On Monday, 4eme had their first exam of the year, for which I had high hopes. This time last year, I was teaching material that really had no business in curriculum at that level and so shouldn't have been so disappointed when they all failed. Round two, however, I've thrown out the book (I actually just gave it away) and started from scratch. Present simple tense (I eat rice) and past simple tense (I ate rice), plus some family vocabulary and basic adjectives. I wouldn't want to tax their little heads too much; after all, they've only been studying this language for over 2 years now.
How did they do? Miserably. The average grade, I'd guess, was about 5 out of 20. And most of those points came from essentially a give-away at the end of the exam. Why did they do so poorly? Well, I asked them that. "How many of you studied for the exam at home?" They didn't seem to understand, so I explained. "How many of you studied your lessons outside of the classroom?" No one raised their hand. I called on four or five students and asked them personally. "I don't have enough time to study." I felt bad for a minute, but only for a minute.
After a little investigation, which found me sketching out one student's daily schedule, I learned that they are all in fact, utter and boundless liars. Things they don't have time for: studying for an English exam. Things they do have time for: playing soccer, playing foosball, watching people play soccer, shopping, walking up and down the street, watching Chuck Norris movies at the local "cinema" (a TV hooked up to a generator in a small shack), and banging two rocks together while staring into space. One student argued that some of the movies are in English, so that has to count for something. It was a nice try, but lacked sincerity.
Granted, these kids have way more chores and responsibilities than any American kid I've ever known. But, don't feel bad for them. They also study less than any student I've ever known. In fact, they have the entire day off on Thursday! Yet, they have no time. I called them out for lying to me, and they acquiesced. I tried to scold them as best as I could, but it's probably for the best that few understood my incoherent rambling trying to tell them they're wasting my time here and that I couldn't care less if a single one of them learned English. I went overboard, I agree, but the truth is the truth.
A few days later, a girl from my 2nde class last year came to my house and asked if I would reconsider teaching them for the time being. After 3 months of school, the other high school English still hasn't shown up and they really want to study. They apparently wrote a letter to the principal, pleading with him to find a replacement as quickly as possible, to no avail. This broke my cold, stony heart so I agreed. I'm now up to 20 hours of teaching a week, plus all the random tutoring I do outside of the school. I stand by my statement that I don't care if a single person can speak English because of me when I leave, but teaching passes the time and helps me sleep at night, so I'll do what I'm asked. The principal assured me there would be a new teacher as soon as next week, but after a year of flying solo, I'm not holding my breath.
