Student Responses

Reaction to my letter to the students (see previous missive) was somewhat evenly divided. On distributing copies I announced their in-class writing assignment:

#1: Agree -- yes or no?

#2: Why or why not?

Excerpts:

"I think you are a good teacher. You explain the article very clear. But not all the student can accept that.... You can't compare us with animals. I think between us have some mistake. Maybe that is culture shock. If we can understand each other I think we can become friend."

"I agree completely.... I have the same feeling of impression about ICB and China. As a Chinese, sometimes I can't understand something and somebody, including myself. It's so hard for me. After I came to ICB I become lazy and loss interests in everything. It means it's very danger for my future. I am nervous.... ICB made me crazy. I never study in this bad school. My English gets worse and worse. The only interesting thing go abroad is disappear."

"Agree. Why? Because I'm lazy I need someone force me to study to do more."

"Yes, but not completely. I admit some students really lazy and not thinking too much, because some special reasons. But in China a lot of students are different from like ICB's school. I think not all the Chinese family like your article accounts. There also have some different family education. I agree with you because in China really exist some problems like this. I hope in the future China can change."

"Yes. Because it is truth. I can't disagree."

"We study it is difficult, just you study Chinese. We hope you explain to us carefully and slowly. You spoke so quickly most of us can't catch you. You know, but you pretend don't know. We don't want to waste the young time and seasons. We believe there have many good teachers will teach us."

"Do you believe this is a regular school? No library, no everything that the normal university should have. No regular timetable to have rest and study.... You should make clear of our level of English then you should try to improve your teaching method."

"Yes. I agree your conclusions, but not all. Before I come here, I was studied English in Guangzhou. I have four English teacher, three from Canada, one from United States. They are good teacher. We have same problem, some student don't listen, don't learn, just playing, some time me too, so I know that's not all teacher's problem. I know many students don't want to study in here, they think not interest, is boring. They don't know why they here, why study. I think everybody want to learn, just somebody cannot control themselves."

"No. Because you wrote something wrong. You never understand Chinese students. You don't know how to teach them, what to teach them. Why a lot of students don't like you, because you have a wrong way to treat them. You made almost all of the students in ICB and Pre-ICB don't like study in your class."

"I don't agree most of your opinions. In some ways Chinese people is really doing not well as you see. But they have been realized these questions more early than you, they are changing their way. Why you did not discover? Maybe we have some mistakes, but what about you?"

"Some parts are right but some parts are wrong.... I think you give our article sometimes the articles are not interesting, it is very difficult. So we didn't understand, but we didn't know how to ask you about some questions. Therefore some students don't want to learn in your class. I hope you can tell our about article directly. So we can work hard."

"I agree with most of your idea. The facts are exact and exist. Some students are very lazy and impertinence. I don't like them. Sometimes I was not a good student, expect after class. I didn't review the article."

"I agree with you. During three months I didn't work hard. In the class, I can understand, but I didn't listen carefully. After class I never saw the article. Maybe it's lazy. In the past I won't work unless you really push me. The management of this school gave me enough freedom. I don't study but nobody accomplished me. I didn't think my future, it's my made a mistake. I'm sorry to hear that you will be leaving China. I hope you happy."

"Yes. I have looked this letter, I feel sad but that is the truth. In fact in Chinese family just has one children. The family give them so much love so childrens was depend they parent. I think you are right, I'll change my study style, I think I will study hard in the last time."

"Yes, I'm agree with you. Because you tell the truth. In fact every day we are in this condition which you have written in the letter. We also think that is bad also but in our age some things are hard to make up our mind to pay attention to do something. I think you must can understand us because you also go thought from the age which we are in. I think you tell us the things which you have looked in China just the truth and we have to accept. I think I will think your advice carefully and do what I should do as a student. By the way we have ever made you angry here we say sorry to you and hope you can forgive us. In fact many of us think you are the best teacher!! Thank you for your letter."

"At first I should say 'sorry' to you because some times I think are actions are excessive. As a student most of us are lazy we didn't work hard before for our parents and our teachers I'm sure it's bad news. But it's not our willing, even the bad students, they also want the right score. I think sometimes they have to try to do their best but they can't do well because your articles are so hard most of time are slow for us. At last I tell you that I know you always try to do your best. As a teacher you're very good we are very sorry to make you angry. I hope you will forget the bad things and have a good time in China. Thank you for teaching us.

"Disagree. Each student's situation is different, you handle each student couldn't use the same way. I don't like talk so I always keep silence in class. I keep silence doesn't means I can't listen you class.... I very angry with you. You never told me I'd better speak English in your class. I haven't learn anything in your class. I think you are a good teacher because you explain the article very clear. I think we can understand each other so that we can become good friend."

"Sometimes you are too strict. I can't say I am a good student but I am not a lazy one. I always read your article and finish my homework, but I also feel boring when the class is not interesting. I think some students can't understand your class so they don't pay attention and some students are really lazy. However most students want to learn more in class."

"I think you are a good and careful teacher, and I know you are hard to teach us. Sometime we are wrong, so you think your letter is all truth, but I don't completely agree with your opinion. Those students in your letter are also good students. Maybe you could see them in studying room every night. In fact, they are hard to study themselves. Maybe your education is difficult to them, so you think they are lazy."

"No. or Yes (middle). Because. You teaching something is very hard. even. sometime we can't your mean. so. let me free not interested. May be your idea is right. We have found many things wrong at ICB to. But. We not choose. English is very important. so. I can study it. by the way. Thank you for we life's care. We can do best."