Yesterday after school, a newly arrived student, B, met with me to read together his homework. He writes in his home language, Thai, and then uses google translate to change it to English. Each time we meet, I am amazed at the capabilities of Google Translate at this point. This week, he gave his ideas on Langston Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and "I, Too".
Then, I asked him to show me on the map where he is from. Thus ensued a half-hour continuation of our conversation in which B taught me more about Thailand than I ever have known. For example, that its tenth king died two years ago. He was the longest serving king in the world, and the oldest, at 89. The country mourned for one year. B spoke these things into his phone in Thai, then showed me the translation on the screen. He also showed me the folk tales of his native land, in images, and I found this one in an English retelling on the blog of a Thai-German young woman.
I am reminded by these kinds of conversations of the vastness of my students' lives. B said "I know so much in Thai", and "In Thai, I learn so fast." He is learning very quickly here too, and I can only imagine how much more quickly he would progress in his own language, on topics of his choice.
bell hooks says that student stories are essential to bring into the classroom. It is essential to acknowledge the parts of them that are not directly related to school. I wish that school could leave the boundaries of the classroom more often. I would like to experience the world with my students more - the other week students in my advisory asked what class we would like to add to the classes offered at school. I said, one where we explore the city together, and see what we find. It's true.
Then, I asked him to show me on the map where he is from. Thus ensued a half-hour continuation of our conversation in which B taught me more about Thailand than I ever have known. For example, that its tenth king died two years ago. He was the longest serving king in the world, and the oldest, at 89. The country mourned for one year. B spoke these things into his phone in Thai, then showed me the translation on the screen. He also showed me the folk tales of his native land, in images, and I found this one in an English retelling on the blog of a Thai-German young woman. I am reminded by these kinds of conversations of the vastness of my students' lives. B said "I know so much in Thai", and "In Thai, I learn so fast." He is learning very quickly here too, and I can only imagine how much more quickly he would progress in his own language, on topics of his choice.
bell hooks says that student stories are essential to bring into the classroom. It is essential to acknowledge the parts of them that are not directly related to school. I wish that school could leave the boundaries of the classroom more often. I would like to experience the world with my students more - the other week students in my advisory asked what class we would like to add to the classes offered at school. I said, one where we explore the city together, and see what we find. It's true.
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