown
I teach between 16-19 class periods per week, each of which range from 30-60 minutes in duration. Generally, 2-3 classes will be in rapid succession at the same school (and the schools range from a 10 minute bike ride to a 40 minute bus ride away). I do not have to grade papers or administer scores in any way; I come as a special feature, or side attraction, to the classes which are regularly taught by real teachers. So my classes vary widely.
What I'm up against
Occaisonally the more apathetic teachers see my teaching time as a much needed break for them, leaving me pretty much alone with 30 hyperactive chinese kids. Which is bad enough - but then remember that I can't talk to or understand these kids. In fact, the language barrier is a difficulty in any class, helpful teacher or no.
Also, while most of my curriculum is from Babel and is quite good, some schools have me use their curriculum. One is particularly awful. I'm given one or two phrases each week and very little to go on. To make matters worse, the kids have often learned the phrases already, and I have 2 sessions per week per class in which I must keep that minimal material interesting. And I wonder what kind of people wrote these lessons and accompanying key phrases. They aren't all this bad, but here are the worse: "Give me a kiss!", "Give me a massage!", "Take off your clothes!" I haven't had the massage lesson yet, but luckily I've had a doll handy to aid in kissing and dressing. Sheesh.
And the novelty wears off
Thankfully, the kids at most schools are still very excited to see me - especially at the Zhejiang University affiliated kindergarten. Its become almost formulaic, predictable: one kid begins by yelling "Its Richard! Richard!" which of course calls the rest of the pack over; they don't hesitate to grab my butt, kiss my hand (this is a hilariously fun game for them in class when I go around shaking hands), and play the lets-see-how-many-of-us-can-attach-to-Richard's-legs game.
However, as flattering as the attention is, when the actual learning time begins, I can't captivate them solely on the novelty of my foreignness as I could at first. I have to try other means. Its been a learning process, but now I'm compiled a list of effective strategies (well, for the elementary kids anyway - and of course, there is no sure-fire method - some classes just, well, kind of fizzle).
Impressions, Emotions, and Octaves. This is my most common technique. Repetition is often the key in learning new vocabulary - but how many constructive things do kids enjoy in repetition? So I have them cry, shout, whisper, speak in falsetto, talk Southern, be angry, and act frightened as they repeat the word "fridge" twenty times over (there must be something about watching a foreign grownup suddenly break down into melodramtic weeping over the word "fridge" that keeps their attention). I'll also arrange the room into a pep rally, with each section shouting out a different word of a sentence with a different emotion. Oh, and let me tell you, "Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes" just goes on a whole new level when we do it with our "sad faces" on.
The Bomb Game. I'll draw or write vocabulary words on the chalkboard. Once they have a substantial grasp of the new vocabulary, I will draw a "bomb" next to one of the words/pictures. This word cannot be spoken. If it is, the "bomb" goes off, and all the students make a big explosion sound. Kids, of course, love this game, especially when I trick them into saying the forbidden word. As the game progresses, the bomb locations will change, and I will allow more students to come up and draw additional bombs (of course, they get way into this, drawing huge bombs, long fuses, etc.). Note: If you think this is inappropriate to play with 6-year-olds, one should note that one of the kindergarten classrooms has, among its colorful decorations, a poster displaying various kinds of military artillery (the whole "Happy to You" thing again).
Songs. I think I've exhausted the possiblities of "If You're Happy and You Know It." I've also written several new sets of lyrics to "Mary Had a Little Lamb," "London Bridge," and the "Wheels on the Bus." (And its funny to hear the "Happy Birthday to You" song be sung as "Goodbye to You" as I leave class - I didn't teach them that.)
Chants. This is suprisingly effective. I'll make up silly little chants ("Bedroom, bedroom - Sleep, sleep!") with accompanying actions, which the children really get into. I'll often divide the room into sections and we'll play little games and silly variations on the chant to help them master it. Similar to this of course is "Teacher Says" (one teacher mentioned she preferred that I not call it "Simon Says" - blasphemous, I know).
Round Robin Drawing. This was only done once (and I'm not sure if I would do it again), but it was the most fun we've had in class. They were learning body parts and I was given only half of page of material to fill an entire hour. Really, all I had to work with was a few basic body parts and the phrase "how many?"
So I had the kids to a round robin drawing game in which everyone was to add as many arms, legs, etc. as they wanted to the paper passed to them. In the end, every kid had a drawing with several contributors. I had students come up and present their creatures/creations, and I asked the class "How many eyes?", etc.
Of course, students watching added more eyes and ears and parts to their creatures. As the pictures got more ridiculous, they received more reaction from the class when presented.
Honestly, at one point, no exaggeration here, half of the children were literally rolling on the floor and stomping their hands and feet, they were laughing so hard. It was really a pretty classic moment. Especially since the chinese teacher helping me is very conservative and "likes her students quiet when she teaches."
Teacher's Pets
I definitely have a few favorites in each of my classes. One, Kevin, is an extremely bright six year old whose English pronunciation is often better than his teachers. However, he likes to yell
"Richard! What time is it! Richard, look at the clock!"when he senses that the end of my lesson is near. At this point, of course, I'm very well aware of the time myself and often wishing my time was up; the reminder is less than helpful. But he's still a favorite.
Drinking - Coconut Juice. Sweet nectar of life. Closest thing to my beloved horchata that I can find here in China, and man, is it refreshing. I downed three cans of it today. (The weather is beginning to get hot.)
Loathing - Mosquitos. And they're not even bad yet. But since I have this detached bathroom unit, at night they follow the light and find their way inside, so I'm fighting a couple off every time I have to do my business. I hope it doesn't get worse.
Listening - ...to "Integrated Chinese" vocabulary and dialogues! My new, study-while-you-sleep program. I listen to them as I go to bed. I actually put them on endless loop on my laptop, so I really hope the neighbors above and beside can't hear it. The approach works very well for me. Like counting sheep, only I'm repeating the Chinese word for "hot-and-sour soup" over and over again as I drift off to dreamland.