Monologue from My Chinese ESL Class
Class has started, four students sit in various parts of the class, two eating their Uber-delivered Popeye chicken from down the street, while one of the pair is watching a video, the other texting to stay close, quietly whispering in Mandarin.
On either end of the class two other academics write tests they have missed, on work they have not covered, during days they did not attend, about things they have little interest and less understanding. She plays with her hair then fiddles for endless time with her fingers. I puzzle what she sees there as it fascinates her long term.
The back story has a vending machine technician repairing the soda machine located right in the classroom. The computer generated voice from within the machine is about the only English I hear in this Chinese ESL classroom as the students prefer their native Mandarin. As she works, the machine responds to various prompts much better than my own students.
“Make a selection"
“You have not been charged.”
"Please choose the desired product.
"A product has not been selected."
No comments:
Post a Comment