6th March


To do list:
Buy a bicycle


I never know when James sneezes until it's too late. He always manages to sneeze when I'm talking to children on the other side of the room. James is only 3 and hasn't understood the concept of either sniffing back up what he has let out or calling 'teacher' for help. He just sits there, snot hanging down to his chin, helpless.
My Sunday morning class varies from 3 years old up to 8. James repeats everything I say, literally everything!
Pointing at the flash card of a dog, "James, what is this?" "JAMES!" he shouts. "Nooo, dog"
"Noooo" he replies
"Dog!" and he finally answers with "DOGGG"


Names
When a new students starts at All Young, they only have Chinese names and it's up to us to give them a name. I love it, naming children but the parents don't always make it easy. I look at the boy or girls face, "You look like a Emily" or "You look like a Matt" The parents don't get this and want names such as, Diana, Tom, Jerry, Summer, Cinderella. Names that they associate with the Western society. We can spend ages, listing off so many names, 'Mandy, Emily, Laura, Joyce...' And still they don't want what you say. We have so many Toms, so many Jerrys now, they'll have to think of another cartoon character!


I've had some success, naming 2 classes. One small older class I have 'Jacob, Jason and Amy' and the other younger class 'Edison, Young, James, Owen, Lee and Amy'
I work in 3 schools, and in New Town school a young boy has been given a English name by his parents, erm, Ding Ding!


My aim this year is to name one boy, Bob and another boy Marley, preferably in the same class!


Shoes
People shuffle behind I was walk to school. I usually know what shoes they're wearing if I hear the 'shuffle' noise; Slippers. Big, bouncy, warm slippers. Bed time wear and day time wear, same thing! Not only are slippers an outdoor shoe, but dressing gowns are coats and more commonly a two piece pyjama suit!


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