On Monday, it rained. It rained so much that school was cancelled. I used the opportunity to practice choreography for my K-pop dance class. I had been pretty nervous about teaching dance. I was afraid that my lack of dance experience would show. The maximum of 40 kids had signed up to take my class, which was a lot of students. I enjoy listening to K-pop music, so I am grateful to have time this summer to devote to learning K-pop choreography. I spent a lot of time selecting songs, asking experienced dancers for advice, asking the Chinese students about their favorite K-pop groups, and making cuts and combining K-pop songs. This made me less nervous and feel more prepared for class.
On the first day of my K-pop dance class, I realized that verbal communication would be an issue. Even my student assistant could barely say a few words in English. I had planned to do introductions on the first day, but instead, I asked the group as a whole to shout out their favorite dance groups. I was prepared to change the songs I had previously selected so that the students could learn dances that they really wanted to learn, but they happened to name the three groups that I had chosen. It was a miracle. Also at the beginning of class, I asked the group who had experience dancing, and over half of them raised their hands; I channeled my nervous energy into enthusiasm. I was really excited to start teaching what I had learned. We had fun and a lot of laughs whenever I messed up which foot I kicked out first or my voice cracked as I yelled the counts.
If I could choose one thing to contribute to this dance class, it would probably be enthusiasm. By the time it is 4:40pm and the students begin to gather for my class, the tiredness from their long day of classes is evident on their faces. I have been spending most of our class time cheering them on and showing them how to put more energy into the dance. I run around enthusiastically and tell the students to bend their knees or bounce more. It feels like I have to put in five times the energy I want them to have to get them to reach that level of energy. I am exhausted after every class, but it is so satisfying to watch the students dance in sync to the music at the end of every class. At the end of class I often jump up and down excitedly and shower the kids with praise because I am so proud of all of my students.
On another note, we moved in with our host families over the weekend. The dad knows the most English, and I talked to him the most during introductions. The 13 year old daughter is quite shy, and the mother does not speak much English but is trying to learn. The family is very nice, and consists of the parents, 2 daughters, and their grandmother.
I have the CUTEST five-year-old host sister I have ever seen. Everything about her is cute: her voice, her personality, her laugh, her head bobs, her face! We communicate with very few words…just sounds and gestures. She was very easy to bond with. Whenever I come home after a long day of teaching or other activities, she runs up to greet me with excited laughter.
This week with my host family, I have enjoyed going on walks around the neighborhood after dinner, playing Chinese checkers with the girls, and playing badminton with the dad. At home, my host family doesn’t let me help clean the table… even my own dishes. They insist that they will take care of everything. I am very grateful to live with such a precious and gracious host family.
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