My Students

Nin Hao (Hello),

By far, my best memories of China will focus upon my students. First, to get into a university in China, you must take a national exam. Only the top 10% qualify to enter the university system. As a result, you end up with very bright, and, for the most part, hard working and highly motivated students.The first day I walked into class I was greeted with applause. That has never happened to me. I am teaching three classes at Shenzhen University. One is a graduate class in intercultural communication methodology. We explore major research methodologies from stats to postmoderism, postcolonialism, phenomenology or ethnography. Clearly, these are not easy topics but we are working our way through them. I also teach two undergrad classes. One is in organizational communication and the other is intercultural communication. I have approximately 170 students in all three classes. Clearly, these classes are much larger than what I normally experience at McKendree.

For the most part, we seem to understand each other. Language is definitely an issue. But I try to work around it by using examples, stories, analogies (just about anything that I think might work) to define, clarity, or explain my point. They bring their electronic dictionaries to classs or ask their classmate what I said. I use powerpoint in all my classes except in the grad class. I try to get the ppt out in advance for them to review.

I guess things must be going reasonably well because the students in all my classes want me to stay. I tried to explain to them that I would love to stay another semester, but I miss my family and I am on a sabbatical leave for only one semester. I must return to McKendree in January. Anyway, it's a nice feeling knowing that your students care enough to want you to stay longer. I have invited my students in my undergrad intercultural communication to e-mail Dr. Gordon's students in her interpersonal communication class. Students have started to e-mail their U.S. counterparts. I hope that they truly get to know each other and, at the end of the day, make a new friend.

Any time I seem to run into a problem, my students seem more than willing to help. Several have commented to me that "It is their duty and honor to help a professor." I can get use this type of treatment! For instance, I had some computer problems with my computer. One student left a party to come to my apartment to fix the problem. I felt bad that he left his friends and the party. I told him that he could have come on another day, but he insisted on coming over to "help his professor." I had brought a cell phone to China which I was told would work but of course didn't. A student volunteered to go to the store, buy a phone, buy a credit card for the phone, and then instruct me on how to use it in China. I of course insisted on paying the student and thanked her for help. Another student bought me a mouse for my computer. She thought that this would help me use my computer more effectively. A student not in my class insisted on walking me back to my dorm to keep me company and make sure that I was safe. What treatment!

I had mentioned the other day in my grad class that the mosquitoes in China can be vicious and leave a very itchy bite. The next day one of my grad students showed up at my office door with a tall, thin bottle of green liquid for bug bites. It's the best stuff I have ever used for relieving bug bites. I of course thanked my student; she insisted that it was a gift for her teacher to help him.

On Wednesday nights, I teach at the Language Corner outside my dorm. About 100 Chinese students show up to practice their English and I have a chance to learn some more Chinese. We discuss a range of topics from politics, arguing, dating practices, architecture, and Halloween (Yes, they celebrate Halloween but don't practice the art of trick or treat. They also celebrate Thanksgiving and allow the "foreign teachers" to take Christmas day off.). Some students will be hosting a Halloween party in front of the International Student Dorm (where I stay) on the Sunday after Halloween. They want students to wear costumes, play games, and give out candy. At last week's Language Conrner, one of our discussions was on the drinking of tea. Tea drinking in China is taken very seriously. You must do it properly, especially when you are hosting family and friends. I told them that I sometimes put milk and sugar in my tea. I also sometimes use the microwave to heat my tea water, and that I sometimes dunk cookies in my tea. The expressions on their faces suggested that I committed major mistakes in the way I prepare and drink tea. They decided to teach me the proper way to prepare and drink tea. So on the following Monday, four students (I invited them to do this.) came to my apartment to show me the Chinese tea ceremony. They first heated the water in a kettle; they then poured the water over the small tea cups, tea leaves, and tea picture to clean them. They then poured tea into the cups. But you don't drink it because the first cup may contain tea leaves. You dump this cup in a bowl. You drink the second cup (which is considered the best cup to drink), but before drinking it, you must first smell and enjoy the aroma of the tea. You then drink the tea quickly and dump some of it in the pan, because it may still contain some tea leaves. You do this about 6-7 times. One tea serving in the pot can be used over and over again until it loses its flavor. During this process, you socialize and discuss the day's events with your family or friends--it's a wonderful process for developing harmony and balance. There are so many different types of tea in China, I find it difficult to imagine the vast assortment of teas described by my students. The tea, they claim, is very healthy and good for digestion. I have had few stomach problems since I have been drink this tea. My wife and I plan to demonstrate the tea ceremony when I return.

Sorry about not having pictures in this blog. I have been very busy teaching three classes and working on three research projects. I will attach pictures of my students in future blogs.

Hope all is going well, and may you experience harmony and balance in your life!

Zai Jien (good bye),

Dr. Haskins