Thanksgiving Prep

Today I finished my lesson plan early and figured that the last 8 minutes of class were the perfect time to discuss Thanksgiving.

"Does anyone know what big American holiday is next week?" I asked my students, nine 20-year-olds studying machines and maintenance.  They didn't, so I told them: "Thanksgiving!"  "Ahhh, Zanksgeeveeeng!" they echoed.  "Does anyone know the story of Thanksgiving?" I pushed.  "The Indians" - "Native Americans" I corrected him - "helped the colonists and gave them food, so to thank them, the colonists killed them!" Pierre cried gleefully.

.... Ummm .... pretty accurate, actually.  Of course, this isn't the Thanksgiving story that we like to tell, and based on the gestures that Pierre performed while explaining this sentence (which implied that immediately upon receiving food, the colonists shot the Native Americans in the face), this might not exactly be the story that he meant, but nevertheless it isn't far from the truth.

Much as I wanted to continue that conversation, my students' English skills aren't quite good enough to fully discuss genocide, so I persevered to the next most important thing about Thanksgiving: the food.

"So, Thanksgiving is next Thursday, and instead of being home with my family eating all of this delicious food, I have to be here with you" I continued, assigning them each a dish to bring to class next week.  Now, as I said, it was getting to be the end of class and I could feel that my students were getting antsy and bored.  Thus I tried the age-old, 1000% effective teacher-trick: yell at your students repeatedly and they will give up ignoring you and listen.  I restated that they were each to bring Thanksgiving food next Thursday, and finally after about the fourth time it seemed to sink in.  "Madame, we have to bring that to class next time??" they inquired.  "Yes!" I heartily confirmed.  "No, just kidding" I quickly said... and watched their faces fall.  So, I changed my mind again: "If you want, yes!"

Looks like I might be having a French Thanksgiving next week.  I'm not sure that they will remember but I promised to bring a pumpkin pie nonetheless...

Thanks as always for reading!
Mucho amore
xoxo,
Samantha