i deal more than just cards

so in my line of work, i do a lot of weird things.  i have discussions much like this one.  i convince students that french is much more than fries.  i discuss books, texts, vocabulary, travel and food with students.  i travel with students.  well.  i do a lot every day.

the most fun for me though is when i get to read with my students and work beyond just reading and understanding the text.  granted, when students are with me, this is still very elementary in thought and development.  not just because some of them don't know how to have a thought beyond "beer" but because there is a linguistic issue at hand.  my students are asked frequently to have a "thought," a critical thought at that, about something in a language they have not mastered.  this is more than just ordering a glass of wine in a restaurant.  (side note: some of them are actually incapable of doing this simple task)

the hard part is not building their vocabulary up to do this; something i work diligently on in two separate courses here.  no.  the hard part is getting them to say something.  students frequently understand what they read before they can actually speak.  students frequently understand what they hear before they can actually speak.  this is the most frustrating feeling in the world for many of my students.  to know what they know, to understand something, to want to express a thought, and have absolutely no ability whatsoever to express it orally.

what i love about my job: getting them to express their thoughts in french.  getting them to express a sophisticated thought about something we have read (or seen if it is a film) and explain it to me.  although still simplistic for some of them due to age.  it is still a thought.  and it inspires me still to continue teaching.