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Yea, I’m that teacher…
I’m the teacher that makes my students sing when they’re late to class. What else am I suppose to do?
In a culture that’s all about shame, I figure I might as well take advantage of it, and it provides us all with some much needed entertainment. I also have a reputation to uphold since random students have asked me if I’m THAT teacher.Side note: Most of the students who are late are males, so I really don’t feel bad about making them sing (or mostly mumble) a few lines to their choice of song (see, I AM nice, I let them choose their own song!)
Most of the time their little faces turn red when I announce to the class we’ll have a short performance in honor of their tardiness. This is generally followed by a pleading look of “please don’t make me do this” on the soon to be rock star’s face. I don’t relent. Then comes:
“Wo bu hui chang ge!”(I can’t sing!!!)
Me: Ni hui chang ge! (You can sing!)
Them: BU HUI chang ge!
Me: HUI chang ge! (Insert unsympathetic smiley face)
At this point I’m forced to give them some suggestions, and we all wait for them to realize I’m really not kidding. Eventually (3 minutes later, I like to exaggerate) they start their ascent into stardom. They finish their song and jet to their seat with a flushed face. “Thank you”, I say, and remind the class that this is what happens if they’re late… or I see them on their cellphones… or if I hear them speaking Chinese in class…. or…. hmmm, maybe I AM a mean teacher
Here’s a video of a student who was late this past week. Every once in a while you get a real gem up there singing…
This is what happens when you’re late to my class… from Bethany Seip on Vimeo.