Showing posts with label TESOL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TESOL. Show all posts

Monday, July 15, 2013

Singapore Day 24-ish: Falling in love with Bandung

A traditional pony cart in Bandung,
full of kids
[Enjoy the pictures, ok?] "We just fell in love with a city," I post on FB Saturday, after a trip to Bandung. It's our first time to the city where we'd like to live and learn Bahasa Indonesia next year.

The language school in Bandung
We fly into Jakarta Thursday night. The Bramonos, our friends and the parents of two wonderful students who stayed with us a few years ago, meet us at the airport, dropping us at the All Seasons hotel. We're close to the International English Service (IES, where we will attend Sunday.) The hotel is a relaxing boutique hotel, full of modern surfaces, glass, lime greens, and browns. The complimentary breakfasts includes Indonesian as well as Western choices. We alternate between guava and orange juice, nasi goreng, rice porridge, and waffles. The view from the restaurant deck is spectacular, overlooking the city of trees, skyscrapers, and old neighborhoods.

Friday, W and I explore the area on foot, stopping at the IES office to say hi to Pastor Dave Kenney, an alum of NU. Turns out Dave graduated from our alma mater the year before we did, so we know a lot of the same people. (I got to know him when I was Alumni Director a few years ago.)

Window display of Pasta de Waraku
Afterwards, we pop into the Grand Indonesian Mall, a complex of big and small shops. We eat at a shop advertising "Japanese Pasta," where my supper of prawn and pesto spaghetti is fantastic! For my sore feet and tight neck, I splurge on an hour-long foot and back rub at the mall's massage shop @$11. Well worth it.

Meanwhile W is cruising the mall to find a bandage to ward off a blister (my sandal was rubbing). By the time I'm done and relaxed, he's done and exhausted. We head back to the hotel without shopping. I do find a Grade 6 Indonesian workbook. This write-in-text of math/science/language/grammar/social studies should be perfect for acquiring some commonly used vocabulary. W doesn't have the energy to cruise the mall for Indonesian videos as I'd hoped. But our friends send us links to some programs for listening to the language.

Bandung traffic
Saturday morning, Bramonos and Kristi (their oldest daughter) pick us up to head for Bandung. We've been drawn to the city since we first considered moving to Indonesia. Dave has set up a meeting with a couple who used to live in Jakarta and attend IES. An IES branch in Bandung would be a great asset for speakers of English, whether Christian or not. We're exploring what that might look like.

It's Ramadan, the annual month of fasting for Muslims. They eat a very early breakfast (before sun-up) and celebrate a late supper (after sundown). The driver doesn't eat during the day, but he drives the two hours to Bandung. Sometimes the ride takes 4 hours, say our hosts, depending on traffic. With everyone feasting and meeting families, traffic this weekend is amazingly light (moving, not congested as usual).

Alwin and Maria join the fun!
We meet up with a delightful couple, Alwin and Maria, friends of IES who moved back to Bandung to be with their families. They're great company and full of good ideas about living in Bandung. We encourage them to start a Life Group, like the one they miss since their relocation. After a cooling drink at Chatime (Ciwalk Mall), they scoot off to other obligations.

We browse a few of the outlet stores for which Bandung is famous. W buys a shirt; I find a blouse for myself and a handbag for Kirsten. For supper, we're headed to the Peak, a restaurant Bramonos enjoyed on their last trip. We follow a winding lane up the side of the mountain. Barely wide enough for two vehicles and in the pouring rain, we miss the unmarked turnoff.

Instead, we pull into the driveway of a place that looks like a modern retreat center. Indra goes in to get directions and comes back to wave us inside. "The place requires a reservation, but we have a table," he says. "Let's eat here."

We have arrived -- by happy "accident" -- at Lewangwangi, an art gallery and restaurant. We sit overlooking the city, lights sparkling below. Fireworks climb the sky from the houses on opposite hillsides, celebrating the end of the day's Ramadan fast.

The gallery-restaurant of Lawangwangi
The owner, of Lewangwangi, Dr. Andonowati, sits and chats with us. She tells us that she moved home after 10 years at McGill University in Montreal (yeah Canada!). She's a math professor at a local university in Bandung. Over the years, she has purchased student art at her institution. Her collection is varied and interesting. It's well worth a visit, to give a feel for the artistic side of the city.

It's a long drive back down the mountain and back to Jakarta. By the time we get home, it's 11:30pm. (Bramonos live another hour further away!)

Chinese food around a big table
The next morning W and I sleep in. We intend to attend both morning sessions at IES, but miss the first. We visit the 11 o'clock meeting. We enjoy the music and speaking. The group says goodbye to a family who is returning to South Africa. How touching to see the care for its members!

