Language

When you're travelling to any new place with a different language, it is always best to know a bit before you go. Take the time and learn some key phrases because it will really help you. You never know just how much English people in the area can or cannot speak. I definitely should have learned more Chinese before I arrived (besides hello and thank you). After now living here for just over 2 months, I have picked up some random words and phrases. It makes me feel really cool that I know it and can say it. My students also think it's cool (and funny).

No meat = meiyou rou (said like: may roo)
I am happy = wo hen kaixin (woo hen kai shin)
What is your name? = ni Jiao shenme mingzi (knee jao shimma mingza)
Name = mingzi
Receipt (for yourself)= Xiao piao (she pee ow)
Invoice (of receipts for a company to be charged) = fapiao (fap pee ow)
Teacher = laoshi (lao shur)
Right / gotcha / yea = dui (doid) like droid without the r
Sun = taiyang (thai young)
Travel = luxing (lou shing)

As mentioned in a previous blog entry, the students at Baoshan do facial exercises/relaxation massages twice throughout the school day. During this time there is an audio recording that plays with a voice and music. I found out not too long ago that the voice is counting. I was able to learn numbers 1-4 by myself, but had trouble understanding numbers 5-10, so I asked my grade 6 students for help and they taught me. After 2-3 weeks practice, I can now count to 10 and do the proper hand signs along with it!:

One = yi (e)
Two = er (r)
Three = san (like sand without the d)
Four = si (su)
Five = wu (woo a)
Six = liu (lee you)
Seven = qi (t)
Eight = ba (ba)
Nine = jiu (djo)
Ten = shi (sche)


The breakfast egg lady that I go to every morning seemed very impressed that I asked for 2 eggs instead of 1 and said it in Chinese! I can tell she has also been learning some English. She now says: "here you are" when she hands me breakfast, and "see you tomorrow". Weather dependent she says something along the lines of "it's warm today" or "it's sunny". I can tell she is excited to speak to Shelbi and I in Chinese.



Learning a new language is tough. English is complicated. In Chinese, there are words that are spelled the same, but mean different things depending on the way it's pronounced. Teaching a language has it's difficulties - a lot of physical gestures are used. I have come to really realize the struggle that some of my students have been going through. My new pace for teaching is quite slow and I cover the same material for quite a while, but present it in different ways so students can see and practice using all sides of it. Finding a teaching pace is also difficult because it is different in each grade level, in each topic, in each individual student, and can be different each and everyday for them. Patience and practice works.

However, today, two of my quiet grade 6's continued to raise their hand more in class, spoke out more in class, and one of them received the most participation points for that particular lesson and received a large sticker of their choice. The looks on their face was priceless and it warmed my heart. I briefly chatted with them individually afterwards on their improvement and determination, and regardless if they understood everything I said or not, their smiles said it all. That moment will stay with me. I can't wait to see what they conquer next and I am blessed to be a part of it.