An Exchange

Dear Margaret,

I want to write you something about my thought about last semester.  You are my first English-writing teacher.  To say the truth, I really hate writing articles.  Because in China there are too many rules such as passages, words, and so on.  But I don't need care the rules about these in your class.  I've found something really different between Chinese writing and English writing.  Chinese writing means we have to write something in the same style, then to show some ideas that we all know except my own ideas.  Somebody who show their ideas against the teachers will be think of wrong.  English writing means we can show my feelings by any way and there is no rule and no limit.  Compared with Chinese writing I like English writing better.  Thank you for your classes and thanks for you.

Autosky

Dear Autosky,

Sometimes I want you to write in a certain style, but I think it's also important to develop your own writing style.  And I always want you to write your own ideas!!! This is very important to me.  I'm so happy to hear that you can express yourself freely in my class!

Margaret

...

My class may be a weekly circus, a flight by the seat of my pants, and a struggle of a shit-show, but when I'm lamenting my lack of organization, preparation, and curriculum, Kim reminds me that our job is to bring that je-ne-sais-quoi into the classroom that our students can't get with Chinese teachers.  I was determined to drill my students in dry topics like thesis statements and transition sentences.  I've since abandoned that plan.  If I can just get my students to think for themselves and enjoy English as a result of my class, then that may be the most meaningful contribution I can make.