A Student's Writing

Gentle Reader,

 

Sharing bits and pieces of American culture is one aspect of the teaching here.  To do so, we show a few American films while we are here, with English subtitles.  Last week we showed Fly Away Home, which is a marvelous film that is minimally taxing of the students' receptive language skills because the dialogue is spread between visual scenes. 

 

One of the writing options I gave the students, based on themes in the film, was to write about a person in their life who believed in them and had faith in their abilities/dreams.  Many, not surprisingly, wrote about inspirational teachers in their lives.  Several wrote about people who encouraged them when they had failed the college entrance exams the first time around.  Some wrote about parents or siblings who stood by them in difficult times.  I have several students from the countryside, so the one-child law is not as strictly enforced in the farming communities.

 

Here is a sample of a writing from one of my students.... Lily.

 

      "Be proud of what you do," my father told me when I was 15.  I got a summer job in a factory.  I was told that my duties would include cleaning roads and toilets.  I smiled and remembered dad's words.  Even though my job was the lowest, it made me feel excited.  I saw it as a challenge because it was my first job.  I learned to be on time and tried to do everything well.  I was treated with respect by workers.  Each morning, I started cleaning roads and toilets.  Though I was tired, I wanted the job to be done well.   People would say, "That young girl really does a good job."  That gave me a pride.

 

     Working in the factory taught me that being proud of one's job is important.  It does not matter whether the job is cleaning roads and toilets or others.  My father's words have always stayed with me.  I have cleaned roads and toilets, and I have been a teacher.  I think Dad would be proud of me and inspires me to do my best.