Classroom Experiences: Teaching ESL in Moscow

Photo: neiljs

MatadorU tyro Jenna Makowski learns which a definition of difference as well as phrases can have many opposite layers in varied informative contexts.

Sometimes, dictionaries only dont work. The problem with dictionaries is which they fail to constraint a full shade of language, which comes from a influence of culture. Culture shapes a definition of words. Words have certain associations or connotations trustworthy to them which develop from peoples common experiences. When these difference have been translated from a single denunciation to another, a definition is mostly lost, since a same associations or connotations may not exist in both cultures.

It is unfit to interpret culture in a dictionary.

But we was wrong horribly wrong in my arrogance which my students would have no thought what a word meant, as well as which they were blank slates upon which we had to write an explanation.

This is something we did not entirely understand, until we experienced a approach incident of informative assumptions in my ESL classroom in Moscow.

I had selected an essay for my category to review which used a word a splendid future. In a context of a article, a splendid destiny referred to a arriving years of a immature person who was intelligent, encouraged as well as ambitious, as well as who, it was believed, would achieve success. Likewise, my own associations were similar. we trustworthy ideas similar to a college education, motivation as well as ambition with a splendid future, since a society where we lived made those same associations. we thought of a commercial Id seen, sponsored by my local community college. Go to school, study, be encouraged as well as ambitious; this is a recipe for a splendid future.

Photo:Voyou Deso! euvre

I pinpointed a splendid destiny as brand brand new vocabulary to teach, assuming which a clichd word might be formidable for my students to grasp, as well as which Id have to explain a associations a word carried. we was right in identifying a word as necessary training material. But we was wrong horribly wrong in my arrogance which my students would have no thought what a word meant, as well as which they were blank slates upon which we had to write an explanation. In fact, immediately upon celebration of a mass it, my students not only understood a phrase, though interpreted it opposite a credentials of their own experiences. They gave it a nuanced as well as shadowy definition which made me re-examine my equally biased interpretation of a words.

The total routine went similar to this.

A splendid destiny was written upon a blackboard.

I underlined bright. What does splendid mean? We established common points of reference: lots of light, shining, certain connotations. Good. Now what does destiny mean? The years, months as well as days ahead of us. Easy. we thought we were upon a same page.

Wrong.

Now, put those difference together. What do they mean?

Two students glanced during any other as well as snickered. Another laughed. we noticed irascibility in their reactions, though we had no thought why. So we asked.

One tyro wondered if we had ever seen a statue of Lenin in Moscow. In fact, we had run across multiple marble as well as stone manifestations of Lenin during my time in Russia. we answered, with a tinge of naivety, which one? to which they laughed again. we laughed with them.

The delight used into a momentary, awkward silence, until a single of them took charge of a explanation. She asked, Have we seen a statue nearby Oktyabrskaya metro station, a the single similar to this? She spread out her arm out in front of her body, forked her index finger as well as looked upwards.

Yes, we had. Well, she explained, ! During a Soviet Union, we mostly saw cinema similar to this. They said we were starting toward a splendid future, though we didnt.

Many of my students were lifted to hold which Lenins ideals would lead them toward a splendid future. But, according to those who judge history, those ideals failed. The Soviet Union fell apart, leading to food shortages, mislaid savings, as well as worthless currency. This splendid destiny was, in their reality, a countrys dim destruction.

Photo:James Vaughan

They right away use a word in mocking contexts. One tyro gave an example. A group of people during her office had been operative to complete a plan which they knew would fail, though they were we do it anyway. They told themselves they were operative toward a splendid destiny as well as laughed during a mocking disconnect, since they knew a plan was doomed to collapse.

A hopeful as well as certain destiny vs. economic as well as amicable destruction. What vastly opposite associations have been trustworthy to which seemingly elementary phrase. What hugely opposite connotations, as well as any definition is so trustworthy to a incomparable informative context which elementary approach interpretation is impossible.

More was being taught during which category than a difference of a language. It was a doctrine in cross-cultural exchange, growing from a incident of culturally-shaped assumptions. My classroom had become a space where my assumptions as a 25-year old, suburban-raised, middle-class, white American woman met a assumptions of my students, any made by their own particular practice as well as backgrounds.

Teaching takes upon a total brand brand new definition when these collisions occur. In my experience, they led to mis-used difference as well as misunderstandings which forced me to plea my own culturally-sensitive assumptions as well as biases. That is a beauty of! vital a s well as training abroad. Viewpoints have been widened after bearing to perspectives which talk about from ones one. we hope my students enjoyed a collisions as most as we did.

Community Connection

Can we describe with Jennas experience in a classroom? Has there ever been a time when your students ended up training we profitable lessons during category time? Share in a comments below!

This essay is part of Matadors Classroom Experiences series. If youd similar to to share about your time training abroad, check out Matadors writer guidelines as well as submit your piece with Classroom Experiences in a title.