2015年8月7日星期五

                                         Goodbye,Yale; Goodbye, My Dear Teachers

         Time flies. Its our last week in Yale. We have to say goodbye to our dear teachers: Siggy and Carrie. I feel very sentimental.
One month is too short, but I have learned a lot from some excellent teachers. From Siggys classes, I learned many teaching methods and skillssuch as how to use some interesting activities and games in classes to make every student get involved in without any pressure, how to encourage beginners, especially shy students, like me, to speak English bravelyAt the beginning I was afraid of speaking in public, but in Siggys classes I feel at ease and with her patience and encouragement gradually I am willing to speak in class, though I still couldnt speak very well, and then I even had courage to make a presentation in the public library. In Carries class I’ve gained some skills in how to appreciate short but classical literary works. Carrie has taught us to use blogger to record the highlights of life in English with a few photos, which makes me interested in writing. In Alans classes, I’ve learned how to instruct students to write step by step formally and seriously. From Kirk, I know how to make students enjoy speaking English. In Betsys active classes with too many strongstudents in, I learned how to guide and instruct such students unconsciously and wisely. In Robs classes, his way of teaching idioms are very useful for my future teaching. And Susan makes me to thinksometimes teacher should be an actor or actress in order to make your students to understand some difficult thingsOh, I benefit a lot from all these wonderful teachers classes. Their teaching methodology is very useful for my teaching in class.
Besides learning through observing classes, we had quite a few cultural experienceswe have visited Mark Twins House and appreciated brilliant arts in Metropolitan Museum of Art. Especially with Carrie, Xiafeng and Patricks efforts and help, we three groups had a good opportunity to introduce some parts of Chinese culture to American people in New Haven Public Library. We did try our best to make audiences know more about China and Chinese. And I visited two churches on Two Sunday mornings: the Center Church and the ST. Paul U.A.M.E. Church. Their atmospheres are totally different: the former was in a solemn atmosphere with a few people in and the atmosphere in the latter is very lively, filled with energetic music, by which more people were attracted to the church, however, their ceremony of worship was also so solemn that some Christians were even moved to tears. 
After classes, we spent a lot of time in the libraries to read some books, scan or download some useful materials for our future teaching or researching.
       Of course, there are no perfect teaching methods. American teachers and we Chinese teachers still have room for improvement. Lets make great efforts to become a good teacher.
         Thanks a lot, my dear teachers!

                                                 




2015年7月19日星期日

A Wonderful Lecture

  The lecture / performance of the first group on Chinese culture was brilliant.
     Two weeks ago,we visited New Haven Free Public Library and was very pleased to meet a nice lady---Xia Feng,one of the top managers in the library.Then through Carrie's contacting  with Xia, we got the good opportunity of  offering Chinese culture classes to adults as a voluntary activity in the library, which would be an invaluable experience for all of us.
     At first an attractive flyer needed to be created for the publicity. Carrie instructed our temporary design team, including Cherry, Rachel, Arnold and Junia, to make a beautiful flyer, with some suggestions from other colleagues and Xia Feng. They devote a lot of time and energy to it. Rest of us appreciated it.


      Then the first group members---Jason, Jennifer,Lauren and Joyce  began to be busy with the preparation for the lecture: they collected lots of materials, wrote out their lecture notes, did good ppt, and practiced many times. When they had a dress rehearsal  in class last Tuesday, honestly speaking, it seemed to be a half-baked. Because lack of enough preparation, they looked very nervous. Carrie and some colleagues provided them with some suggestions. And they started to improve it immediately. In order to make their lecture/performance excellent, they revised, polished and practiced until they were satisfied with themselves.
      Last Thursday evening is the time for their formal performance. Most of us arrived at the public library half an hour earlier. And Patrick, a staff member of the library in charge of this performance, has already well arranged the needed equipments. Lecture began. At first Jason made a opening remarks.Then Arnold traced the friendship between  USA and China back to the WWII. He presented a lot of information that audience were interested in, for responses from the audiences, such as "oh" "woo" "really"and "interesting", could be heard from time to time.  Lauren and Jennifer introduced China's only-child  policy with a style of talk show . Their language was humorous, which amused the audience occasionally. Jason shared his understanding of China's Aging society. His visual English expression and rich body language made the boring topic sound interesting. Joyce showed the audience the everyday life of the senior citizens in China with a lot of funny pictures, which made the audience believe China is the best place for retired people to live in. The most exciting part was that Lauren performed Taiji with Taiji Gongfu Fan, which brought the house down. And she even taught two audiences to learn some basic movements. It's awesome that they did a good job.  During the question time, Jason's answers satisfied the audiences. And some audiences even asked us the exact time of our next lecture.That is to say, the lecture of the first group was so successful that the audiences  are even looking forward to our subsequent lectures. That's cool!















