My Corner for Education

A few months ago, I received an email from a complete stranger, Henry. Apparently, Henry has been reading my blog stories about immigration for a while. In his email, he introduced himself and explained to me that he and his family were soon to immigrate to Canada. He was excited but also very anxious about the unknown future settlement in Ontario. He asked me many questions in his email which I gladly replied with the best of my knowledge.

Although Henry was not the first stranger to contact me for information about immigration, I was still a bit taken back when I read his first email. How on earth did I get an email from a passerby? Years ago, I would probably delete it right away and change my email account all together. After years of blogging and hundreds of emails and messages from strangers later, I’ve learned to be “brave” yet still careful whenever I receive an email like that. I am a very private person. As much as I carry a different persona online, I am still a very serious person in real life.

During our course of communication, I was quite let down by another annoying experience I had encountered at another social site. I was very disappointed how people, total strangers, could judge and criticize one another blatantly online. Honestly, I had a second thought about how much I should get involved to help others.

Anyway, Henry and his family turned out to be wonderful in every way and very grateful with all the information I had given them through our email exchange and Skype communication. They arrived two weeks after we started chatting online via Skype and later comfortably settled in a rental condo in a city not far from me.

The total strangers have become friends all because of the amazing Internet. On the other hand, total strangers could also rip each other apart from different ends of the world in the comfort of their own home. It was crazy!

Can you imagine of losing two children at one of the busiest place on earth in the summer? It was not my imagination because I did. I lost two children at Walt Disney World, Florida, once. Here is one of my travelling stories.

Years ago, I pioneered the first study tour for King Car Education Foundation and lead the first group of children and parents to visit Jacksonville, Florida. That was their first time to organize a large group of people to travel overseas for a summer camp at a private high school in Florida. I was asked to be the volunteer to lead the group as an escort teacher. At that time, I was hosting a radio program called Co Co and Po Po Time for King Car. It made perfect sense for King Car to send us as the escort teachers to oversee the ESL program organized by the private high school in Jacksonville.

Most of the group members were children, but we also had quite a lot of parents who came along with us. The private school organized some activities for parents during the day when the children were in class. I do not remember the exact number of people we took with us on that trip to Florida. I would guess the total number, including adults and children, was about 52 people. It was not easy to please everybody in the group, I would say. The worst part was to take care of a group of children whose parents did not come on the trip with them.

In the group, there were two cute brother and sister who were particularly hyperactive throughout the whole visit in Jacksonville. They were not the greatest listeners and always wanted to do things their way since their parents were not around. Ever since we first met, I had realized that it would be a tough journey with both of them. For every step of the program, I literally had to repeat my instructions many times to them to ensure that they would follow closely.

After three weeks of language camp in the private school, we finally started a week long journey to visit different attractions before heading back to Taiwan. One of the attraction stops was the Disney World, in Orlando, Florida. Everyone was excited about the visit to the Disney World where thousands of tourists from all over the world would roam through each day.

This article was intended to be posted for another similar web site; however, I withdrew from that site with frustration before I had the chance to do it. After some revision, I post it here to share with you.

When I encourage people to change their attitude about learning a foreign language, I speak strictly from my experience as a teacher. Every time when I read about Taiwan's English testing results, I cringe. Has the learning attitude changed much after I left Taiwan? In some way, yes! In general, it has not changed much. I have seen how students learn traditionally and I would like to see more changes to be made. So, here I will share a little story of my sister who is a good example of a typical Taiwanese English learner. I love her dearly. Hopefully, she will not kill me after reading this.

My little sister came to live with us for a while after she quit her job from a reputable international company. Her English was quite good, compared to many of her peers in Taiwan. She wanted to improve her English for career advancement, so she decided to come to Canada to study and went to a local college for their ESL program.

Her English level again was substantially higher than the other international students. The only problem was she would spend hours studying on her books. Every day after she got home from school, she would stay in her room and study grammar. She could score really high on the written tests and write sentences that seemed to be grammatically correct. However, her content meaning was often unclear. She was able to speak better than others but definitely with plenty of room for improvement.

