.Spring Quarter...though the weather suggests otherwise.

I'm getting ready to start week 2 of the spring quarter and I have to say this might be the best one yet! I really like the ENG 102 class and all my students, and I had no doubt that I would enjoy "The Brontes" and "Writing and Social Activism."  Since I haven't updated in a bit I thought I would reflect about our first meeting of the Social Activism class where we pre-tested the English of about two dozen African refugees.  We'll be working with them the rest of the quarter, teaching them English, and writing a grant proposal for the program we are working with.

I first read the Writing and Social Activism emails over spring break, visiting my family, and I couldn’t wait to run downstairs and inform them of what I was going to be doing in the class; I had heard rumors that we would be meeting downtown somewhere and working with people writing grants, but I had no particulars until getting the emails about the African refugees.  At first reading, I was nervous but that emotion was instantly pushed aside by excitement, curiosity, and an eagerness to get started.  Upon arriving at the center where we would be pre-testing the English of these refugees I was again filled with nervous excitement, but it soon faded when I sat down with my first student, A* (age 52).  A’s smiling and welcoming face guided me through the testing process – rather than the other way around.  He told me about his three children, who all share his name as their middle name, and about his love for education.  Ultimately, he wants to attend school and get a job, and his eagerness to learn humbled me as a fortunate grad student with the privilege of attending school everyday.


My second student was J (age 26) who seemed quite nervous talking to me at first, but soon eased (even to the point of sitting with me until the rest of the time was up).  She came from Ghiana and has a three-year-old little girl who she says calls her “Mum,” because she learned British English in a daycare before coming to America.  She said she laughs and tells her, “No, we’re in America now. You have to call me ‘mama.’”  She, too, is very eager to learn and be in school again – she did attend college for a while, but now lives here cleaning during the day.


I was quite impressed with the speaking, reading, and listening abilities of my students; their English, in my opinion, seemed pretty advanced.  I tried to put myself in their shoes and thought if I’d only been in America for a few months I would not have been as comfortable conversing in English as they seem to be.  All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I look forward to seeing and working with both of them over the course of this quarter, as well as meeting the other students.   *I won't share their names here

Also, one of the texts we are reading for the class is Chris Cleave's NYTimes Bestseller, Little Bee.  I've only read half of it so far, but I suggest putting it on your reading list!