Seventh grade world history, first period. They were starting their unit on Asia, so they had a map to work on. They were to identify the countries, cities, rivers, oceans, and features listed on the map.
Sometimes I forget how young they are and how much they don't know.
"Wait. Russia is in Asia...?"
"Is that where Indians come from?"
"Why do so many countries have -stan in their name?"
I spent several minutes trying to get a kid to stop saying "boo-dee-ism" for Buddhism. (This was the same child that wouldn't show me his paper. It was on his desk until I went over to talk to him. Then it vanished from his desk. He swore that he had done quite a bit of work, but he wouldn't allow me to see it.)
But the most repeated question was "how do you say...?" I was called to several desks and asked how various countries' names were pronounced. Pakistan. Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan. Etc.
If I had been covering more than one period of this (the teacher returned later that day), I would have taken the time with each class to read through all the names. Although, maybe not. There were a couple Chinese cities that I wasn't sure how to pronounce. (I'm so glad they didn't ask me those.)
I remember doing similar assignments when I was in school. At least the kids were trying to learn for the most part how to say the countries correctly. I agree, I'm sure some of those Chinese names would have been tongue twisters indeed!
ReplyDeletebetty
I'm curious why he didn't want you to see his paper.
ReplyDeleteBecause there was nothing on it. It was more than halfway through the period, and he claimed to have been working. I go to check, and suddenly his paper is nowhere to be found? He didn't want me catching his lie.
DeleteIt's not just the names that show how young..."I'll hide the paper so she doesn't know I haven't done anything" forgetting that the only reason someone would hide their paper would be because they hadn't done anything.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I wasn't there. I'm terrible at knowing how to pronounce things, even after I hear them spoken! I think I laughed the hardest at "Is that where Indians come from?" though.
ReplyDeleteSome are a challenge to pronounce. Good thing they weren't doing cities. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales is fun to figure out!
ReplyDeleteI sure hope they learn there history and geography. There so much going on in world
ReplyDeleteHi Liz - at least they were taking some interest ... and one hopes keep an appreciation of the world at large. I agree Chinese would defeat me too ... but Alex's word above - perhaps it's a good thing I live in Eastbourne! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteUntil he shows me, I believe he's done nothing.
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