My husband who can not speak a word of Chinese often asked her why she would not take advantage of the opportunities while in Canada to practise her spoken language. She often replied that she was shy or she had to study. My husband was finally frustrated and told her that she spent so much money to fly to Canada only to stay in her room to study. She could have saved the money and stayed in Taiwan if all she did was studying the books. Anyway, she eventually got the message and realized that applying her English skills to her everyday life was the practice that she truly needed.

We flew out of Buffalo, New York to New York City because our travel agent made a mistake and overbooked the airline that we originally wanted. We had never been to the Buffalo Airport and we were not comfortable to drive around Buffalo at 3 o’clock in the morning to look for the airport. The travel agency agreed to pay for the round trip shuttle buses to and from the Buffalo airport as compensation. I was not happy about the idea of crossing the border early in the morning, either. Any delay at the border could create another unnecessary anxiety for me. This was supposed to be my relaxing vacation, but at that point, after the hassle with the hotel booking and the overbooked flight, I was not ready to deal with another problem.

 We had never flown out of Buffalo, so it was a new experience. The shuttle bus picked us up at 4:45 in the morning, later than I thought. The US-Canada border was already busy at that time. Thank Goodness that we did not have to wait too long at the border to deal with the immigration/custom officer. Our time was very tight. Due to the airport security, we had to be there early for the security checkpoint. It was easy to cross the border, but the nightmare started at the airport. The airport was full of Americans and Canadians who were flying out for their March Break. The lines at JetBlue were long, too long. The flight to New York City was absolutely jam packed. We were quite surprised that people would start their March Break vacation so late like we did. We just did not realize there was another reason why people were travelling to those major destinations such as New York City.

 It was interesting to go through US custom security checkpoint. We had to take off our shoes, bracelets, jackets and heavy winter parkas. (We did not have to do that when we flew back to Taiwan last summer.) When I walked through the gate, the alarm SUDDENLY went off. It was my metal-studded belt! After I took off my belt, the coins, and then my watch, the alarm went off again and again! What now? I was not ready to go to the little room to strip for the search. Finally, one officer told me that it could be my hairclip. My clip was made of plastic! Well, the culprit WAS my hairclip all right! The little metal clamp part of my hairclip triggered the alarm. That was just too ridiculous!

 Don’t get me wrong. I was happy that they were so thorough about the airport security, so I didn’t have to deal with any crazy nuts like “the shoe bomber”. Anyway, the returned trip was pretty much the same with the security. It took me a couple of times to walk through that sensitive gate. The culprit was always the little hairclip. Next time, only elastic bands will be used for my pony tail. NO more hairclips for me when flying!

 We finally got to New York City at 9:30 in the morning. The weather couldn’t be more gorgeous! I had a good sleep in the airplane and was ready to ramble. The JFK airport was not as busy as I had expected at that time in the morning, but it was definitely full of people wearing GREEN. Well, that would be another story.

My March Break started last Monday, but we did not have any vacation plan until late last week. Why? It was because Da Pong’s vacation was not confirmed until the last minute. Last weekend, we decided to pay a visit to the travel agency and booked the flights and hotel to New York City. Now, this trip is a bit against my regular travel pattern because I usually plan the whole vacation on my own before I book for flights and hotels. It is an old habit of mine because I used to work as an international conference planner and a tour escort teacher, so travel planning is something that I quite enjoy doing. However, this time it was a bit different. I just let the travel agent do everything for me and what a big mistake that was!

First, the agent booked a hotel that is very old and famous, one of the largest hotels in New York City. Without doing any research on the hotel, we just looked at the picture of the attractive building and immediately signed our names on the dotted line. (We are suckers for beautiful old architecture design.) A lesson learned: Never judge a hotel by its appearance!

Later that day after we got home, I went online to read about that cool looking hotel. My heart just sank lower and lower like a rock while I was reading the hotel reviews one after another. Apparently, the hotel has so many complaints against it, particularly, the complaints about BED BUGS!

Now, if I paid only the price for a motel, I probably would just bite my teeth and expect a motel or hostel grade service. Unfortunately, we paid a fortune for the hotel and we might be at risk of staying in a bug-infested hotel. I couldn’t sleep that night. Just the thought of it drove me nuts.

