Other Classes Of Note - Through The Medium Of Dance...

On Wednesday there was a performance at school. It was in honour of May 1st, but maybe also May 4th. I'm not sure. It wasn't really very clear. All I knew was that my afternoon classes had been cancelled as my kids would be watching, so I sat myself down at the back of the hall with my Junior 1s to watch the show. Plenty of my other students were performing, so I wanted to watch for a little bit before going off to make some productive use of my free afternoon.

That wasn't really to be. I was spotted and dragged up to the front to become a judge. It meant I missed the second round of the inter-departmental tug-of-war competition (I helped us win the first round...grrr...although it was probably the PE teachers we'd joined forces with who helped more...) but it was fine. I had a good time. The show was excellent. It featured Some Junior 1s, Junior 2s, Senior 1s and Senior 2s. Most importantly it featured the girls below. These are all from Class 170, my best Junior 2 class, and always a good lesson. Four of them eat with us every day so I was extremely pleased when they got one of the first prizes. They'd worked so hard on it.

The above girls are from Class 171, another Junior 2 class which is always a bit hit or miss. The kids are excitable and always want to talk to me for about half an hour after class is over, but sometimes they are just too excitable and things get out of hand. I lost my rag with them once, which was interesting, but I still like them very much - just not always when I teach them... They danced well too. Dunno if they got a prize though. As soon as the last performance was over, the hall emptied and the presentations were watched by maybe five or six lonely people, if that. I think most of the performers had also left by that point so it was a bit of a confused affair.
The dancers above are from my last Junior 2 class, Class 172. I hate this class. Definitely my worst. Some classes are just full of nice people. Even the poorer students are carried aloft by the overall sense of positivity and enthusiasm and are assimilated for the better. 118, 122 and 170 are examples of this. Of course, the opposite can sometimes be the case and even the best can be dragged down by the chaos, apathy and bad attitude. Class 172 is the best example I have. Tuesdays are a nightmare for me. I hate Tuesdays. I start off with Class 172, where I count the class a success if maybe 10 people do what I ask of them. I sometimes wake up all the sleepers when I'm feeling extra optimistic, but generally regret it as they just grimace at me and mutter 'se-moh? se-moh?' ('what? what?') (in dialect before anyone comments..) before settling back and sulking for the rest of the class, or at best doing some other subject's homework. Don't get me started on the bad boys. They just don't get it. It's frustrating how I get fantastic results with some classes but nothing from others.

They are followed after lunch by Senior 2 Class 123, which has a few nice kids in it but they cannot speak English - at least not in sentences - and dragging anything out of them is a real effort. An hour's break later and I have Class 171, which can go either way depending on which way the wind blows, it seems. If they haven't played ball then woe betide anyone who wants to speak to me on a Tuesday. Ironically this is the same day we hold a lunchtime English speaking corner. Understandably they don't always get the best conversation out of me. One time it was so bad I stood there the whole time listening to my Ipod! I can't help it. Tuesdays are tough. Once it's over though, the rest of the week is plain sailing and it's all good.

Anyway, getting back to the show, the two girls at the front are among the 5 or so people I actually like in that class. The one on the left doesn't speak but gives me pictures of her and her big hair, while the one on the right is my saviour. She always does what I ask. She's sometimes the only one who can give me an answer, and I love her for that. The dance thing they did was great, really, so I gave them full marks. I gave all 3 of these Junior 2 dancing groups top marks. Well, what's the point in having that kind of power and influence if you can't display favouritism and look after your own? When in China...
The comperes for the afternoon were the dancing girls from Class 125. This is another of my Senior 2 classes, and one I was glad to keep. I used to consider these my worst class for English, but one of my nicest to teach. Now, having more time to concentrate on just 4 of the 8 Senior 2 classes, I've revised my opinions. Excepting Class 122, the others are just as shit. Class 125 are still nicer by far though! They're an arts class and most of the school's dance troupe (never used that word in sensible correspondence before) are in this class too. It's a small class, just 40-odd, so doing stuff is pretty easy. Participation is near 100%, at least passively. I can joke with them freely and we just get on really well. I broke one of their windows last week but I don't think they minded... I never care about students' standard of English. I really couldn't give a toss as long as they try! These kids generally speak more Chinese than English in class, but that's ok. It's constructive Chinese and usually answers my questions. They're still doing what I ask of them, just not necessarily always in the right language. It's a step in the right direction though and that's good enough for me. Plus, I know they have their own, more impressive talents. They dance superbly, sing amazingly and can draw like no other. It reassures me. I excuse students' lack of ability or motivation by constantly reminding myself that not everyone is, will or can be good at English and that there is something else that they do excel at; that they can devote themselves to and achieve their potential through.

Class 125 prove this for me. They proved it again on Wednesday. They danced at interludes, sang and put on a fashion show (this was strangely popular - 4 groups did fashion shows. Guess it's easier than learning a dance routine..). Each piece brought a smile to my face. Great kids.