Veggie Students
by Brenda Dawe
In all the years (over a decade) that I've been a member of this lovely SWC family, I've shared stories of my inviting sign language students to a "hearty meal" with full intentions of using each one for the main course: A huge, delicious pot of stew! Then, when all was seasoned and stirred with care, I carry this stew over across the "communication bridge" to the Deaf side of my bicultural world.
I LOVE teaching and most semesters my roster is made up of adults who are there for the right reason, are amicable to their peers and are eager to master lessons as presented. I think of each class's group as vegetables and broth for a good pot of stew: meat, potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, and of course beef stock. I am the seasoning. This semester as I began identifying my ingredients, I thought, "Oh no, they shipped me the wrong box!"
Here is a glimpse of the "UGGGH" I'm feeling this semester with the kind of veggies that just don't blend their flavors suitable for a good stew. Although SWC's "signers" are in the minority, many have told me they've enjoyed my insights and expertise about the way ASL becomes a true language when one learns the grammar and syntax ... and uses it when meeting Deaf (capitalized to mean cultural ASL users.)
"Wrong ingredients or wrong recipe?"
A good stew begins with the right vegetables. So does a good semester of teaching. I've been driving back and forth 85 miles twice a week to teach in the north and interpret in the south. I love it, but it's getting very tiring. Top it off with a mixture of vegetables in my ASL class that do not at all complement each other for my "stew" recipe that has been successful for almost 18 years.
Allow me to explain.
I have enjoyed past groups that were a mixture of potatoes, onions, carrots (and occasional peas, corn and cabbages). But this time it seems I have eggplant, rutabagas, squash, and radishes ... not a great stew mix at all. And as for the MEAT?? If any one of them is the meat, it's probably fish and not beef.
I'm teaching from the same sign language material, doing drills and hands on activities that have mostly been met with eager anticipation with past students; yet these students SQUASH my efforts and BEEF over the smallest things.
I have one lady (40ish) who is very quiet in class but then e-mails me complaints: "Those two are always talking in class and bothering the rest of us... you should (can) ask them to leave. I've checked and you can do that," and, "I didn't like those partners you assigned me ... they spent time chatting with other students and not working with me," or, "You shouldn't let those two Deaf guys just come into our class every time. It seems you pay attention to them and ignore us." All of this from one student. She is my radish ... a little hot to chew and very bad for my digestion. I have not ignored her at all. I answered each message with reassurance that I know what I'm doing and thanked her for her observations. I promised to be more aware and in control while at the same time not inhibiting exchanges from the other students.
There are two others... both have hearing problems as well as other health issues. One (after 8 weeks) can't even spell her name without mistakes yet is asking me how many years it will take to become certified. "CERTIFIED?" I wanted to say "longer than you have" but instead I gave the same canned response I've given others who've asked. "It depends or varies with each student. Some are ready after one year and others can take many years and still fail the test. Then I smile and try figuring out how to get these two passing my tests and not so discouraged. They are my cabbages. They flavor the pot but don't actually blend in with the rest of the ingredients either.
Then I have the "eggplants:" very visible and not to be ignored. These two sit and talk out loud and make comments over top of me. They think they know it all and want the others to see it. But another student (one of the cabbages) wrote in her journal that they are obnoxious and should be told to stop. These "eggplants" are getting good grades but don't always follow through with assignments (probably too busy talking to hear the instructions).
I have 3 who I would call "rutabagas." They have the smarts, but to watch them (from the teacher's viewpoint) you would think they were bored silly. They offer no input without being asked, they seldom smile, and rarely even look up at me. Yet they are "getting it" as is evidenced by signing in class and with grades earned from quizzes and tests.
Thank God I still have 4-5 out of the 14 who are my standard potatoes, onions, and carrots that a "PEEL" to my teaching soul. They also get good grades, but they also ask questions, watch me intently, and do all that is asked with a smile. They are the ones I know will complement each other and make the best stew.
All that I can hope for at this time is the fact that I still have half a semester to find a different recipe for the rest of the different veggies before they leave me. I have little doubt that when we part company, they will be out of here and not interested in taking the next level. I have seen it time and again from that group of students who take a class only to satisfy a humanities requirement. Ten of my 15 students are in the nursing program and told me up front that their schedules were just too full to take any more ASL. Yet they are expecting to learn it all so they can "HELP THOSE POOR DEAF FOLK WHO MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO THE DOCTORS OR HOSPITAL". Yeah, right!
Don't think I'm discouraged or disillusioned. I do love my jobs and am blessed with memories of past successful semesters and friendships that have lasted many years (up to 17 years). THIS one will be memorable as well except I'm the student this time. I'm learning the lesson Dr. Seuss taught in his wonderful "ADULT" book: "GREEN EGGS AND HAM": Don't judge a food as "YUK" until you've tried it alone, as a side dish, with LOTS of seasoning, of course.
Just as our members of SWC form a big farmer's market, revealing their color, texture, shapes and value, each one of us is a veggie with a special place in someone's favorite recipe. I'd LOVE to have more members want to jump into my stew pot and become skilled users of ASL, but if only 4-5 out of 14 wish to be seasoned by me, I'll just be content to share the banquet table.
Hugs, Brenda Dawe (NAD IV interpreter and ASL instructor at Kirtland CC, Roscommon, MI)
http://k2.kirtland.cc.mi.us/~daweb