The Sharpening of Teeth

Day 66

Wednesday

Wednesdays tend to have a special flair to them. I spend most of the day with one of my favorite teachers, Meri. As a Libra, I seek balance and Meri is a perfect counterpart to my personality and teaching style. I hesitate to say that she is my opposite, I think that’s too dark of a picture to paint her in, but she certainly has a different way about her. She is the teacher who types up the outline for the day and prints 2 copies, 1 for her desk and 1 for me, in case I didn’t get the email on Sunday about the week’s schedule. She keeps her books separated in individual cases, following the activity book to the T. Class runs smoothly, always, like a mom who’s been braiding her daughter’s hair for years on end, Meri hardly sweats about the task at hand, pulling in the students and demanding their coherent and controlled participation, weaving dialogue, writing and listening into a beautifully done class. She hands me her perfectly cut cards and I get to act them out, she hands me the sentences the kids must know and I turn them into a game between teams. That’s how we work. Like a mullet. She’s all business and I’m all fun. But together, we make a rather presentable team.

Following classes with Meri I run off to my private lessons with my 5 year olds. And more often than not I wish I could bring Meri with me. She is blessed with the ability to stare a child into submission and silence a room with the sharp point of a word. I tend to smile too much and my Spanish isn’t sharp enough to quiet anyone, it rather elicits raised eyebrows. Sergio today decided to counsel me on my teaching tactics. He began by asking me in Spanish, after I had given them their homework, if I speak Spanish. I looked at him puzzled and replied in Spanish, “Ummm Sergio, you’ve known me for a month. And you’ve heard me speak quite a bit of Spanish. Besides, what language am I speaking now?” He didn’t seem to mind my rebuke and said, “I think you should learn Spanish before you teach us English.” I laughed and said “You’re just upset I gave you homework. But seriously, remember buddy, you, me and Natalia are a team, we’re learning from each other. I’m here in Spain to learn your language and teach you mine. So next week, how about you are nicer to me? Okay?” I like to think his eye roll and head shake meant yes. I’m always put off my insults coming from 5 year olds. I never know what to do with them. They’re always (for the most part) innocent comments, really just being honest, but I much rather prefer how the adults humor my grammar mistakes and nod like they understand me even though I’ve just said, “I’m sorry I’m late. I forgot you to carry you all the money of the rent.”

And I laugh now thinking what Meri might have said to Sergio and his snide comment. She probably would have said, “Sergio if you cannot say that to me in English I do not have time to listen to your charade. Raise your hand and use the appropriate language and I will in turn respond to you. If I find it worthy of a response.”

She knows the art of cutting into someone, not actually cutting them down, but like a punch to the gut that winds you because it came out of nowhere, Meri makes you think about what you did and what you’re about to do. What a powerful gift that is, to be able to motivate another to fully consider their actions.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be as good as Meri, but I’m not too worried. Being her opposite, I prefer another route. I encourage my students to act with the best of intentions, with an open heart and in loving kindness. Like little Buddhas having reached nirvana, they can only do good. And speak beautiful English.