Funny moment today...
I was doing a lesson on interesting experiences. Helping students to ask questions like, have you ever climbed a mountain? have you ever tried alligator? Have you ever eaten frog? You know, the regular everyday stuff.
Well, apparently my english seems to have gotten worse over the last few months because in the textbook there was the question "Have you ever eaten SEA URCHIN?" - And...I got all these puzzled looks from the 4 students in my class. Do you think, for the life of me, that I could describe what a sea urchin was? I tried pictures, I tried my mime artistry, and yet no english seemed to come out of me!? The students and I were killing ourselves laughing. They had no english, and I had no english. It was by far, a humbling moment. This is the first time I have really felt like I have been stumped as a teacher. Sea urchin? What the heck is it? Do you eat it? Have you ever tried it? I hardly know what it is, none the less trying to explain it so someone in an english as a second language class.
Today: Gong show - give me a chance and I could probably explain this any day!
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5 comments:
haha...if you think of it, its a good thing, losing a bit of your language because you're getting so used to using other forms of communication...but I do get a kick out of imagining you trying to DRAW a sea urchin! haha
so the record, I just went and googled it because I was trying to think of how I would describe it and as wikipedia says...
Humans consume sea urchin ("roe") either raw or briefly cooked. Sea urchin "roe" isn't actually roe, but rather the organs that produce the roe (the gonads). Five strips of roe reside within the structure of the urchin, a yellowish or orange substance resembling a rather firm custard. Sea urchin roe is a popular food in Korean cuisine, and it is called "uni" in Japanese sushi cuisine. It is also a traditional food in Chile, where it is known as an "erizo", and highly appreciated in Spain
words and phrases I like best in this description: "gonads", "firm custard", "briefly cooked" and "highly appreciated"
actually, I know they use roe in their new years dish oseshi - the lunch box type thing the japanese eat - I mentioned it in an earlier post. this clears up alot. thanks bri.
still...i think i will avoid this lesson for the next little while. i'd rather not dig myself a whole like i did today. although, it was a funny moment and humbling as well. i seem to have many of these moments recently. goodtimes.
not sure how i would even explain firm custard to my students or even attempt the word "gonads."
am laughing now...rather hardly in fact.
Jane, I love you, but what has happened to you over there? Gonads? haha..this one had me laughing..hope you're doing well!
Mark
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