English Teacher... Even in Iraq (with addendum)

I just got in from teaching my English class to Arabic students.

What a great experience. Sgt. Murphy and I teach the class twice a week to a group of 20 members of the Arabic media who want to learn English so they can better interact with U.S. forces and diplomats. They are phenomenal students. I have taught everything from summer school to AP Language, but I have never encountered a more eager group of students.

Today when I closed class with my parting, “Ma a salaama”, while placing my hand on my heart and extending it toward them, the class all said, “No! Please, we want more class.” (Obviously, I have a long way to go) They began a series of questions about past, present, and present progressive verbs. After I answered those questions and gave many examples, they gave me an essay on spiders and asked me to read it to them as they followed along. They then asked me to quiz them on the essay. I kept saying, “alle”-“Class is over”- “alle” It was lunch time, the meal was waiting, but none of them would leave.

I had to get them out because we had two generals conducting a press conference in 20 minutes. They finally put away their books, but still did not leave. The class then lined up and one-by-one walked up to me to thank me for teaching them. Yeah, this happens after every class. This is the class ritual. So I shook the hand of every man and placed my hand over my heart for each of the women. I am certain my students back home will do the same when I get back next winter.

It is difficult for them to get to class though. This is not because they don’t want to come, but because they risk their lives to come. They have to travel through some of the most dangerous parts of Baghdad to get there. Some days my students do not make it, because they have been threatened for “cooperating with the Americans”. They take it most seriously when their families are threatened. (But I am still tough, and am standing by Kearsley High School’s eight-absences-and-you-are-dropped policy.)

One of the men did not come for several weeks. We were told he had been killed because he had been attending my class. Sadly the possibility was so real that we accepted it. How do you deal with that? Thankfully it was not true. Imagine, students risking their lives and those of their families so they can learn. I just don’t know if I am good enough of a teacher to be risking that much. But, I have prepared myself for something horrible to happen to at least one of them this year.

The biggest problem I face is a common problem for all teachers. There is just such a range of students. I have those who can almost carry on a conversation in basic English, all the way down to a man who just looks at me and points to the (usually wrong) words on the page. But he tries. There is probably more chatter than most teachers would be comfortable with as I introduce new words. Especially since my Arabic is very weak. There is a whole bit of commotion and pointing at words, and sometimes almost an argument between them about the Arabic meaning. But then they smile and turn back to me to let me know they have settled it and want more.

The female students are a whole different challenge. In Iraqi culture it is inappropriate to make eye contact with a woman who is not your wife. American teachers are all about eye contact. That is how we know the student understands. But here we are not even supposed to speak to them. But I do. I just see them all as I remember my aunts back in the 1960’s, as the women sit in class with their scarves and head coverings. The most difficult case is a woman from Saudi Arabia. She knows no English, cannot even repeat after me. It seems the words just will not form in her mouth. She comes to class dressed in the full jet black, head-to-toe burka. She tries, but the cultural barriers are insurmountable.

So for those of you who thought I may lose my teaching touch while here, rest assured, I am getting some of the most challenging practice possible. Besides, it is a weekly reminder of what a great profession teaching is. It is inspiring to see the risks these people of Iraq will take to attend class.

After class today one of the men pulled me aside to show me a picture of his sister in America. “Dearborn. My sister lives Dearborn." He pointed and smiled, "This her child in favorite place.” She was sitting in a 2nd grade classroom. Then he proudly announced, “She top of class.” He explained how important education is to his family. Then he said, “You will help get my children to America? I promise, they will be best in their class.”

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Addendum: Today in class we had several students missing. At the end of class two of the men came rushing in apologizing about being late. When asked what happened one of them responded, "A bomb! We were attacked by a bomb!" He looked a little rough, and scared, but alive. And belive it or not, he still came to class. You have to love these people. Later in the day in the news there were reports of the explosion resulting in 6 people killed.