A Busy Week (11-11)

The first post-military week is over and we’re back in the swing of teaching. I think students needed a transition week as much as I did.

The Foreign Language Department sponsored and International Language and Culture Festival last week. This meant that there were several special activities and that the foreign teachers were required to participate in some of them. 

On Tuesday, we had a special English Corner. Instead of the usual discussion groups, we foreign teachers were asked to do a presentation. The Brits sang “God Save the Queen,” and we Americans sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

Then the guys taught students how to play dodge ball and they played. Students reported that they had a great time.

On Wednesday students had a poetry reading event outside the canteen during the lunch break, as we foreign teachers were asked to read a poem or sing a song. I read Shel Silverstein’s poem “Sick,” thinking they would understand it. A few students told me they liked it. Several students sang. A group of students studying Spanish sang a Spanish song. Those studying Japanese sang a Japanese song. So it was an international event.

After the poetry reading event was the weekly lecture, which was moved from evening to afternoon for the Festival. Paul was the lucky teacher to give the lecture, which was a good choice, as he is a good presenter.

During the lunch break on Friday there was a movie dubbing event outside the canteen. Unfortunately, not many’ students stopped by to participate and it was difficult to see the film and subtitles due to the outdoor light. But several tried and did a good job. Fortunately, teachers had not been asked to participate.

The big event of the week for me was the English speech contest. Bennie and May had passed the first two rounds and were in the contest Monday for winners from all departments. And Bennie won, which meant that she would represent the university in a provincial contest on Sunday. I’d helped her edit the speech and knew it was good. She presented very well. I was proud of her. We met a couple times during the week so I could help her improve her oral presentation. Since the contest on Sunday was for the winners from about thirty universities, she knew competition would be tough and didn’t have great expectations but wanted to do her best. And she did. I was happy to assist her.

On Sunday a few of Paul’s former students invited us to go to KTV with them. It was a venue I hadn’t been to before and it was quite nice. A big room with good videos. It was interesting to see original videos of songs from the ‘70s. A few of us left after two hours, which is long enough for me. But it was a good thing to do.

November 11 (11-11) is Singles' Day. Online stores have special sales. Students compare it to Black Friday. On the way to class, I saw some plastic bottles hanging between trees and asked what they were for, but the girls at the table couldn't explain in English. Later a student told me that the bottles have notes from students at other schools. They can get a new friend that way. I don't know if they had to pay for the bottles or how they obtained them.