Last week was my first conversation class. Conversation class number two will be this Wednesday. In my first class, I gave the students a survey to see what things they would like to discuss and what things they wouldn't. While the things they were interested in discussing were wide ranging, they seemed unanimously opposed to discussing politics and religion. So barring politics and religion, any suggestions? This class, while far more advanced than the beginning levels that I normally teach, consists of students who are very advanced but definitely below the fluent and almost-fluent groups that B and J have, so anything they would be given to read/discuss would need to be graded to their level. At the end of last class, I gave them the lyrics to Simon and Garfunkel's "I am a Rock" to read over, with the idea that we would listen to and discuss the song in the next class. Unfortunately, I can't come up with a topic that could follow the discussion of this song in a coherent manner other than the concept of the Professional Hermit (which probably appeals only to me), so any suggestions would be welcome!
11 comments:
Janichka, I'm addicted to visiting your blog. It's weird, I have to browse this page every time I'm online. Maybe it's the colors. I like green and its shades.
Anyway, about the defeatist song. I agree that most people probably couldn't relate to the concept of being a Professional Hermit, seeing as it's a rare profession. What you could still discuss though, is friendship and love. You could start out with asking the people if they agree with what it says in the song, namely, if it's really not worth starting relationships because they may get messed up, and that it's unwise to become attached to people because they could hurt you.
Then you could ask people to share what friendship and love mean to them. I realize that taking the discussion in this direction could possibly result in people shutting up like clams OR a heated battle between idealists and cynics.
I think the important thing is to get them to become passionate about the topic because then they'll forget that they're too shy to speak or that they have a language barrier. Love and its perils is a universal enough topic for everyone to be able to relate to. Same with friendship.
F***, forgot to sign again. It's LAYLA.
I'm kind of kicking myself for giving them this song... It's been one of my favorites for years, but... can I really make it through a class discussing the pros and cons of starting relationships? I am probably the worst person on the planet to lead that discussion!
Hm. Not necessarily. You'll just represent a point of view. Or maybe not. It's a dodgy topic...
Well...can't you just refrain from making any personal comments? Just get them to talk about it. You can ask questions and direct the discussion without actually participating. Emotionally, at least.
Wading in where angels fear to tread ...
First, if you say you're the worst person to lead the discussion, then ok, you're the worst. That said, I'm a divorced guy, and I'm once again comfortable getting into relationships (am getting into one with a very nice young lady now), and people do actually look to me for advice (mainly because I'm waaaay better at giving the advice than following it).
You obviously have some opinions; that's not a bad thing.
Me, personally? As a former teacher? Well, if you *really* want to know what I might do, I'd probably find some way to still use the song. It's just one viewpoint.
So -- I'd see if they understand the viewpoint (and pray real hard you have one student who'll get it). This is a technique I used to use when I taught poetry; I'd always hope that at least one student would understand the poem. Or, at least, would understand enough of a part of the poem that I could use that to start working on the rest of the poem.
The only problem I might see would be if everyone had fatalistic attitudes about relationships. Now, I'm well aware that not everyone in Russia is fatalistic, but that doesn't mean that I know squat about the makeup of your class (I've seen both fatalistic and non-fatalistic classes in the US; I'm making a major assumption that both might exist in Russia). If everyone has a common view (and, especially, if that view coincides with yours and the song's viewpoints), then you're not going to get the passion a previous poster mentioned. At which point you might have to take a contrary position.
Anyhow -- hope that helps!
Yours,
Thomas
aaack.... and here i was hoping someone could come up with a topic that ties in with this song that is *not* related to why relationships do or do not suck.... hmmmm. i'll keep thinking. also... what about a good follow up topic, since surely i can't drag this beast out for 90 minutes!
Hey.Please to be unconcerned about this "songsituation".Michael
Re: not about relationships: if you're talking "not about love," then, yeah: there's always the "no man is an island" v. "I am an island" controversy. But, unfortunately, the song's all about one's place in the world, especially with relationships.
Um ... geography, maybe? Geology? I'd think people would just be much more likely to have something to say about relationships than either of the other two.
International relations? The song as metaphor for American isolationism? dunno ...
As to a follow-up topic: if you go with relationships, I'm not sure you'll need one. People write whole books about the subject; heck, I have friends for whom 90 minutes on relationships would be *nothing.* And that's just two people talking.
That said, on the off chance that it doesn't last for 90 minutes, you might go into the international (or, at least American) stereotype of Russian customer service (or lack thereof). The Russians I've known who've come to America and done a compare-and-contrast have found enormous contrasts.
So ... I'm thinking both sides of this equation have some stereotypical perceptions. Maybe tie that in?
Good luck!
-- Thomas
Honestly Jane, I think most people would babble about relationships for way longer than 90 minutes. Although I'm really liking the island-reltaed controversy the previous poster mentioned. It's...thought-provoking.
Well Jane I am ready to say they can discuss relationships with pets - I find that in my Spanish class we are able to find plenty of words about "mi gato"! Of course, we are not very advanced in Spanish.
how about the fact that i don't think the lyrics are meant to be taken literally. i doubt that most people really want to be an island, but many will claim to feel that way when they are alone. so maybe you could bring up that, in American conversations, people often say the opposite of what they mean - i.e. the ridiculous amount of sarcasm we use to express ourselves, or "little white lies" we use to further our own agendas.
the song is also a good example of metaphor - you could discuss that, then list common American-spoken metaphors/similies, etc. shoot, you could even delve into idiomatic expressions (like, someone i know just quit smoking cold turkey) if you get that far.
and don't think i'm this smart myself, i stole the ideas from some of shaggy's spanish translation classes.
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