Anonymous question time

Last week I let my students write me questions and suggestions anonymously just to see what they were thinking.  I was kind of apprehensive at first, especially with the students who have also had me last semester.  I was getting told that they were bored and sick of my little routine of making dialogues and reading from the book, so I decided to ask them what they suggested we do. 

I got some really helpful suggestions:

- At the begining of class, you can make serve several topic to us. We can discuss them.
- I suggest you use computer to teach.
- You can show us some news about USA by English newspaper, TV pictures, I like this way of teach.

Some expected questions:

- I want to know more about the USA, can you let me know more?
- I want to watch more movies ^_^
- Will you let your kids learn Chinese culture in the future?
- What's your favorite food in China?
- What's your QQ number?
- Do you like China?
- What do you think of China football?

Some that broke my heart:

-I have a dream that one day I can go to USA, but I don't know how and when I can make it true.  So will you give me any suggestion?
- I want to ask you a question.  I know you and your boyfriend in the different place.  I want to know how do you improve your feeling?  Do you think it's bad for your feeling in the different countries. Thank you. ^_^
- In your eyes, we're children, yes or no?

And some weird questions:

- I think we can have a party. invite several foreign teacher take with every student.
- Do you want to have a baby? Why?
- What's do you think about Christopher Emmanuel Paul?
- How many boyfriend would you have?
- Do you have any view for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 201 World Exposition in Shanghai
- I want to see Can you dress on a skirt next week later someday this summer?
- what kind of men do you prefer?
- What do you think TaiWan's question?

Overall, I found this to be pretty helpful and it gave me ideas for class.  I was getting pretty bored too and frustrated with simply reading from the book and making silly dialogues.  I ended up making a photo slideshow to show them my life in America because there were a ton of questions about my family, friends, and life.  A few also just wanted to see pictures of Matt, my family, and my friends.

It felt really weird to do it because I knew that some of the slides would result in a huge "oooh!!" or "wahhh!!" by 55+ students.  I also kind of enjoyed a sort of distance with my students but I guess it's better in the long rung if I do this now.  They still don't know how old I am though. 

No, I did not tell them what I think about the "Taiwan question" and I have no clue who Christopher Emmanuel Paul is. 

It was a pretty fun week though, just to figure out what exactly they were thinking about me and have a more laid-back class that wasn't so academically driven.  This next week we'll be preparing midterm dialogues and I have a powerpoint about slang and how we use IM.  I'm excited to teach this lesson plan, a feeling I haven't had in a while.   Change is good. 

It is still cold here in Qingdao but this weekend we actually broke 60 degrees and I actually felt warmth outside!  I also stopped wearing my puffy coat last week, so I'm very excited for the beginning of what is sure to be a short spring leading to a beautiful summer.