images and words

jinzhou students

class of 1999

Chinese universities classify students by the year they enter university rather than the American system of their expected year of graduation. So these students graduated in 2003.

On Baseball and Hot Dogs and Teaching English

baseball

Chinese students are thirsty for REAL contact with REAL foreigners and REAL contact with foreign culture. I am here (by mandate of the State Bureau of Foreign Experts) to ACTUALLY teach communicative and substantive English to the students.

I plan on elucidating on this topic in a future Chuck @ China article. For our purposes here, though, let me just say that I try to meld communication and culture into my classes. I also try to make class fun. Students learn so much more if they see learning as fun. (That point is lost on Chinese teachers but it doesn't matter. 95% are clueless anyway as to how English is taught. Don't tell them I said that, though. It's a secret, albeit a well-known one.)

Anyway, in the spirit of English learning, cultural exchange and fun, I taught the Class of 99 not only how to play baseball (American culture), but also the many everyday idioms in American English which come from the game (eg. "to strike out", "to throw someone a curve", etc. etc.)

Of course, they loved it. And they learned about a dozen American idioms (and how, when, and why to use them) in the process.

Plus, Bob learned how to go to his right and make a "back-hand stab". With a few more seasons of work, the Akron Aeros may have an up and upcoming shortstop.

Michael pitches to Hunter (left) while Bob (right) shows the correct form for a shortstop.

What about Hot Dogs?

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