Chapter 4 – English as a First Language

As young children, the ability to read and speak in English came as ordinary to Kellie, Jeff, and Keith as naptime during kindergarten. Learning how to say “Goodnight Moon” and why they should “eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas,” was just another part of growing up. But little did they know that with the guidance of Kermit, Elmo, and Oscar the Grouch, this would someday give them the “authority” to teach adults in a foreign country English. They received their degree from the prestigious University of ‘Reading Rainbow’ and used this accumulation of knowledge to TRY and teach some of their co-workers at the Tianjin CDC.

As our three young characters were still getting adjusted to their new surroundings during their first month, Duying from the HR department threw them a curveball and had a new project for them to undertake. Strolling into their office with a smile on her face and her hands waving furiously to say good morning, Duying tried to explain what was in store for the interns. The following night, from what they could gather from the disjointed conversation, they were to start their weekly English seminars after work. Each of them was then handed a different article with topics ranging from Tuberculosis management, WHO policies, and HIV in China, and were told that they would each be responsible for teaching their own groups of 8 to 9 of their CDC co-workers. Alone in their office again, Team Berger sat there silent with the same expression that Wiley Coyote often has after being duped by the Roadrunner. What they lacked for in actual details and direction for the English classes, the students made up for with apprehension and confusion.

The following morning, Team Berger furiously read through their articles, doing background research on the topics they were given because they were not exactly familiar with the material. They were still unsure of what exactly would be expected of them so they prepared as best they could, all the while asking themselves if the CDC workers realized they were not English language experts, let alone experts on the subject material of their papers. Nervously looking at their clocks, the day went by much faster than they had expected. It was already 5pm, and in just an hour, they were to face their fate.

Splitting up into their respective groups, the three ‘masters of the English language’ were led into their separate rooms full of 8-10 familiar and not-so-familiar CDC employees staring blankly, but excitedly at them. After nervously sitting down, it was explained to them that each week someone in the group would be appointed the “chairperson” for the English class, and that person would be responsible for selecting an article based on what department they were working in. The interns would help them with their reading skills and pronunciation of vocabulary, and help them practice their oral English. For some of the CDC staff, this was their first opportunity to speak English to a native speaker, and the interns could tell that they were jumping at the chance to interact with them.

“How much does a house cost in the US?”... hmmmm...
“Does everyone in America own a gun?”... uhhhhh...
“Are American students REALLY like the ones in American Pie?!”... umm, no...

These were just some of the ‘interesting’ questions that Keith, Kellie, and Jeff would attempt to answer, or rather debunk, during their next few months as Professional English Teachers!!!