Culture Exchange

One of my favorite aspects of tutoring ESL is the little bits of culture exchange that occurs during conversation. It's amazing how fun it is to both learn about the other person's culture and to teach your own.

For example, Yosuke and Yuki's mother had put up a Christmas tree earlier this month. I was complimenting her on it and the ornaments, when she mentioned that it was a bit of a nuisance. She had placed it at the entrance by the front door, a bit to the side so that you could walk straight by it to get to the living room, but you had to walk around it to get to the study room. I replied that most families put their Christmas tree in the living room, and even though I said it casually to make conversation, she started laughing and said that she had no idea. I had assumed that placing the tree by the entrance was an aesthetic decision, but in reality, she had no idea that the living room is the "proper" place. She, Yosuke, and Yuki marveled over this little bit of information. I, of course, assured her that the Christmas tree can be placed anywhere in the house.

It's little exchanges like this that really make tutoring feel nothing like work.