The next morning, I got a phone call from the travel agent to inform us about the change of flights. Originally, we were supposed to fly out of Toronto. Somehow, the flights we booked were no longer available (no reason given), and we had to fly out of Buffalo instead. Now Buffalo is further away from us. Plus, we did not want to drive around Buffalo at 3 o’clock in the morning.

My March Break started last Monday, but we did not have any vacation plan until late last week. Why? It was because Da Pong’s vacation was not confirmed until the last minute. Last weekend, we decided to pay a visit to the travel agency and booked the flights and hotel to New York City. Now, this trip is a bit against my regular travel pattern because I usually plan the whole vacation on my own before I book for flights and hotels. It is an old habit of mine because I used to work as an international conference planner and a tour escort teacher, so travel planning is something that I quite enjoy doing. However, this time it was a bit different. I just let the travel agent do everything for me and what a big mistake that was!

First, the agent booked a hotel that is very old and famous, one of the largest hotels in New York City. Without doing any research on the hotel, we just looked at the picture of the attractive building and immediately signed our names on the dotted line. (We are suckers for beautiful old architecture design.) A lesson learned: Never judge a hotel by its appearance!

Later that day after we got home, I went online to read about that cool looking hotel. My heart just sank lower and lower like a rock while I was reading the hotel reviews one after another. Apparently, the hotel has so many complaints against it, particularly, the complaints about BED BUGS!

Now, if I paid only the price for a motel, I probably would just bite my teeth and expect a motel or hostel grade service. Unfortunately, we paid a fortune for the hotel and we might be at risk of staying in a bug-infested hotel. I couldn’t sleep that night. Just the thought of it drove me nuts.

The next morning, I got a phone call from the travel agent to inform us about the change of flights. Originally, we were supposed to fly out of Toronto. Somehow, the flights we booked were no longer available (no reason given), and we had to fly out of Buffalo instead. Now Buffalo is further away from us. Plus, we did not want to drive around Buffalo at 3 o’clock in the morning.

It is about time for me to post my first article here on Nciku. To tell the truth, when the finger pointing, name calling incident was happening to me a while ago, it was also my busiest time writing my second term report cards. I was stressed out with final evaluations and report cards writing while all the heated debates were going on in my cyber backyard. I didn’t really have time to pull my thoughts together then. Now the reports are done, signed, and ready to go home, I can finally kick back and ponder what to write next.

I actually have cold feet testing the water here on Nciku. Like many other old friends I met online, I have put a lot of time and effort into promoting the daily communication in English (in all four areas of expressive and receptive language skills). Learning a language is like playing the piano. The only way to improve the skill is to practice consistently. Unfortunately, unlike playing the piano, a language is a tool for communication. You cannot practice the language alone behind the locked door for ever. At some point in time, you do have to put it to use.

A social site, either Nciku or the “orange one”, is a great place for people to come practice their language skills through the exchange of different opinions. People, however, are funny creatures and like to fill in the blanks in their own mind. A rumour is such a nasty thing! Just because I always write and post my articles in English, it does not mean that I snub writers in Chinese. Some readers like to read the conversation posted between two people and immediately fill in the blanks with assumption of their own. Dichotomy continues to be at play in many instances; if I were not black, I must be white. What kind of logic is that? Do I really have to pick a side for “either or”? Why can’t I be somewhere in between or simply offer a totally different third opinion? I always think that different opinions and voices should be heard and respected as long as with good intention and courtesy. Respect should be valued and practiced!

People might have different philosophy when it comes to learning a new language. They tend to use their own learning experiences as the ruler of measure to judge how the others should learn. We are all creatures of judgment and I am no exception! After teaching for so many years, one thing I have learned is that all students, regardless their abilities, can learn at their own pace and in their own way. Every student has their special learning style just like each individual teacher has their own unique way of teaching. There is no right or wrong as long as you are in pursuit of your goal. One’s strategy may not be another’s cup of tea. No matter which way strikes your fancy, a consistent practice is always the key to successfully learning a language.

I am all for putting the language into practice in our everyday life. Inter-communication among friends reduces the stress and formality of learning. Through the interactive exchange in a foreign language, we actually utilize the skills we’ve learned and enhance our ability to express in a more natural and spontaneous manner. Those people who participate in the exchange of thoughts also indirectly help shape the characteristics of the cyber community and create a cyber culture. I have to admit that the greatest blessing that I have received is the precious friendship established through the online community. Who would believe that I could make so many good friends online?

