There was a voluntary session for the Chinese knots yesterday morning. The amount of students that turned up was pretty amazing, nearly 40 of them, guys and girls, all teenage secondary school kids. The class was split into two 30 mins sessions, each with 20 students. Each of us, the instructor, handles 3-4 students per session.
These students were rather chatty and active, therefore created a lot of noise in the otherwise very quiet workshop. The teachers and their guide weren't happy about this, and was giving some warnings, but these students seems immuned to the authority warnings.
Their attention seeking was usually misinterpreted as lack of respect to the authorities, and was always treated with warnings and scoldings, but these male students seems to have no issue with those scoldings. And some actually thought that adults are idiots, cause they think adults can't understand even their simple problems. I guess all of us have to go through this process of growing up, and when we are a full grown adult, we must not forget where we came from. A half an hour sitting like this, is enough for you to find out who is the girl they like, what do they want to do after their exams, who are their good friends, which teacher they don't like and the reasons behind it... and I am supposedly just a stranger to them.
"Adult world" are so complicated sometimes, that you just have to hide your heart away from being hurt. I am glad that through the session, these kids taught me not to forget my heart, and learn to listen more.
The work was to make ear rings using the button knots, it was a very tiny job, and take quite some attention into the details. These male students seemed like some ill behaved kids for those so called "elderly", but as soon as I sat down with them, they were pretty ok, and in fact showed a lot of patience in the work, and some even managed to outshine the girls!
When the class started, it seemed that no one likes to take the group of guys, I was taking up nearly 5 of them (two was taken away to other groups later), which was rather tough, as Chinese knots are too tiny to demonstrate for so many people at the same time... especially when none of them has any background at all.
I find that guys are much easier to deal with, as they are not as emotionally sensitive and self aware as girls, whereby any comments are taken in with heart. Guys seems to have less attention on things that you said, and you kinda have to always keep an eye on what they are doing, cause they are doing it fast (also making twice as much mistakes) when it comes to practical work. They kinda learn things through playing and making mistakes. Also, they are more goal orientated. Once they sat down, you can't start your teaching first, but have to tell them what they are learning -- a pair of ear rings. Then listen to them what they would like to do with the ear rings -- their goal. Some want to give to the girl they like/ their mother, some like to show that they can do well in tiny stuffs etc. (Surprisingly, none of them actually thought that Chinese knots are sissy! Unlike what some adult men would perceive, well at least my boyfriend, and stayed far far away from learning it.) With the goal in mind, you can start the lesson, and when they showed despair, remind them of their goal. Chatting becomes easier when they have their hands busy.
Among the male students, those who were good with their books tend to have problems following the practical work; but those who can't do well in class, they seem to be able to catch up in hands-on things better. I think the main problem is that those academic achievers tend to think too much, and instead of paying attention to what you say, they venture themselves one step too fast. For those who lack academic performances, they usually seek for attentions, they sit down quietly with you as soon as you show your attention to them, and they will follow your steps carefully.
A little encouragement and some teasing actually motivates them well. Attention like a pat on the shoulder or just occasionally poke your head over to see their work are good enough to get them to continue their work and they don't mind competing openly or show off their results. As opposed to girls, competitions are no no, especially open ones and they don't usually work as a team, so when you are guiding them the work, they usually give you the whole lot and watch -- you can't guide them using your hands with the work on theirs. Attentions are more for their emotional needs than the actual work they are doing and as they are not learning through playing, physical contact is virtually none. However, they are very sensitive to the speaking tones you are using.
After the session, I kinda experienced a switch of gender and finding it hard to adjust myself for a while.
Myself being a female, find it difficult to learn things the female way. Female instructors usually take your work, do it themselves and ask you to watch and repeat. But I find it easier to have an instructor who can instruct me with the work is still in my hand, it made me easier to visualise and understand my work, and you usually can get male instructor to do this. However, as I am a female, the society can't seem to be able to tolerate much of these instructing methods between opposite gender.
Also, I find it difficult to listen and take orders without questioning, but as a female, I was and still always been asked to follow orders more strictly than guys. During my study time, I find that group studies with guys are much easier than girls, as you split tasks naturally, and sharing is not a problem. You don't feel like an idiot after sharing your work with them, as opposed to girls, they usually keep things themselves. And split tasks means there is a bossy girl pointing her fingers at every members.
However, I do admire girl's way of focusing the details, trying to keep things in order and patience. They are able to get personally with you, touch your heart and solve your misery. They can see what's coming next and prepare for it. I must start to learn the way girls learn.
Below is a piece of accessory that we made after the voluntary session.
And a correction of my previous homework.
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