China Smile: Easter Week

Three things defined my week.

First, the compound cold. That's when you get a cold, start getting over it, and then get another cold. Then you hack your lungs out for a week and freak out your co-teachers and students.

Seriously. My co-teachers have lectured me on wearing sweaters, taking Chinese medicine, and drinking hot water, and students have offered me their used hankies before class.

Second, it was parents week, which meant I was being recorded on several iphones by staring parents who sat in the back of my classes.

Third, I taught my Easter lesson this week.

That was a TRIP.

My Easter presentation started with a picture from our Christmas lesson so that the students could make the connection that this was the same guy we talked about at Christmas. As soon as it came up, students would blurt, (in Chinese, of course) "I know that guy!! The baby! Christmas! Yesu!"

My co-teacher would translate the story, adding details and making it exciting, and the students would respond with interjections and wild questions.

"Why would they kill him?"

"How did he do that??"
"WAH-SAY!"

And my co-teachers, who may have never heard the story before, were the ones who got to discuss these questions with them. I just gave the basic information in English and watched everything else unfold.

Then, of course, we talked about the Easter Bunny and chocolate and egg hunts, which is also exciting.

Then the kids AND the parents all got to draw Easter eggs and get stickers.