The Curtain Call

 So, this is my final post (at least for this semester, anyway).  Today, I met Joe at Union Grounds at approximately 1:30 pm.  While I would like to say we had the most entertaining conversation ever, we mostly just made small talk and filled each other in on our lives.

            This was my seventh time meeting with a conversation partner, and my fourth time meeting with Joe.  Although I do not think that asking students to meet with their conversation partners eight times is unreasonable, I found that Joe and I ran out of things to talk about.  I noticed that we talked about some of the same things we had discussed in previous conversations.  For instance, we talked about the weather, basketball, schoolwork, and food.  We also talked about our summer plans-he is staying here, and so am I- and how we are both more than ready for finals week to be over with.

            Unlike our other conversations, however, I had my computer with me this time (I was working on homework while I was waiting for him to arrive at Union Grounds).  The reason I think this is important is because I was able to give Joe visual aids in regards to subjects we were talking about.  For example, I told him about the event that is going on in the Commons today, Frog Stock.  I told him to check it out because there will be music, food, and other activities there.  He inquired further about Frog Stock, and I pulled up the event information on Facebook.  I also showed him images of Woodstock from 1969 so he could see what the event is based on.  Furthermore, at this Frog Stock, people are going to be tie-dying shirts.  Joe did not know the meaning of “tie-dye”, so I showed him images of tie-dyed T-shirts, too.  He said that tie-dying is, “Cool.”

            In addition, I was able to use my laptop to show Joe images of popsicles.  There was a fiesta celebration in Market Square earlier today, and the staff was giving out popsicles to students.  Because Joe met me right after he had eaten lunch there, I asked him if he had eaten a popsicle.  He did not know what a popsicle was, so, once again, I opened my laptop to show him images of popsicles.

            As a result, I would definitely recommend encouraging students to use their laptops during their conversations.  They are wonderful tools, and I think they will help the conversation partners to better visualize and understand certain things that are unfamiliar to them.

            All in all, this was a great time to reflect upon my experiences with two ESL students, Keith and Joe.  I learned many things about China that I did not know beforehand, such as their lack of a drinking age, social norms in regards to dating, and the typical Chinese diet.  Most importantly, I was able to get an inside look into the experience of an international student.  Not only did it make me appreciate all of the opportunities that I have here, but it also made me grateful for all of the places I have yet to explore.  And of course, I used what I have learned in this class, as we were able to laugh together.