Over lunch, we visit with Pastor Dave, Gigi, their daughter, and the IES worship leader. The South African family, who join the feast, are great fun. Their daughter is moving to the USA to attend a community college.

"Where?" we ask. Wow - she'll be studying within a few miles of our home and church in Kenmore! It's a God-arrangement: we invite her to join us for Sunday lunches once she arrives. As we wrap up, the guys exchange jokes and stories that make everyone laugh.

Bakezin, alias 'Temptation Central,' with our friends
For dessert, the Bramonos pick us up to take us to the Bakezin, a dessert chain of culinary temptation. We get to see "our girls" Kristi and Daniela. They are happily married to nice guys who pursued them for years to win their hands. (Kristi is expecting a baby, whom we can't wait to meet!) We're so full we can't eat a thing, but our tea is good. We give and get hugs all around before we part.

Then Indra and Yayu are off to a traditional service, where he is speaking. Meanwhile, W and I pack up our things in the hotel for checkout at 7pm. Bramonos return to drive us to the airport. It's hard to say goodbye. Knowing we'll be back in a year makes it easier.

A teen sprayed silver,
soliciting funds for
a Bandung orphanage
It's one thing to hear about the hospitality and personal kindness of Indonesians. It's quite another to experience such generosity and friendship. This family, among all their obligations and long commutes, has helped us enjoy exploring Jakarta and Bandung in ways we never imagined. We are so grateful!

On the flight home, W and I talk about what stands out to us. What a weekend! W sleeps through most of the flight, while I read.

We arrive at Changi Airport at 12:30am, whisk through the efficient customs and immigration process, climb into a taxi, and are sped to our apartment in record time (S$13 instead of the usual S$20). We unpack before falling into bed exhausted.

Lucky W: he teaches at 8:30-3:30 Monday to Saturday. My obligation is grading papers and continuing interactions with students from the past two weeks. We're looking forward to a few more days with our daughter, Kirsten, who heads home later this week.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Singapore Day 13: Creative classroom

A perfectly captured moment: check
out more marvelous painting
s by
the artist: Prabhakara Jimmy Quek
You wouldn't think that a Research Methods class would be a creative endeavor. But the seven students from Singapore and Malaysia have wonderful stories. Today they presented topics that interest them, headed toward a finished paper. Hopefully each will have most of the research done and the paper written by next weekend.

Singapore demands a different kind of busy of its citizens. It's on the run 24-7. Our students come to class 8:30am-1:30pm (8-1:30 next week). Afterwards, they go to ministry events, work, or other commitments. Between leaving class and returning (I'm not sure when), they do their homework and prep for classes.

I'm so grateful for the TESOL classes with Dr. Kobashigawa, taken just before we left Seattle. I've tried to carry over the relaxed intensity of her classroom to our Singapore experience. We have to accomplish a lot, but we take a half-hour breakfast break at 10 and have other breaks between work sessions. After we finish, there's cleanup and an evening ahead.

W, Kirsten, Jeremy, and Rebekah are downtown by the time I finish teaching. The guys walk around in SimLim (tech mall), the girls look for clothes, and eat an early supper in town.

Meanwhile, I head back to the flat and finish the porridge (rice mush with chicken and egg in it) left over from brunch. It tasted fantastic in the morning and still tickles my taste buds this afternoon, though it looks plain and kind of slimy.

J and R arrived during the night. They had an empty seat between them on their flights, a true luxury. However, due to turbulence, no one could use the toilets between Tokyo and Singapore. Needless to say, there were long lines for the restrooms in the airport. W went to the airport to fetch them, but it took them a while to get through the bathroom lines and back to the flat.

I saw the kids for a quick hello and goodbye before heading for class this morning. It's nice to have them here. We miss Timothy and Melissa but it's their turn to travel with us next time, perhaps to Bandung. (Jono, we miss you too. He was here last time we taught in S'pore.)

Kirsten's acupuncture session and herbal meds seemed to help with her joint pain yesterday, but she's pretty sore today. W and the kids come home exhausted. Kirsten's joint are aching, Rebekah's feeling the heat. Jeremy's knee hurts and W's throat is raw. (Good thing he's not teaching this week. He's tour guide and host, between projects.)

I have my grading done by the time everyone gets back. K heads for a nap, W hops online, and the other two relax and set up their phones. I'm ready for morning class, then it's onward ho to the weekend.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Singapore Day 3: Hot, hazy, and delicious

Smoke haze begins to clear
I rest in the morning while W teaches. This time around, neither of us adjusted as quickly to the time change as before. Part of it is that we're riding around in a car some of the time: we'd be walking and using public transit if Taylors weren't kind chauffeurs. The ongoing haze probably doesn't let as much sunlight through to reset our body clocks, either.