 This is a long reply to an article, 學習英語 由閱讀開始, re-posted by 台灣英語網.

http://english.tw/space-3-do-thread-id-1515.html

I would like to post my reply here to share with all of you since a lifelong reading habit should be highly promoted and fostered when the children are young.

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Vivian does have a lot of good points for parents. I don't know about her definition on "guided reading", but here is my take on reading English books with children. It is also applicable to adult learners if it is of interest to any of you.

Little kids can't read just yet. So, even “guided reading” has its limit depending on the age and language proficiency of the individual. Here is my professional view on reading strategies that we teachers practise in the school setting here. These methods are also highly recommended to all parents who read to/with their children at home.

There are four different approaches to teaching reading: modeled reading, shared reading, guided reading and independent reading. All four approaches are intertwined when teaching reading to children. My suggestion is to start with modeled reading, shared reading, guided reading, and then gradually move on to independent reading. You simply lead the children to reading on their own. Nevertheless, one approach does not disappear while the other is being dominantly applied.

We went over to IKEA yesterday to get more filing boxes for my new bookshelves, a long over due Christmas present that I desperately need. This was the second time that we made a big purchase at IKEA, and surprisingly, we have been very happy with the quality of their products and service. After the shopping, Da Pong and I had an interesting discussion about a little conversation that we overheard at the checkout line.

At the line-up by the cashier checkpoint, an IKEA cashier loudly bragged to a couple of customers that he finally finished his education a week before Christmas while working full time at IKEA. Da Pong chuckled and muttered to himself that why the young man would consider that as a big deal- a newly graduate with a college degree but still working at IKEA as a cashier. I elbowed him hard (trust me, I have very strong right arm ) to signal him how inappropriate his comment was even though I was the only one who had heard his mumbling voice.

I know Da Pong’s jokes may be truthful but very inappropriate for the time and place. When we came out of the store, I gave him my after-fact complaint (the typical Julia1492’s fume) and told him that it was not very kind to mumble comments like that even though he did not mean to insult the young man. The fact is we do not know the circumstances the young man is in. The young man might be very proud of his achievement because he had worked at IKEA to pay for his schooling. Now, he would have a better opportunity to aim for a better career choice. For all we know, he could be in transition right now for his career.

For some people, it is a REALLY big deal for them to be able to support themselves throughout university with very little means from their family. The only way to reach their goal in life is to work part time or full time to pay for their own education. I know how difficult it could be to go to school while working full time because I did it myself and so did all my siblings. I am pretty sure that many readers here probably had the similar experiences. A college or university degree did not come easily to those who couldn't afford it.

We all came from different backgrounds and circumstances. Although we like to believe that we were all born equal, but the truth is we were not; some might be born with a silver spoon in life but others with destitute. It might not be easy for us to change our family circumstances but it IS feasible to reach a better life through hard work. I often said that I wouldn’t be able to make it this far without my education which is my ticket to a successful career.

One fairy tale that I love to share with my students at this time of year is The Little Match Girl, written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1845. The story has such a profound impact on my view about child poverty in the past and the present. I often read this story to my students before I launch the Community Food Drive in my school.

The setting of this story was taken place between Christmas and New Year, the most joyful time of the year for every family. Nowadays, how many children can really relate to the main character who was selling matches on the street in the cold New Year's Eve? However, some of my students are occasional food bank users, or they know somebody who uses the food bank. So, they certainly can understand how the hungry girl must have felt when dreaming of that fat juicy meal on the table. 

This story is one of those fairy tales that does not have a happy ending. Most fairy tale characters live a life happily ever after, but in real life, not all of us can live a fairy tale ending. I don't try to give my students a harsh life lesson. I just want them to understand while we live a comfortable life with our family and friends, we should also extend our compassion and empathy to those who are in need in our community.  It is a great feeling to be able to help those people put a hot meal on their table through this holiday season. Don't forget to contribute as much as you can to help others!

The following is the story of The Little Match Girl translated by Jean Hersholt.

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The Little Match Girl