Emilie CO #2

Date: October 21st, 11:00-11:50 | Group 4&3 Reading w/Ryan Flemming (normally Dr. Felicia)

This class proceeded differently than it usually would since Dr. Felicia was out. At least half the class time was taken up by students taking Dr. Felicia's survey on mindset. Although I did not see most of the quiz (I was simply observing students filling it in), I am interested in her research on the way one's mindset and view of language learning intelligence influence language learning. Several of the students had apparently already heard of her work a lot and knew of growth vs fixed mindset. 

Following the quiz, Prof. Flemming presented the class with 4 choices of short story: "The Lady or the Tiger" by Frank R. Stockton, "The Cop and the Anthem" by O'Henry, "Luck" by Mark Twain, or "The Marque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allen Poe. I was impressed by these choices and maybe underestimated the reading level of the Group 4 students. I wish even American students would get to read these in highschool! (I did not, although I read other works by some of the same authors). The teacher briefly reviewed some of the reasons for reading these works: discovery of new vocabulary and grammar, reading comprehension, and learning about both the western literary and cultural canon. Even if many Americans have not read these stories, there are so many cultural underpinnings and references from literature/media passed around in western culture that westerners know intuitively and that might be incomprehensible to outsiders. These references often come up in older readings, allowing EFL (and not-EFL) students to identify and investigate them.

After voting on a choice (The Cop and the Anthem), the class then started to read the story aloud in turns. Unfortunately we did not get very far into the reading. But this class definitely inspired me to be more imaginative in my choice of short stories/readings for students!