We've got opposing teaching schedules. W's on this week and our fourth. I'm teaching the two weeks between. As usual, he comes back from class excited about the discussion and material he taught. I'm reviewing material and getting ready for next week: I have to teach two intensive weeks of research methodology, or "How do you write a research paper?"

Some kids in Malaysia and Singapore wear
masks to prevent lung damage from smoke
blowing from Indonesia to the west
Most of the students have not done theological research or writing. Some from non-tech areas will have only used a computer in the previous 3-4 weeks. A few are barely literate in English. For them, this is a crash course in language and literacy, as well as academia. My job is to give them enough information and skill to get through their theology classes.

I've been inspired by those who've taught this in the past. They've loved the students and their material, and shared their joy in the progress students make. This wouldn't be my first choice of teaching material, to be honest. More artist than mathematician, I like the interchange of "what can be" rather than "these are the rules you will use." However, I have more enthusiasm than I started with from hearing others' passion for teaching English. Plus God just took me through 4 weeks of TESOL, which surely will help!

After noon, Cheryl takes me and their 9-yr-old daughter N across the island to the Junk Pile, a pottery stash on the west side. The Brits colonized Singapore so cars drive on the left, not the right like in the USA. It's a happy reminder of our stay in England a decade ago.

Young N is soon hot and bored. No wonder - her mom and I are fascinated by the variety in each aisle of the shaded warehouse. Temps are in the low 90s, but humidity is high and the breeze is minimal between the shelves. We're dripping within a half hour.

One of the island's only surviving Dragon Kilns is at this pottery. We walk through a brick tunnel and look at the pottery supplies and tools for students who come here to learn and plan with clay. When we're done, we wash the dust off our hands and cool off with a popsicle. It takes 40 minutes to cross the island back to our flat to pick up the other child, 14-year-old J.

W's class is done by 3:15. We drop by the school for him on our way to the most amazing supper at Tim Ho Wan, a Michelin-rated dim sum restaurant. The line is long but quick; we shuffle from one low stool to the next toward the entry.

Hum bao
A server comes by and hands us a tab sheet for pre-orders. Once we're seated, our food arrives on little trays and in steamer baskets. Even the kids rave about the delectable glutinous rice wrapped in leaves, fresh hot hum bao rolls with crispy outsides and bbq pork inside, and the shrimp dumplings. The tables are packed with happy customers. No wonder! We stagger out with bulging stomachs.

We make one more stop: Arab Street (the Muslim quarter). in the shops that line the narrow streets, the Taylors find batik, shawls, and other beautiful gifts. W and I are on stuff-rations. We're severely downsizing at home and determined not to bring more home than we came with. If we can, we'll shed clothing, books, and other goodies here.

W and I pause at the Sufi Corner for Turkish coffee (he) and mint tea (me). Beside us, tables of young people smoke hookahs and visit, passing the hoses of rose and milk shisha around and puffing out fragrant clouds.

We're all weary and happy to be home by 7:30. We toddle off to bed and sleep soundly. By the time I get up at 8 in the morning, everyone else is gone. In the air-conditioned quiet, I sit at my desk overlooking other flats, traffic, and lots of greenery, brushing up on what I'll teach next week.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

My head is pounding. I wonder why.

The fish tanks are gone. I won't miss them like I miss my dogs.

Late last night, a couple moved out the live rock and sand, the fish and corals, the tanks and their stands, the filtered water and the gear.

It's a relief. The spring sun has been shining in the windows at an angle that promotes algae. The tanks were being overgrown! Our house sitter hasn't had saltwater aquariums, so we didn't want to leave them here over the summer.

Last night, our house sitter also came over for a home introduction, and I had a final coaching session with a client. I read a book (assigned for class: Other People's Words by Victoria Purcell-Gates.) Then I fell asleep as though dead.

It's 5am and I have a pounding headache. I kept waking, thinking of what needs doing. Bedding needs washing today or tomorrow. Cover the grand piano so if someone plays pool beside it, jumped balls can't dent the top. Pack. Clean up. Make sure the kitchen is in order. Clear the fridge. Vacuum. Dust. Tonight's our last night at home. Lord have mercy!

W's been grading courses and painting the basement. Tonight our electrician and plumber friends come to advise him on next steps. Meanwhile, I'm finishing up my class and cramming in all the homework time I can. Three project are due this weekend. Friday is our final exam.

