One of, or perhaps the smartest student I teach one on one walks to class today and says, “Teacher, I don’t want to study English”. And I look at her and say well Sara, I have prepared all this material for you and your timed exercises and fun activities; do you want me to put it all in the trash? She looks at me without hesitating and says, “yes”. So I got to thinking, well, she looks exhausted and she studies for more than 12 hours a day with school, English academy, Taekwondo academy, Japanese academy and Piano academy I see why she is tired. But at the same time her mom pushes her to be the best speaker in the school and I have to accomplish that and maintain her interest. So I decided to play along.
First I sympathized with her and listened as she went on talking then, listed all the things she does and how her parents put pressure on her and how I am surprised she maintains a great attitude and gets “excellence” (my highest grading scale) on nearly all her assignments. By recognizing her plight, her mood improved a bit and she started smiling as she always does. Then I decided to take it a bit further by making it look more like she is studying English because she wants to and it’s going to benefit her and not just because her parents want her to. So I decided to do an interview with her to illustrate my point. It went like this:
Me: Are you sure you really don’t like to study English Sara?
Sara: Not really!
Me: Why?
Sara: English is difficult.
Me: But you are a very smart student and you do very well on my intense lessons. If you don’t like English, then why do you come to a English academy?
Sara: Because my mom makes me come and when I ask her why she wants me to learn English she doesn’t give me an answer. But sometimes I like English plus my friends are in this academy and it is fun to see them.
Me: Excellent sentences. You see, you are very good at English. (She smiles). I have taught you for months now and I have never had a student do so well, not even the older students. How long have you been studying English?
Sara: I have been studying since when I was 5 years old.
Me: Why do you think it’s important to learn English?
Sara: I don’t know.
Me: Do you want to know one reason?
Sara: Okay, why?
Me: Do you like to travel?
Sara: Yes.
Me: What country would you like to travel to?
Sara: Sydney Australia. I really want to visit the Sydney Opera House someday. And I want to go to America too.
Me: What language do they speak in America and Australia?
SaraEnglish.
Me: Now do you understand why it’s important to learn English?
Sara: Yes.
Me: Let’s get started.
Sara: Okay.
Sara is nine years old and she is a fantastic student. She grasps information like a sponge and she puts together very good sentences.
{ 2 comments }
wow you are amazing.
i believe you're talking about the sara i used to teach one-on-one?
the one who's mom rivalled her with lily?
i couldn't control her at her.
my classes with her were always hell for me.
you've really become a professional Tate!
Kenny, it took a little work but she became my favorite one of my favorite students. Yes it's the same Sara and their parents are still fighting over whose child is superior.
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