The Shoe's On The Other Foot Now

I started my Chinese classes today. Listening classes with Teacher Liu Li. She seemed like an enthusiastic woman, who has some more modern approaches to teaching language. My classmates come from the USA, Tunisia, Germany and Thailand. My oral Chinese level is above average in that class, whereas my reading and writing ain’t so hot. So, there is room for improvement!

It felt weird being on the other side of things; being the student as apposed to the teacher! I guess I can now understand things a bit better now from a student’s perspective. It had been a long time since I was inside a classroom! Next time I teach, I can approach it with a different understanding. Don’t be so hard on the students who are about to fall asleep – that was me at the end of today’s class – cos I didn’t get much sleep the night before due to those pesky mosquitoes!

I am thinking about moving out of the school and into an apartment with Chinese people. I reckon this way, I can speak Chinese every day. I am still searching. Last night I saw a really nice apartment, good price rent, except no bed! I would have had to buy a bed if I wanted to move in. Actually, it might work out cheaper in the long run. I can always sell the bed!

I can stay here a while on campus and see what crops up. Maybe I will want to continue staying here. My main reason for leaving would be the speaking Chinese thing. A lot of the foreign students speak in English after class. It’s a bit pointless coming all the way to China to learn Chinese and then speaking English!

Tomorrow I have Intensive Chinese class with Teacher Chen Mo. Better get to sleep so I’m alert and well!