Dance Monkeys, Dance!
Today was picture day at my school.
Now don't go getting these nostalgic images of grade school pictures in your head. We have picture days a few times a year and they almost always involve the "native" speakers.
That's me and two other teachers who use English as their, "Native" Language.
I've been here over three months but anytime I hear native I still think one of two things. 1) The Turkish people who teach English at the school, who are more native to this land than I. And 2) Gilligan's Island references about the Native headhunters.
For the school, however, having native English speakers is viewed as "marketing" so they like us to be around and speak English and even like to parade us around.
Today was one of the days each year when they took pictures of Maweja, my Illinois-Native roommate, and I teaching students. We weren't actually teaching, but acting like we were teaching a group of students who were acting like they were interested in what we had to say.
I was every bit the white version of Sidney Poitier in Blackboard Jungle as I stood in front of the camera and pointed to words on a page. (I'd call myself Mr. Chips, but would anybody get that?)
As we stood there posing for pictures, I remarked to Maweja that we are like monkeys at the zoo. "Look, he has blue eyes."
"Look, he has tattoos."
I don't have a problem with that, it's actually fun on some days. There's a bit of celebrity status that comes in my town with being an American and teaching English. People smile and say, "Very Nice," like it means something special to any of us.
Suckers.
Now don't go getting these nostalgic images of grade school pictures in your head. We have picture days a few times a year and they almost always involve the "native" speakers.
That's me and two other teachers who use English as their, "Native" Language.
I've been here over three months but anytime I hear native I still think one of two things. 1) The Turkish people who teach English at the school, who are more native to this land than I. And 2) Gilligan's Island references about the Native headhunters.
For the school, however, having native English speakers is viewed as "marketing" so they like us to be around and speak English and even like to parade us around.
Today was one of the days each year when they took pictures of Maweja, my Illinois-Native roommate, and I teaching students. We weren't actually teaching, but acting like we were teaching a group of students who were acting like they were interested in what we had to say.
I was every bit the white version of Sidney Poitier in Blackboard Jungle as I stood in front of the camera and pointed to words on a page. (I'd call myself Mr. Chips, but would anybody get that?)
As we stood there posing for pictures, I remarked to Maweja that we are like monkeys at the zoo. "Look, he has blue eyes."
"Look, he has tattoos."
I don't have a problem with that, it's actually fun on some days. There's a bit of celebrity status that comes in my town with being an American and teaching English. People smile and say, "Very Nice," like it means something special to any of us.
Suckers.
posted by James at 12:00 AM
2 Comments:
In China we call it the "Dancing White Monkey" effect.
There's a pervasive belief over here that anybody with a white face can teach you English (even if it's not actually their native language). Just hang around foreigners enough and you'll glean magical language ability.
I was giving a final exam today and a kid walked in and just started talking to me: "Hellow. Where are you from?" Don't mind that I'm giving an ORAL test dipshit, and the student I'm testing is sitting right here. OK, sorry, side rant.
Anyway, keep dancing the dance. Oh, and do they constantly tell you how attractive you are, 'cause I get that twice a day here.
Sounds to me like you're acting like a 2-bit hooker. Damn, that turns me on....I miss you.
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