We're not packed for Missouri (pre-field orientation) yet. W hauled up my summer clothes that were stored in the basement: there are four heaps of short-sleeved tops, sweaters, and trousers: 1) take along to Missouri, 2) take along to Singapore, 3) give away, and 4) maybe keep through this summer. We'll have one night at home between flights from Missouri and Singapore (teaching).

I promised to be honest about the process of going into missions. This part isn't fun nor very exciting.

I'm good at shedding tasks that don't belong on my checklist ... but these are unavoidable. We don't have time to put everything away: my office looks as though a hurricane has struck it. Not only is the paperwork for my Spore class on research methodology on the desk, but things have migrated from the guest room next door so Neeley has a bedroom. (W is sorting things in the usual guestroom.) Our bedroom is stacked with clothes and other things to pack. The laundry room (hardly touched in 4 weeks) is a ruin. My heart is happy to follow Jesus, but my body and mind protest the process. Christ have mercy!

Somehow things always fall into place, even if the journey is not as orderly or beautiful as we hope. The fish are gone. The dogs are gone. The dining table is gone. The rugs are being rolled up. And much more needs to go. The slow drift of "gone gone gone" continues.

Soon WE'll be gone for the summer.

How messy. Prayers appreciated. Lord have mercy!

Read more:
*Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good. Isaiah 55:2 (NLT)

*When Jesus was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Luke 24:30-31 (NLT)

Moravian Prayer: O Bread of life, too often we forget that you provide all the answers! When we search for truth, help us turn to you and your Holy Word. Amen.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Up at night

Remember those all-nighters you pulled as a college student? I've never been much into that! And our kids did most of their homework in school, just like we did. After we understood things, we'd just get to work: we all hated bringing schoolwork home.

But once in a while - like last night - there's too much work to cram into the hours of the day. When I sat down with my grammar textbook yesterday, I wasn't in the mood for workbook exercises. The assignment was due last week, but I'd been away all weekend on a ministry retreat. (The prof had extended grace in advance.)

Restaurant Zoe
Yesterday after class, we'd scheduled our goodbye-for-the-summer dinner with friends at Restaurant Zoe in Capitol Hill. It's well worth a celebratory visit!

Then we hurried home. I got to work before 8pm. On top of this week's reading and writing, I needed to get that grammar text off my shelf. I decided to bite the bullet and get the work done in one gulp.

When I looked up, it was 1 a.m. Yeah, I was exhausted and my handwriting had devolved into a scribble, but the pages were full. I slapped shut the book, read about Elijah (2 Kings 4-8), and fell soundly asleep by 1:30.

These few marathon efforts make me appreciate everything we have. A warm bed. A quiet neighborhood. The dark of the forest outside the window. The kids grown and gone. The privilege of books. Our love of learning. An alarm clock.

Bright and early this morning, I woke to sunshine streaming in. By 7 a.m. I was on my way to school. I'm in the last of four weeks of TESOL classes. W and I have obligations each evening this week. In between, we're packing for Springfield: 2 weeks of Pre-Field Orientation lie ahead, starting Saturday. Before we leave, we have to pack for a month of teaching in Singapore, too: we'll just come in overnight to fly out again.

What keeps you up at night?

Read more:
*Listen to my words, Lord, consider my sighing. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3 NIV

*The Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12 (NLT)

*Paul and Barnabas related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. Acts 14:27 (NLT)

Moravian Prayer: All-powerful, all-knowing God, at times it is easy for us to forget all that you have done for us, and all that you continue to do. In the busyness and stress of everyday living, help us find your strength in us. Amen.



Tuesday, May 28, 2013

A grammar grandma

It takes me longer to synthesize information and write stuff now. I used to whip out assignments, but now I want to think about what they mean. Silly me!

This week we're relearning English grammar in our TESOL class. Today we went through clauses, phrases, kinds of verbs (12!), adverbials, and more.

If I zone out for an instant, I feel like I've lost track of where we are. My head was spinning: it reminded me of algebra where everything makes sense until you open the book at home. Then it's blah blah blah - and "didn't this make sense 5 hours ago?"

I've just wrapped up an assignment ... and found there is nowhere to post it. Maybe it was deleted from our requirements and I blinked at that time ... and didn't hear we didn't have to do it. Oh well, it's late and time for bed. I learned something from reading it and writing my paper, so that's a bonus.

This is all part of what I'm learning in prep for Indonesia. I don't know how God will use this information. At the very least, it's reminding me of how complicated English is.

It should be helpful for the Research Methodology class I teach this summer in Singapore.  That classroom is usually filled with students whose second or third language is English... and I have to teach them to write a coherent paper in 2 weeks. Good luck to us all!

What have you had to learn that doesn't seem to have a purpose? Found out anything lately that seemed so random or out-of-the-ordinary that you just shook your head?