Big Family Party

   July 14th was our happiest day. Because on this day Jason,Joyce,Cherry and I invited our rest 11 colleagues (because they miss home cooking very much) and  two dear American teachers to come to our apartment for a "big" party.
   When we determined the menu, we considered that some colleagues were from north of China, some were from south and our teachers were Americans. We should try our best to guarantee each member can eat one of dishes which meets his taste.Then 2-3 days before the party, we went to Stop&Shop to buy so many things that each of us four carried them back by hands and with backpacks. Another pleasant thing is that when we were having a trip in Boston we found some dressings for our Chinese salads in China Town.
   The big day came. When class was over that afternoon, Cherry,Linda,Junia and I rushed to our department to prepare for dinner ,and Jason went to the China Shop to buy more ingredients. We cooperated very well: Joyce, Cherry,Junia and I were busy in the kitchen; Linda,who is from Xi'an and good at mixing and kneading dough and making dumplings, prepared dumplings in the sitting room. 



      Gradually more colleagues came, bringing fruits,biscuits or their favorite dishes as gifts,and joined in wrapping dumplings,including our teachers. They were so talented that they even made beautiful dumpling wrappers with beer bottles instead of rolling-pins,for we had no rolling-pins. Two hours later, we had dinner,standing around the table,for we had not enough chairs.Dumpling was the main course,with 14 dishes of various flavors.I was so glad that they liked the dishes I cooked. We were eating, cheering,toasting,chatting and laughing excitedly and happily all the time, just like in a big family reunion feast in the Spring Festival or Christmas Day.







     After dinner, we performed a folk dance for our teachers in the lobby, following our instructor Lauren, who is very good at dance. Then our teachers said goodbye to us because one of them had to catch the train to home. And we kept going our party till very late: some went on dancing, others played cards and a few chatted about funny things.It's such a wonderful day!
  





2015年7月17日星期五

One-day Sightseeing in Boston

                     One-day Sightseeing in Boston

     Yesterday we seven colleagues took one-day tour of Boston.
     We made decision to Boston for sightseeing in the evening last Friday.The time for the plan was so limited that we couldn't make elaborate preparation,just simply set tour route and the departure time.
     By the way, Yale's shuttle bus service is very considerate.We determined to catch the train of 4:40 am. The train station is a little far away from our rented apartment.And most of our team members are ladies. When we talked about the security issue at night, it was suggested that we could ask Yale's shuttle bus service for help.We tried to get in contact with the service staff. To our great surprise, they promised to pick us up at our assigned time.The next morning they helped us catch the train punctually.
 


     When we arriving in Boston, the first thing was to buy a Charlie Ticket,with which we can take the subway N times the whole day.


   Our first station is Harvard University,which is one of the oldest private universities of USA,which has produced about 40 Nobel Prize winners and 8 U.S.presidents. Most of its traditional attractions lie in the northeast of Harvard Yard, surrounded by various antique halls.And in it grand old tress and large green lawns grace its landscape. Chairs in all colors scattered on the lawns,just like colorful stars, which are convenient for visitors to have a rest.A bronze statue of John Harvard is an important symbol of the university. I noticed that the brass of the left shoe appears polished clean. It is said that students have been carrying on the tradition of rubbing John Harvard's shoe for good luck.I am definitely not the exception.Opposite to the Statue of Harvard is a memorial library. From the words on the red flag we know it has history of 100 years. 



    On an occasion I heard a guide introducing a magic door of a building (sorry I forgot the name of the building):if you whisper to one side of the door, people by the other side can hear your words clearly. It's amazing!



   And then I noticed the first programmable computer in the United States in the Science Center beside the Harvard square. It’s so huge but with much less functions, comparing to the present computers.  When I was viewing the big computer, a girl, who was sitting on the bench near the computer, attracted my attention. She was so immersing into her own world of knowledge that she wasn't distracted at all by the visitors walking back and forth in front of her.I observed her for a while and took a few photos for her, but she didn't notice.





