OK, I know some of you are sick to death of hearing me talk about my students but I had an experience Friday night that just cracked my ass up beyond belief.

Firstly, let me say that I love my students. They're in their early and mid 20's, and all of them, though not great in English, try very hard for me. The class that I teach on Friday nights is a 'special English' class, which mainly consist of kids who failed our most important English fluency exam at the University.

They're require to take an intensive 7 week/90 hour class which consist of an academic curriculum (Monday/Wed) and a spoken/conversation requirement (Tuesday/Friday). I teach the spoken/conversation requirement to these group of kids (15 kids total), and I love doing it. And after a couple of weeks of apprehension these guys/gals are now quite enthusiastic and really give me alot of effort.


Anyways, I played a movie for them called Lars and the Real Girl , which roodboi recommended to me earlier this year.

The movie is about a young man, named Lars, who is scared of the world around him. So frightened is Lars of the world, that he never leaves the garage that he lives in. He never ventures out unless it's to go work. He's covers himself in blankets and layers of clothing, not because he is cold, but because he wants to prevent the world around him to 'soak in'...to touch him.

Lars, however, discovers love. He discovers friendship and courage. And does so through a "real doll", yes--an expensive latex sex doll. But he doesn't use it for 'sex. He uses the doll as a proxy for his own desires and wishes to join the world around him and to experience it.

The movie is rich with layered subtext. It is nuanced, it is richly textured...it is a testiment to human compassion. I simply adore this movie.


And my students loved it too. I paused the movie several times to get my students to talk about what was going on.


And here are some of the most hilarious answers:



Me: What is wrong with Lars?

Student #1) He's crazy, Ajaan Dan.

Me: What would you do if Lars was YOUR brother and he introduced you to his girlfriend, Bianca, and it turned out to be a doll?

Student #2) BURN. THE. DOLL. , Ajaan Dan. (class erupts in laughter).


Me: What do you think is Lar's problem?

Student #3) He don't know how talk to woman, Ajaan Dan. I get him girlfriend fast in Thailand. Maybe hard for America. For Thailand, easy Aajan Dan.


Me: But Lars already has a real girl that is interested in him. It's not like he couldn't talk to her instead?!

Student #2) But she can touch him. And he doesn't want to be touched. Bianca [the doll] can't touch him

Student #4) Yeah, she can not hurt him. So he like her better.

Me: Very good. Bianca[the doll] can not hurt him.

Student #2) Well, she can't hurt him if I burn the doll, Ajaan Dan. They should burn the doll.

!!

Student #3) Oy, (spoken rapid Thai). [she's a female and a bit fed up by the male student's attitude]

Me: Is Bianca good for Lars? Or is she bad for Lars?

Student #4) She good for him, cuz she no talk. Girls who no talk no give you headache.






I swear to Gawd, this shit is soooo much fun.





But anyways, they understood the underlying themes of the movie. The laughed in the parts of the movie that were funny, and got teary eyed in the parts that were sad.


.
[Edited 12/20/09 0:32am]

keep 'em coming. they're a good read.

once upon a time i considered being an English teacher in Japan, so i find it all fascinating.

remind me, what does Ajaan mean? 'teacher' or something?

whistle said:

"College Teacher" (aka professor)

I forget the word for high school teacher.

Imago said:

'khruu'

That was me, khun khruu Nick. Or teacher Nick. Or t-shirt Nick.

Hilarious class responses. Sounds like a riot! Almost makes me miss my adult classes, but not quite. I bet you're a great teacher.

whistle said:

Dare-ni mukatte mono itten-dayo?!

zaza said:

i could answer that, but would you understand me?

whistle said:

Chikusho..

I did not read your post but I loved the movie.

MrsMdiver said:

you should read it, i havent seen the movie, but Dans post makes me want to

prb said:

I have read enough posts of Dan's to know what it said.



Yes, you really should see it.

prb said:

He recommended me that movie on facebook, I'm going to "get it"

lol at the last comment about no headache.

i still haven't seen this movie, tho everyone keeps mentioning it to me
saying "lars, have you seen lars and the real girl yet?"

IstenSzek said:

I think you should see Lars and the Real girl.