Classrom Technology in China

I am currently trying to prepare a lecture on “American’s character,” by talking about the frontier heritage and some basic American values that go along with that. Things would be so much easier if I had some tiny bit of access to any kind of technology. Even an overhead projector, or even a picture of a cowboy in a Marlboro add. But all I have is me, myself, and a chalkboard, and a lot of chalk stained clothes. I still teach four of my classes in “the ghetto,” which is what the other teachers and I call the building that has no technology and smells like the squat toilets right next door.

Chinese Students

Last Thursday my class came in very, very tired. They had spent 2 days at a required sports meet. So I asked them if anyone knew what holiday was this week (we had already discussed it in class) and no one knew. I said, ”I’ll give 100 Yuan to whoever knows what holiday it was last week,” and I pulled out a 100-Yuan bill (this is about $12 but worth about a month of eating here) and everyone became really excited. I said, “Anybody?” But no one knew. So then I said, “How about 200 Yuan?” And I pulled out another 100 Yuan bill. Still, no one knew, so I said, “Oh, too bad,” And put the money away. I got everyone really excited and said I will ask questions again for money later and now everyone is paying a lot more attention. Then I had everyone go outside and we got in discussions outside because people were just too sleepy in class. They had never gone outside for class before and at first the confusion of getting out of their seats was a bit too much. But it all worked out in the end.