Observed



While family and loved ones at home were thinking about observing Thanksgiving, I was thinking about being observed. I have been observed every year of my teaching career, all thirty of them. But never quite like in China.

At home, once a year, an administrator observed, took notes, and wrote up an evaluation. Soon after we met to discuss the observation. This was part of the yearly evaluation process. Or sometimes student teachers observed. Generally I was observed by one person at a time.

Here I have been observed by Peixin teachers, small groups of college students, and a class of forty college students. This time I was observed by parents.

The school must have been a bit apprehensive. They pulled my regular assistant, ZiChao who is an eighteen year old in her last year at Ankang Normal School, and Miss Yan, one of the Chinese English teachers, assisted instead. ZiChao taught Miss Yan's classes!

Notice of the opportunity to watch the foreign teachers in action on November 21 and 22 was sent out by text message and posted on the chalkboard at the entrance to the school. I taught three lessons that were open to the public: one first grade, one second grade and one third grade. Nick taught two lessons: one fourth grade and one fifth grade.

We didn't know how many parents would attend. But just in case we decided to move the classes to the auditorium classroom as several of the regular classrooms barely have enough room for the sixty students. Good thinking on our part! The parents filled the remainder of the seats in the auditorium and then some. We would never have all fit in the regular classrooms.

I'm not convinced they all came to see me teach. Perhaps they were a bit curious about the foreigner that meets with their child three times a week. Perhaps they were interested in my teaching method. But I think they really wanted to see their little "WuSongLin" perform. You know how we all are when given a chance to see our child in action!

The students in their red school sweats and red scarves performed beautifully. Yes, they were amazingly on task. Answering questions, running through dialogues, singing songs, calling out letters as we wrote words, etc. It was wonderful. Perhaps I should think about inviting parents to all my classes from now on.

...On second thought, no. When Nick asked me after the first session how many parents had attended, I said, "200." It wasn't that many. It just felt like it. And though everything went smoothly and we did have a bit of fun as we strutted our stuff, I was thankful when it was all over!