Well, as of recent myself and the rest of us have been having difficulties with the PELA class we are taking. Not that it particularly matters, but the professor is of Asian descent. It is interesting to see how communicative difficulties arise especially having had a teacher similar to her last term in my ANTH-100 class. Recently adversities arose due to the workload, topics as well as the bull-shit “assessment quizzes” given on a weekly basis. This teacher gives little consideration to American style learning procedures, and then expects us to jump in full throttle into a pool of freezing specificity and irrelevant detail. Apart from that, I think that she believes we are here to take this class, rather than our primary objective: to experience Australia and gain invaluable knowledge through our internships. Her perception of learning is rambling off category after category, list after list of inapplicable terms and definitions which have little if any correlation to what I personally experience at the work place. How should we learn about the culture if we spend all this time listening to a teacher throwing useless jargon at us? I find this class almost a contradiction to the time that could be spent actually out on the streets getting to know or help the community!
Yesterday we had Debbie Shively, the program director came in because Elsa and I sent her e-mails as well as the numerous observations and opinions that were written by others on a recent survey. The pre class discussion looked to go well. I guess people look to me to get things going and speak what we want. Cool, maybe. Everything went great, yet I suspect everything talked about went in one ear of the professor and out the other. Little success was achieved. I’m just having an infuriating time dealing with the issues with this teacher. Even at one point this lady and I had a stare down!!! She doesn’t get it and I have made all the effort in the world to understand the perspective she is coming from, even in terms of the intercultural terms we learn from in class, and even then it seems contradictory.
I’m not one to complain or stir up a ruckus, but when my valuable time in a foreign country is jeopardized by meaningless issues and tensions when it could be spent learning about the people, culture, discussing other people’s internship experiences or even perhaps actively taking part in community service for damn sake… I will make the inexorable effort to make it known.
Rant complete….
Following class I went to a bottle shop on Miller street right by CAPA and got an assorted 6 pack of beers I have never seen before in Sydney, they were only in N. Sydney. Three of the were called Moo Brew (Dark Ale, Hefeweizen, American Ale) I got a Tasmanian Cascade Stout, and 2 more dark/stout beers. I talked to the guy at the register for about a half hour just about beer. I’ve noticed that no matter what, with cultural barriers, differences and whatnot, as long as you speak the same language, you can always find commonalities with individuals through beer. Universal unification drink. I got home and had a Porter and tried the Moo Brew Dark Ale [80/100]. Karen had asked to take us to dinner that night; I suggested a place called Wood and Stone Pizza. We decided to meet there at 8:30 after the other half of the group finished class. Tremendous pizza! I got the Mediterranean which included prawns (shrimp), feta rolled in paprika, eggplant, goat cheese, and sun dried tomatoes, onions and anchovies! Awesome. I tried several other pizzas too by means of the elementary school method “Up for grabs, Down for Keeps!” or “Wanna trade?” and surprisingly it still works!
It was Britta’s Birthday and she got a sparkler and chocolate cake. That was really good.
The place was supposed to close at 9:00 but they kept it open for us until 10:30.
Walked back and did some keg lifting and chilled in 727.
Ran to work today, I was pretty tired. I’m thinking of taking all my clothes back this weekend because they reek of fish stew. Sweet, Awesome, ok great.
Bye.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I would call it more than a simple "stare down". And you shouldn't forget her condescendingly telling us all to make sure we actually complete the reading and "try to pay attention to it". It would be helpful if she would take to her own advice and pay attention to what our goal and CAPA's goal is for that class. To learn more about Australian culture and our individual internships through learning about what others are experiencing.
ReplyDeleteNext week shall be interesting.