Meet my Second Chinese family

Since my return last February, the Li family has enrolled their son Pong Pong into a special English class for their son, Pong Pong, and they no longer require my tutor sessions. I cannot say that I’m surprised; Pong Pong’s English was at a dismally low level when I first met him, and I’m no expert English tutor.

Aida recently set me up with a much better match. For the last month or so I’ve been tutoring Donla, a young, energetic girl of age 7. Donla lived with her mother (also Mrs. Li) in Boston, while Mrs. Li was taking a year of associate professorship in the United States. Donla’s spoken English is perhaps better than my own! I was so impressed by her ability to articulate situations in English at such a young age: certainly the offspring of a professor. She is an expert artist, loves princesses, and has recently been enthralled with her collection of silkworms. I meet with her every Tuesday at 5:30p.m. I am paid 100RMB ($16) for each session. The sessions are supposed to last only an hour, but after games, dinner, and assigning homework, I’m not out of the small campus apartment until at least 7:45p.m.

A few tutor sessions ago, I reviewed Donla’s homework. I had posed several questions concerning a reading that I had assigned her, and she had answered them all perfectly.

“I’m so glad you love learning English Donla!” I proclaimed after hastily crossing stars on her answers.

“I don’t love learning English, I love YOU!” She said with great enthusiasm.

Even after one full year, I still get those constant reminders of why people love teaching.