Cheetah? 你說的是企鵝嗎?
October 8th, 2005
我有七個來自不同家庭背景的學生: 一個中南美混血兒，一個韓國人，二個潮州人，一個中俄混血兒，二個 American Chinese。七個小朋友跟我這個英文不完美，中文還算可以的[老師]湊在一塊兒，南腔北調地學中文。
” Let’s sing the Welcome Song.” ［真正高興地見到你，滿心歡喜地歡迎你。歡迎，歡迎，我們歡迎你。]
[... ㄎㄨㄢ 迎， ㄎㄨㄢ 迎，我們 ㄎㄨㄢ 迎你...。]
奇怪，怎麼矯正就是沒辦法，小朋友們就這麼一路的ㄎㄨㄢ 迎下去了。看到小朋友認真的發音，還是沒辦法精準，實在不忍心再繼續摧殘他們。一直想糾正英文發音的自己，當然可以瞭解不知如何將舌頭擺在適當位置的痛苦。為了讓小朋友在快樂中學習，除了兒歌，摺紙，玩遊戲，課程內容也圍繞小朋友喜歡的主題。說起來應該容易教的課，卻常常因為調皮搗蛋的六個小男生，搞得我這個老師臉上常常多了三條線。
” Today. We are going to learn how to say animals in Mandarin. Tell me your favorite animals and we can all say them in Mandarin.” 看到每個小朋友躍躍欲試的表情，正為選了個好主題高興的我，卻不知自己給自己出了個難題。小朋友們說了幾個動物像是馬、蛇、狗, 我都能快速的帶領他們學會中文發音, 一直到班上的小搗蛋開口。
” Teacher, teacher, I like sponge” 班上同學跟著大笑。
” Sponge? It is not an animal.”
” I just like sponge. ” 這個小朋友顯然是要跟我這個剛來的老師唱反調。
” Sponge is not an animal. It is a plant. ”
” Ha ha. Teacher, you are funny. It is not a plant.”
這下好了，這個同學想要以恥笑老師來獲得大家的注意。至少我也是個老師，怎麼能夠隨隨便便就被八歲的小孩考倒。我以嚴肅的口吻說: ” Sponge is actually a plant grown in the sea. People make it as a sponge that we use everyday. ” 一旁的同學點點頭說: ” Teacher is right. It is a plant.” 看見自討沒趣的小搗蛋安靜下來，頓時覺得自己真像個諄諄教誨的老師。還來不及高興這個教學危機的解除，總是有一堆怪點子的韓國小朋友說: ” Teacher. My favorite animal is Chee-a”
” Wow，how do you know penguin in Mandarin is 企鵝? ”
” penguin? Ha ha. Penguin? I am not saying penguin.”
” I say Chee-a.”
” Chee-a? Arn’t you saying 企鵝?” ” What’s that? How do you spell it?”
” C-h-e-e-t-a-h”
” Can you describe it? ”
” It runs very fast.”
這下糟了，我完全不知道小朋友口中的 Chee-(t)-a是什麼，還說是企鵝，真是糗大了。雖然一直想要猜出這不知道是什麼跑得很快的怪動物來扳回顏面，想起為人師表孔子曾經說[不知為不知]，只好搔搔頭的說 ” Sorry, I really don’t know what this is in Mandarin. I have to check and tell you next time. ”
人說[教學相長], 果真如是。連八歲的小孩都讓我學了一個英文單字 Cheetah, 美洲豹。怎麼猜也猜不到跟豹有關係。Cheetah: A wild cat-like animal with yellowish brown fur and black spots, which can run faster than any other animal. 這個單字是一輩子都不會忘了。對了，下次上課要記得帶English-Chinese字典, 我真是太小看這些八歲的小朋友了。
***Readers , I just realized that sponge is an animal after this article. Please read the comments.
Entry Filed under: 向婷，About Me,西雅圖，Seattle
6 Comments Add your own
1. Annie | October 9th, 2005 at 3:35 pm
我以前的公司用Cheetah當server的名字
我當時每天都要用那個server
一直以為Cheetah是人名
是進了公司的第二年還是第三年才知道這是一種動物(哈哈)
你下一堂課要教什麼?
2. Administrator | October 9th, 2005 at 5:39 pm
下一堂課教數數兒。一條線 萬條線 掉到河裡都不見。
3. Po | October 9th, 2005 at 11:09 pm
sponge is actually an animal … not a plant
this is what I got from dictionary.com
sponge
1. a
Any of numerous aquatic, chiefly marine invertebrate animals of the phylum Porifera, characteristically having a porous skeleton composed of fibrous material or siliceous or calcareous spicules and often forming irregularly shaped colonies attached to an underwater surface.
4. Administrator | October 10th, 2005 at 8:18 am
Gosh. I did not even question what I thought I know and remember. Thank you, Po. I am happy that I know the truth before the next class. Now the students will be interested in knowing more about animals and plants.
I start to wonder how people define an animal and a plant. This is what I found in the dictionary.
Animal: a living creature. not a plant, which has any or all of the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, and which can move all or part of its body.
Plant: a living thing which grows in earth, in water or on other plants. It usually has a stem, leaves, roots and flowers and produces seeds and can make its own food.
hmm… I am not really satisfied with the definitions here. Accroding to the definition, sponge should have taste and touch feeling. hmm… I have to know more about sponge.
5. Angel | October 10th, 2005 at 8:36 pm
Hey Ting,
Your article cracked me up and I had to explain it to John. He thought it was funny too. You are such an amazing writer. Ever thought about being a journalist? If you write the columns in newspaper, I will read it everyday! So excited I get to see you on Saturday!
6. Q維 | August 21st, 2006 at 6:05 pm
This is my first time to watch your Blog.You are an excellent teacher.Faceing so many naughty children,you can overcome their challenge that touch me to scale new heights.otherwise,this is my first time to write english article,if I have many grammer mistake,please telland let me improve.Thank you.
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