What is my favorite movie? What is my favorite actor? What is grunge music? Why am I here?
While these seem like very basic questions, I contemplate the answers so the kids will understand. At the deeper level, I really don’t know the answers. Don’t have a favorite movie or a favorite actress. Johnny Depp, maybe (it’s someone the students might know.) I feel stupid for my limited knowledge of different types of music. Grunge – that’s associated with a lot of drugs right? And, why am I here? I’m here to teach, but it’s so much more complicated. I’m here to experience the culture, try the wine, improve Spanish, eat ham and hang out, all hopefully will lead me to some greater purpose. My answer however, was “I am teaching here and in Zahinos. Two days here. Two days in Oliva.” The other explanation might have gotten a bit convoluted.
My favorite question thus far: What is in your hair? “I braided my hair. I am wearing braids. They are called French braids.” Follow up: Did you do it yourself? “Yes, I did it myself. My mom taught me how.” Another follow up question: Is it hard to do? “No, it is not too hard.” I was almost going to say, “I could show you how,” but I don’t think that would be a great English lesson.
So far, it seems like the kids seem less than excited about English than they are about me. ‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ and other personal questions are popular. I don’t mind. The kids are good. Some are very eager and most enjoyable. The others, well, honestly don’t care. That’s the same in any school, anywhere. Heck, I might not want to learn English if it wasn’t my native language. Languages are hard. I’m living in a daily reminder.
Good thing I brought Sponge Bob stickers. My most recent google search was “what is the name of Sponge Bob’s neighbor?” I had never really watched an episode, but the kids wanted to know his name in English. Squidward. Maybe I’m learning something afterall.