October 3, 2010
He was saying “Vivid.” That one took me awhile to get.
I talked to one of my international students for at least an hour and a half on Friday during our ten minute conference.
It was a totally weird situation. He really wanted to talk, and we discussed all sorts of things, both about the essay in question and American education in general. It was… interesting, but surprising. Also a bit tiring. I mean, I was paying the best attention I could, but I couldn’t always understand him, and I was doing my best to respond in ways that could be easily parsed, but I’m not all that good at that, either. We kept going in circles, a bit, as he went back to things he was concerned about but maybe didn’t completely understand the first time. It was… well, as I said, interesting. Language barriers are unfortunate.
I don’t really know what his goals were. He was very worried about his grades. Was he trying to create sympathy so I’ll grade him easier? (Not going to happen.) Was he just wanting advice so he can do it the right way and write the “fantastic” essays he was talking about? We he just wanting someone to talk to about the decisions he’s making for his career? (I’m not really a good person for that, but, you know.) I’m really unsure. Looking back on it, even a day later, I honestly can’t believe we talked that long. It seems kind of… unreal.
Still, I suppose it’s good he’s taking an interest in doing well in the subject, unlike a lot of people in my class this semester. It’s completely an experience, most definitely. All part of that “teaching” thing I do, I suppose.