As every year, we where invited to hold summer courses for 13-15 year old students in China.
While the activities are loosely based on Canada (Trade Commission is sponsoring)part of the cost, the idea is to give the kids a chance to practice English, and to get a feel for a Western style classroom. The schools we are at actively promote for their students to go overseas for college and/or university levels.
Our team this year
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
We where 3 teachers this year. Two Brits, and myself. As one of the Brits is an active Boxer, he does a lot of sports and games. The other is into all sorts of art and music, so his classes utilize those areas. Leaving me with spoken language based classes and of course with my by now customary Totem project.
Anything goes as long as the kids are interested in participation.
And if that means they can turn us into a cartoon? so be it........
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
In order to keep something of Canada in the subject, we ask each class to prepare part of a totem in the image of their class-name.
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
And then stack it up
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
First school had class-names that where quite easily to convert. BUT I still wanna kick my colleague for allowing class-names in the second school. Having neither relevance to Canada, nor a place on a totem. "Amazing Rocket" and "Social Fish"
After a lot failed attempts in creating something even close to fit onto a totem, I realized that those students are bright and willing, yet have absolutely no ability to neither listen to step by step instructions, nor the ability to give shape to an actual 3D object in concert with their team members.
So after time run out, I redid their efforts, taking their ideas and build the basic shape. And because of the inability to follow instructions, put a scared chicken on top of the rocket. (Chicken and Monkey on my piece, as all students are born in corresponding years)
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
I rather like the chicken on that rocket.......
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Naturally we had to mess around a bit in order to get the students to perform any public speaking,.... So we had to show them by example....
No one understood the poem, but at least no-one was playing on their phones either ........
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
2018 china drama by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
The city Guangzhou is a huge metropolis, but very artificial. Its getting harder to find "Old China". But its still there, if you look close enough....
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Sunrise within the city is not something I want to get used to...
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Everything these days is build on the quick. Nothing to last.... So was also our accommodation....
Clean as such, but very low quality and seemingly designed by a toddler being given the leftovers from a yard-sale.
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Huge kitchenette and lots of storage space for utensils, yet no fridge and a sink without water.
No storage space for clothes at all, except one rack right above the mirror. So one can either hang ones clothes, or utilizes the mirror.
etc.... Towels on TV, is a habit of mine in any hotel-room these days. I'm 100% certain that management and or in case here in China, the police can access the in-build cameras.
On the second to last day, I managed to break the sink in the washroom. As it turns out, the sink rests on a wooden box that basically had been glued to the wall....... Reported it to the reception, they came changed the whole set within 20 minutes without a word. Seems to happen more often.... :)
China 2018 trip by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
So, I'm glad to be back home after nearly 4 weeks over there. Back to family (unfortunately not all of them, as Lilo (my older dog (17 years old)) passed while I was gone. Back to the cabin, armed with a new lightweight recurve bow (40 pound draw weight), to finally getting started practicing after nearly 7 years.
Restarting by
Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
Messy for now and only at 60 feet. But fun to get back into.
Thanks for looking, Kurt