Tuesday, February 07, 2006
NEW CLASS & RANDOMNESS
I'm starting to get back into the swing of things here. I've started teaching again. My new class is a high school class. Tonight I had my first class with them. The first half hour was easy so I could feel out their English skills. They all spoke enough that they stopped me and told me to make class more difficult. OK. I can't picture any American students asking for the work to be more difficult. I finally figured out their level and we spent the class writing dialogues and practicing our conversation skills.
My new class has 2 people I already know. First was Myron, a friend who practices English with me while I practice Chinese with him. He happened to hear about Summit Language School and happened to be put in my class. The other sudent I know is my stalker, John (see last post.) John remained in line in class and now I can use the excuse "you can call me as much as you call your Chinese teachers (which is, I assume, none.)
Coca-Cola, that ever so evil (but delicious) beverage has 100% brand name recognition worldwide. Anywhere you go you can get a Coke. Yes, they supported Apartheid and Naziism and actively kill South American trade unionists but what a great marketing campaign they run. Had they so desired, they could have called their product Kou ke kou le (kou = koh) but they decided to change it. In China, if you'd like a Coke you ask for a Ke kou ke le. The reason this is is because Coke chose to alter their name here. While kou ke kou le is meaningless, ke kou ke le means "good for your mouth - makes you happy." How's that for a brand name.
Apparently, I look like Justin Timberlake. I don't see it but I've heard that from a handful of Chinese people here. However, it is usually followed by a "but I think foreigners all look the same." Where have I heard that before?
Chinese people know about 5 universities in America. I've been asked about 100 times if I go to Ha Fo Da Xue (Harvard.) The other schools they've heard of are Princeton, Penn, Yale and Columbia. Since Harvard is prestegious they all want their kids to go there and it's usually the parents who ask about Harvard. For the most part I tell them I go to the University of Colorado. They all find this to be impressive, since they've heard of Colorado, so its university must be impressive. I used to get sick of the question and tell people that, "yes, I do go to Harvard." The downside to this answer I discovered is that the next question is ALWAYS, "can you help my child get in there?" Incidentally, if anyone has any Harvard connections, I know 20 Chinese people off the top of my head who would like to go there. I know I don't.
I'm starting to get back into the swing of things here. I've started teaching again. My new class is a high school class. Tonight I had my first class with them. The first half hour was easy so I could feel out their English skills. They all spoke enough that they stopped me and told me to make class more difficult. OK. I can't picture any American students asking for the work to be more difficult. I finally figured out their level and we spent the class writing dialogues and practicing our conversation skills.
My new class has 2 people I already know. First was Myron, a friend who practices English with me while I practice Chinese with him. He happened to hear about Summit Language School and happened to be put in my class. The other sudent I know is my stalker, John (see last post.) John remained in line in class and now I can use the excuse "you can call me as much as you call your Chinese teachers (which is, I assume, none.)
Coca-Cola, that ever so evil (but delicious) beverage has 100% brand name recognition worldwide. Anywhere you go you can get a Coke. Yes, they supported Apartheid and Naziism and actively kill South American trade unionists but what a great marketing campaign they run. Had they so desired, they could have called their product Kou ke kou le (kou = koh) but they decided to change it. In China, if you'd like a Coke you ask for a Ke kou ke le. The reason this is is because Coke chose to alter their name here. While kou ke kou le is meaningless, ke kou ke le means "good for your mouth - makes you happy." How's that for a brand name.
Apparently, I look like Justin Timberlake. I don't see it but I've heard that from a handful of Chinese people here. However, it is usually followed by a "but I think foreigners all look the same." Where have I heard that before?
Chinese people know about 5 universities in America. I've been asked about 100 times if I go to Ha Fo Da Xue (Harvard.) The other schools they've heard of are Princeton, Penn, Yale and Columbia. Since Harvard is prestegious they all want their kids to go there and it's usually the parents who ask about Harvard. For the most part I tell them I go to the University of Colorado. They all find this to be impressive, since they've heard of Colorado, so its university must be impressive. I used to get sick of the question and tell people that, "yes, I do go to Harvard." The downside to this answer I discovered is that the next question is ALWAYS, "can you help my child get in there?" Incidentally, if anyone has any Harvard connections, I know 20 Chinese people off the top of my head who would like to go there. I know I don't.
