Hi,
I've completed my second week of classes. I teach two undergraduate classes and one graduate seminar entitled Intercultural Communication Methodology. The difference in our languages probably creates the biggest challenge for all of us. But I do my best to explain my material by using examples, illustrations, and stories that I hope they can understand and relate to during the session. My teaching schedule is Thursday and Friday. I teach for a total of six hours, have four hours for office hours, and the rest of the time I do research and meet with students.
In the picture at the top, I am having a bar-b-q dinner with students and teachers from the school. As you can see, it is an outdoor cafe near the campus. We spent part of the evening discussing ping pong, politics, traveling in China and the U.S. and learning key English terms and phrases such as "I'm in hog heaven"--try explaining that one! I also have been learning some key Chinese statements, such as "Do you understand me?" or "Where is the breakfast cereal located?".
Students have been great to me. They often walk me back to the dorm to protect me. I think the campus is quite safe, but they insist on walking me back to my room. They also bring me gifts, such as a mouse for my computer. I wanted to pay them for it, but in their culture it is an honor to bring the teacher a gift.
This week was teacher's day. It is a national holiday; however, teachers must still meet with their classes. I don't quite understand the logic behind this holiday! This weekend is "Mid Autumn Celebration." The Chinese give each other moon cakes to celebrate the shape of the moon and for good luck. I was given a beautiful tin can of moon cakes which are pastries containing different fillings.
In the second picture, I am with graduate students and Dr. Helena Pan, Associate Professor of Communication and the person who invited me to teach at her institution. We are at a Brazilian bar-b-q. The food was very different from a bar-b-q in the states. The meats did not have sauce on them but a type of spice rub--I think! We had a good time sampling the different foods as waiter after waiter came to our table to present the various meats, veggies, fish, and breads.
In the last picture, you are seeing my organizational communication class with about 60 students! Class sizes are somewhat larger than what I am use to. My undergrad intercultural communication class has about 50 students and my grad class has only 22 students. We are clearly adapting to each other, but I think in the end we will learn a great deal both about the course content and about our cultures. So far, my favorite memories of China have been the people and especially the students. I don't think that will change.
Zai jain (good bye)
Dr. Haskins
I've completed my second week of classes. I teach two undergraduate classes and one graduate seminar entitled Intercultural Communication Methodology. The difference in our languages probably creates the biggest challenge for all of us. But I do my best to explain my material by using examples, illustrations, and stories that I hope they can understand and relate to during the session. My teaching schedule is Thursday and Friday. I teach for a total of six hours, have four hours for office hours, and the rest of the time I do research and meet with students.
In the picture at the top, I am having a bar-b-q dinner with students and teachers from the school. As you can see, it is an outdoor cafe near the campus. We spent part of the evening discussing ping pong, politics, traveling in China and the U.S. and learning key English terms and phrases such as "I'm in hog heaven"--try explaining that one! I also have been learning some key Chinese statements, such as "Do you understand me?" or "Where is the breakfast cereal located?".
Students have been great to me. They often walk me back to the dorm to protect me. I think the campus is quite safe, but they insist on walking me back to my room. They also bring me gifts, such as a mouse for my computer. I wanted to pay them for it, but in their culture it is an honor to bring the teacher a gift.
This week was teacher's day. It is a national holiday; however, teachers must still meet with their classes. I don't quite understand the logic behind this holiday! This weekend is "Mid Autumn Celebration." The Chinese give each other moon cakes to celebrate the shape of the moon and for good luck. I was given a beautiful tin can of moon cakes which are pastries containing different fillings.
In the second picture, I am with graduate students and Dr. Helena Pan, Associate Professor of Communication and the person who invited me to teach at her institution. We are at a Brazilian bar-b-q. The food was very different from a bar-b-q in the states. The meats did not have sauce on them but a type of spice rub--I think! We had a good time sampling the different foods as waiter after waiter came to our table to present the various meats, veggies, fish, and breads.
In the last picture, you are seeing my organizational communication class with about 60 students! Class sizes are somewhat larger than what I am use to. My undergrad intercultural communication class has about 50 students and my grad class has only 22 students. We are clearly adapting to each other, but I think in the end we will learn a great deal both about the course content and about our cultures. So far, my favorite memories of China have been the people and especially the students. I don't think that will change.
Zai jain (good bye)
Dr. Haskins
1 comments:
Hi, I'm emanuele mendicelli, your blog is very interesting.
If have you time see my blog
http://mendicellis.blogspot.com/
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