Welcome to My Classroom

You'd love my class of Chinese students. Right now there is about 12 of 'em. They are students from the Yunnan province in Southern China. These students study here in an exchange program, some studying Thai some studying English. All of them have English names that some English teacher has given them along the way. Names like Sabrina (sounds kinda Russian to me) and Eva and Lane. I do try to learn their Chinese names. This leaves me humbled under the weight of Long Qi Ping. When Q, X and Z are some of the letters most often used to transliterate a names into English, we have suddenly gone to a whole new level. They forgive my bumbling tongue, and we go on.

Last week we studied Romeo and Juliet. Okay, it is a dumbed down version so that we all can follow along a little easier. First we read the drama, thanks to Oxford's English learner books. I take the major part of Romeo because they need to hear my accent and because the persona of Romeo fits me so well (as I am sure you have already discerned). They take the minor parts, oh and the most vocal girl usually takes the part of Juliet. This reading of the play provides me with an outlet I need for my untapped dramatic abilities. The students generally catch on to the spirit of the drama about half way through. Thus, we usually end up with a roaring fight between Tybalt and Romeo and a sobering death scene as Juliet plunges the knife into her belly. All the while we are pickin' up techniques of English usage and English vocabulary.

The lesson ends with my explanation of the story. I love this part. We discuss how the great dilemma of the story is the family feuding which keeps our lovers from each other. Unfortunately it takes the death of the young lovers to bring peace between the families. I don't know if Shakespeare would agree with my conclusions, but I make it quite clear to these students that this death of our lovers reveals how peace follows the death of the "innocent." At this point the conversation flows into a discussion about a family or, if you will, a people at odds with their maker. As I explain the story of Jesus, the students recognize that the death of this innocent one, Jesus brings peace to our conflict with God.

I am amazed at how our human stories so often point to "The Story." Even a sappy love story like Romeo and Juliet provides fodder for a blazing discussion about the necessity of the death of Christ for the sins of humanity. With these students I have seen Jesus' uncanny ability to reveal the truth of His story. Our discussions become quite interesting as the Holy Spirit is present and convicting hearts of the truth in the story of Jesus. I'd love for you to be there with me and see the looks on their faces. Hearts penetrated by the beautiful story of Christ's death. Jaws set. Eyes wide. It can get rather intense. This group has yet to make a commitment to His story, but the Holy Spirit sees to it that the seed is planted deep. Intense? yes, and this is absolutely the nature of Christ's story! Only two options are available to any of us..."Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

Next up, Hamlet. Ohhhh, we are all in trouble! Truly, there is something "rotten in Denmark." Pray that God will have us "Broken to Pieces."