We might not know why God brings things to our attention. But "paying attention" is important, day after day. We read scripture, pray for guidance, and then do what is at hand. Grammar wasn't high on my list, but here we are. What's on your list today?

Read more: 
*But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Psalm 19:12 NLT

*Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary. Isaiah 40:30-31 NLT

*When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy. Titus 3:4-5 NLT

*It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Father God, we praise you as our Creator. Lord Jesus, we thank you for your sacrificial death. Holy Spirit, we are grateful for your constant advocacy. Triune God, fill us with your love and power that we may worship in wonder, work without growing weary, and wait patiently to know your will.

Almighty God, you know us completely. We all sin and fall short of your glory, but Christ’s death saves us from the punishment we deserve. Keep us strong and sure in a world of sin and strife. We ask this trusting in your divine mercy. Amen.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Do you love learning?

#1. The eager learner
We're in the second of four weeks of TESOL classes. My ears ring from morning to night with information and music. We have Pandora radio on during working breaks. I can focus on the exercises during those breaks ... with headphones blocking the music. Yeah, I'm one of those who has to focus if I care to remember something.

My mind roves between reading, hearing the information, and distractions. Any sound, sight, smell, taste, texture can derail my attention. A conversation or song lyric will weave itself into my notes and later I'll think, "What's this!? Where did that come from?"

I've learned to go with what's in my head. By now, I know what works for me. When info intake is systematic, I can access data later, creatively pulling together entire new ideas and options. When intake is chaotic or random, I probably can't retrieve the information without checking my notes. Regardless, I love learning.

#5. The resistant learner
What kind of a learner are you? Here are some possibilities:
  1. Eager learner - no matter what comes your way, you want to know more about it. Where and how it fits in is less important than the excitement of learning something new. C'est moi.
  2. Analytical learner - you sort and categorize things as you ingest them.
  3. Reflective learner - you mull over what you're learning and connect the new to what you already know.
  4. Intuitive learner - you instinctively can imagine why, where, and how the material could fit into the big picture. You grasp a good approximation of the material, either for later retrieval or further study.
  5. Resistant learner - you're comfortable and don't want to change your mind (or your life) so you don't want to learn anything new.
Most of us identify with each of the above, depending on the information and our time of life.
  • What is God calling you to learn this week? This month? This year? 
  • What opportunities do you have to absorb new things and change how you think? how you behave? how you serve or work?
  • Are you embracing or resisting learning? Why?
From Real Simple

Read more:
*Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? Job 38:36 NLT

*You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1 NLT

*Jesus said to Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” Luke 22:32 NLT

*Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Jesus, Savior, hear our prayers. You know our earnest desires, our deepest needs, and our unspoken cares. Keep our hearts and minds fixed on you so our faith remains strong. Amen.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Was meint das? (What does that mean?)

I'm back in school. This time, I'm working toward a TESOL certification, learning to teach English to speakers of other languages. We're whistling through four semesters in the next four weeks of summer school.

My kids raved about Prof Suzan Kobashigawa, who teaches in the university's Arts and Humanities department. She taught Japanese to our daughter and other course to our sons. Our children enjoyed her interactive, hands-on style that stretched beyond the classroom into fun activities in the community. They tasted international food, watched international movies, and learned about culture. I'm doing the same - and what joy it is to have a good teacher.

Language reflects the values and thought processes of its people group. For example, I didn't realize how regimented German was until I taught it to our children. I drew alphabet cards with animals to match the phonics and wrote a song for each. Then I found out that "a" (ah) sounded the same in nearly every combination: if you learned the "note" each letter made, you could combine the notes  to make words, much like singing a tune. Our kids easily picked up German reading and transferred it to English, which was much more flexible and complicated.

We don't always know the meaning for what we're called to do. Sometimes we move ahead and just do what's in front of us because we know we should. The reason why I'd spent five years on a doctorate became apparent this spring. And this class? I've already learned new several ways to teach, which I'll apply to a class in Singapore this summer.

I'm grateful. Every piece God puts together feeds into the work we are assigned. Sitting in Suzan's classroom reminds me how gifted teachers provide opportunities for students. Looking around at the students, I can't wait to hear how they change the world.

Read more:
*“In this place I will give peace,” says the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:9 (NKJV)

*Through Christ God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:2 NLT

*And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 5-6 NIV

Moravian Prayer: Our lives, our nation, and our world are racked with sin and unrighteousness. We long for peace, Father God. Help us to turn away from evil. We pray that the peace that passes all understanding may fill our minds and hearts and keep us safe in Christ Jesus. Shalom and Amen.