When Spanish Eyes are Crying
A little drama today in my advanced class: One of my Spanish students—a young woman who came for a few weeks to Malta with her boyfriend (who’s in another EFL class in the same school)—looked a little upset when she entered the classroom this morning.
When I asked if she was OK, the tears gushed forth and she ran out of the room. We all knew immediately it was man trouble. I sent another female student after her.
About five minutes later, they returned to the room. The beautiful brown Spanish eyes were red-rimmed. We asked if we could do anything to help; she said no. Somehow, she was a real trooper and stayed in the classroom—and even participated. Much better than I would have done.
Seeing her alone at the end of the class, I approached her for a moment. I put my arm around her. Said I, “I want you to know that whatever you’re going through—you will survive this. I know you don’t think you will right now. But you will, I promise. All of us in this classroom have gone through what you’re going through at one time or another. Or if some people haven’t, they will at some time. And everyone always thinks that no one can understand how bad it feels. But we do. Because we’ve all been through it—sometime several times. So we understand. If you need to leave the classroom or cry, it’s OK. So, is there anything I can do?”
Said she, “No, it’s OK now. We talked.” And then she smiled a big Spanish smile and left the classroom.
How these two made up—when and where so quickly, I will not understand. But I think I’m sticking to English from now on. Forget the advice career.
Ooops, I mean Vicki...
Posted by: Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name) | October 29, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Hi Vicky--I could write a book if someone gave me a real good deal....:-) Ilene
Posted by: Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name) | October 29, 2009 at 09:45 AM
The 'advice career' was spectacular. What else could you do?
Posted by: Vicki | October 28, 2009 at 11:11 PM