    The second stop is MIT, which is full of modern elements. In the distance I saw the odd State Building, which is totally different from other buildings and is leaning sharply. Just as its designer said it looks like a pile of drunk robots having a celebration party.
    Then the main building of MIT is in memory of the founder and first president of MIT---- William Barton Rogers.What impressed me most is the human-shaped sculpture---The Alchemist,which is comprised of numbers and letters. I think it best represents the features of MIT.
 


 
   After coming out of the MIT campus, we entered a local restaurant and had a great meal.We even tasted the famous local lobster. Woo, it's so delicious! It's the best American food I have tasted so far.



   After lunch, we took a nap on the lawn in front of the gate of Massachusetts state House.On the way to the Bunker Hill Monument I found Boston  mixed past with present, history with fashion, tradition with novelty.It is very beautiful.





   Our last stop is Boston Harbor, which is famous for Boston Tea Party and attracts thousands of people, who have different colors and are from different countries,races and cultures.


   During the day my extra bonus is that I snapped some moving scenes,which were full of love, warmth and harmony.






 










   

2015年7月8日星期三

               Taste Local Pizza for the First Time

      Today, we finally tasted local pizza that I have been looking forward to such a long time.
        Actually, we four roommates planned to taste typical American pizza in a local restaurant several times, but didn't make it due to one reason or another.  This morning we mentioned the topic again and Jason made the final decision: we are going to Pizza House to have lunch.
      After morning classes, we met in front of the classroom and then went to the Pizza House, which is around the corner on the Howe street. It just took us 5-7 minutes to get there. We came into the house and looked around: it's not big but very neat; and it is decorated very simply. Several kinds of seasonings, such as salt, black pepper, white pepper and etc, were on the table.  Even though it's lunch time,  just one or two tables were occupied. That is totally different from in Pizza Hut in China, which is always full of people at meal time. We four ordered fried chicken and  medium-sized pizza with half top of pepperoni and half of vegetables (green peppers, mushrooms and etc.) as the waitress recommended because Cherry is a vegetarian.


      

                            
      When the ordered food was brought onto the table, the first thing we did was not to eat it, but to take photos for it as we usually do when we  eat something special.  The pizza and chicken looked beautiful and delicious, but was too heavy and salty for my Chinese tongue. I just ate a little in case of hunger in the whole afternoon. 

             












     Anyway, I took a bite of American local culture, in spite that the taste was not so good as I ever expected . 


                                






2015年7月5日星期日

A Wonderful Day in Yale Outdoor Education Center

      Yesterday was Friday. We had a wonderful trip to Yale outdoor education center.
       We got together in front of the Payne Whitney Gym at about 10:30 am. According to the schedule we  departed at 10:45. Before the bus arriving, we take some photos with the background of the beautiful  Gym.

     
     Almost all  students, coming for the Summer Session from different countries with different colors, participated in the activities. We took two such yellow school buses to go to the center.



       Upon arriving in the destination, it's time for lunch. We had a  simple typical American lunch. Honestly speaking, I couldn't get used to it, so I just ate a little. Though the food couldn't attract me, but the beautiful lake could. The lake is so big and peaceful, surrounded by verdant bushes and trees , white clouds floating in the sky.   Under the sunshine the lake is glittering like peals or crystals. Looking around, I found, besides our group, a lot of families also were enjoying their leisure time here: some were swimming in the natural swimming pool; others were chatting while eating delicious picnic food; and some were just intoxicated with its radiant and enchanting scenery; several groups of people were having barbecues and a few children were swinging and sliding on a small amusement ground; not a few of people were boating  or fishing on the lake. 











    
         Actually, boating is our favorite activity . Wearing 
life vests, Cherry and I got in a canoe. Cherry sat on the front seat and I on the back. Because lack of experience, boating is a great challenge for both of us. At the beginning, we couldn't control the canoe totally: it just circled and not moved forward a little even though we tried hard to row. It seemed that we were not rowing a canoe, but a big ship. After trying and failing several times , we could gradually control the canoe better and better. We even went  across the lake lightly and excitedly. Not being allowed to take our camera for safety, we didn't take pictures on the canoe . It's  a pity.
      On the way back I had a very pleasant talk with professor Kyi. She is  a learned and knowledgeable Burmese and she's been a teacher in American for more than forty years. She's a very good teacher. She said she had opportunities to teach the students from in kinder-gardens  to  in colleges and got rich experience in teaching,  with which she can train the teachers in her homeland and make contributions to the improvement of  education in it. We also talked about the difference in education, value, and other aspects of culture in American, Myanmar and China. Oh, it's a very nice talk. I'm looking forward to having opportunity to observe her classes.