This task for them is daunting when you think of the difficulties in translating English to Mandarin. Even more daunting might be understanding a culture vastly different from theirs. So these students had to first translate your words, understand what you are describing in your daily lives and hopes for the future, and form an impression based on their understandings. They will be corresponding with you via email to share their questions and connections and impressions with you. This will be a further challenge as they translate their thoughts into English words.
It should be obvious to you how hard they must work to do this and how much they care about how their autobiographies are received.
Class time Thursday will be devoted to reading through the autobiographies from China and finding topics of interest, connections you make, and questions you have. You will be composing an email "conferencing" letter to your student. Today you may begin composing your thoughts, drafting your email, and showing it to Ms. Reaves and/or myself. When you are ready to send your email (after carefully proofing and conferencing and printing out your draft) you must be sure to copy me in your email so that you receive full credit. Please include:
Your lives are quite different. I'm sure you will have questions. Please be sensitive to philosophical and religious differences. It's perfectly alright to ask tactful questions, but this is not a forum in which to "witness" your beliefs. Also, though your lives are different, this doesn't mean you should feel sorry for them. They don't feel sorry for you.
Even if the autobiography you receive is short, your response must be a minimum of three paragraphs long. More is better. Let's say, for example, you are assigned a paper that is only one paragraph with several pictures and no explanation. That's your opportunity to read carefully and respond to the information provided, ALL of it. If they mention family, ask questions about them. If they say they live far away, ask about living conditions, travel to school (how), what the parents do for a living, and so forth. As to their pictures, why did they choose the pictures they did? I saw, for example, the same picture of a girl on two different papers, with the caption, "Beer City." Who is the girl? Why is the label "Beer City"?
You must be thinking questions, millions of them, as you peruse these papers. Ask those questions politely. Don't criticize; simply ask. How about offering some related information about yourself? What's the drinking age for beer in Springfield, for example? Taking time, giving careful thought, and making this a meaningful exchange is the goal. If your goal is to receive an "A" for the project, then give this the time and care it deserves. How disappointing for a Chinese student to look forward to your response and only receive a slopped out, short, hurried response. How disappointing for the American student who earns an "F"! Let's make them happy...and YOU, too!
- things that surprise you or that you are curious about
- questions that you have and things you would like to know more about
- connection that you can make with the writer
- a thank you for their time and consideration
- any other information you would like for them to know about you or about us...
- PLEASE copy me in your email to my gmail address: katie.ann.james@gmail.com
Your lives are quite different. I'm sure you will have questions. Please be sensitive to philosophical and religious differences. It's perfectly alright to ask tactful questions, but this is not a forum in which to "witness" your beliefs. Also, though your lives are different, this doesn't mean you should feel sorry for them. They don't feel sorry for you.Even if the autobiography you receive is short, your response must be a minimum of three paragraphs long. More is better. Let's say, for example, you are assigned a paper that is only one paragraph with several pictures and no explanation. That's your opportunity to read carefully and respond to the information provided, ALL of it. If they mention family, ask questions about them. If they say they live far away, ask about living conditions, travel to school (how), what the parents do for a living, and so forth. As to their pictures, why did they choose the pictures they did? I saw, for example, the same picture of a girl on two different papers, with the caption, "Beer City." Who is the girl? Why is the label "Beer City"?
You must be thinking questions, millions of them, as you peruse these papers. Ask those questions politely. Don't criticize; simply ask. How about offering some related information about yourself? What's the drinking age for beer in Springfield, for example? Taking time, giving careful thought, and making this a meaningful exchange is the goal. If your goal is to receive an "A" for the project, then give this the time and care it deserves. How disappointing for a Chinese student to look forward to your response and only receive a slopped out, short, hurried response. How disappointing for the American student who earns an "F"! Let's make them happy...and YOU, too!
I am humbled by how kind and supportive these Chinese students seem to be as I sift through the voices emerging from their autobiographies. They genuinely care about how you see them and also how you feel about their English skills. You will have a chance to read through their autobiographies with your writing group and to discuss what you think with your group.
Next Wednesday we will be traveling together to the Parkview library where we will have a chance to do a bit of research on topics you find in these autobiographies. We won't be writing a "research paper" per se; rather, we will be gathering support for a blog post about the stories you read and the areas of interest you find. Your assigned student can be your primary source to cite. You will be blogging (and including citations) about your Chinese topic of interest.
Next Wednesday we will be traveling together to the Parkview library where we will have a chance to do a bit of research on topics you find in these autobiographies. We won't be writing a "research paper" per se; rather, we will be gathering support for a blog post about the stories you read and the areas of interest you find. Your assigned student can be your primary source to cite. You will be blogging (and including citations) about your Chinese topic of interest.
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