One of important things I learned from classes is: Only a learner self can decide that where, when and how to go. All others can do is support and help.
At class, Tom(Not real name) liked chatting, he could say jokes, talked about what he thought and how he felt in Chinese. Do you speak Chinese with family, colleagues or any Taiwanese?
"No."
What? Why? You are talking in Chinese whole class all the time. Why don't you speak it after class? You can do it easily!
"I don't want."
Mark, didn't talk much at class in the beginning, few words or just listened.
"You speak, I listen." he was satisfied with this Chinese sentence.
One time, he said I am talkative. No, no, I am reserved. How about I take a rest and it is your turn to talk? Or both of us just listen? Listen what? Chinese philosophy?
We discussed about it. I tried to get the bottom of it, tried encouragement,
mind map, goal-setting, tasks or maybe more.
I wondered that they learnt fast, responded quickly, expressed well, why they don't want to speak Chinese outside class? Seeing students could achieve more but stuck in somewhere that made me felt bad. I could do nothing for my students. It was exhausted and I doubted myself. I didn't understand at the time that it was my point of view, not students'.
After long, I told my students how I thought and felt. Surprisingly, it was the first time I talked about my feeling about this. Normally I just did something trying to make it better.
More surprisingly, students' response released me. That was what they wanted, no problem, and kept speaking Chinese in Chinese class only.
As usual.
All I can to do is doing my part well and providing support and company them, give a little push sometimes, then the sprout will grow.
