Loving Your Students

We love our students, and we want to show them in many different ways! Whether you're on a class break and want to keep in touch, you're apart because of the COVID pandemic, or you just want to show an extra touch of love, try these ideas (or think of your own) to show that you care.

Note: if you're ever in doubt whether something may or may not be culturally appropriate, ask! If you don't feel comfortable asking your students directly, try to find someone else who is from that culture but has lived in the US for a long time. Be mindful of cultural cues; for example, if you're a man, and every time you speak to a certain woman, she seems embarrassed and looks at her husband, you may want to see if another woman can talk with her, instead, so that she feels more comfortable.

Virtual Connections:

• Make a Facebook group for your students and post fun videos and photos and messages of encouragement.

• Make a WhatsApp group (or use another platform, if that's what your students use) for each class. Use it to remind students about class and also to send encouragement.

• Text or call your students individually to just say hi! (For lower-level English learners, texting might feel a lot more comfortable, since they can translate any words they need to and take time to respond.) You might also choose to do this if a student has missed class and you want to make sure s/he is ok and say that s/he was missed.

Gift Surprises:

• Drop off a fruit basket, cookies, or other small gifts for Christmas, Easter, or birthdays.

• Show up with flowers (though you might want to research a bit - some cultures only give certain numbers or types of flowers for certain occasions, like funerals), a potted plant, produce from your garden or the farmer's market, chalk for the kids to draw...the opportunities are endless!

• Mail a card or small package. Your students might never receive mail beyond bills and other impersonal communications - so this will mean a lot!

• Note: consider how your students feel. Don't be overly lavish with gifts; they may feel badly that they cannot reciprocate, or may feel pushed that they need to reciprocate. Small gifts sometimes can be great, and so are other ways of joining with your friends in just being together.

Activities Together:

• Check out these suggestions for showing hospitality to your students.

• Think about the things you like to do with your friends...and then, invite your ESL friends! Game night, paint night, sitting around the fire pit...these activities are fun no matter how much English you know - you may just need to adjust expectations and help your friends a bit as they learn English.

• Go visiting your students in their homes. Many cultures welcome drop-in visits - so, drop in! Take a small gift and show your students love by going to their homes. In many cultures, having the teacher visit is a great honor, and they may want to give you food and drinks, entertain you (which could involve turning on the TV while they cook), and more. Set aside a few hours. Don't feel like you need to come for just a few minutes, or you need to go to many houses in one day. Go, enjoy, and honor your students by visiting them.

• Invite your students to your home! They may never have been in an American's home before. Explain things you do that might seem strange or different to them. Host them for dinner, being mindful of any potential food restrictions from their cultures or religious backgrounds. (When in doubt, vegetarian is always a good option!) Again, clear your schedule and enjoy each others' company.

• Go on an outing together! Check out the field trip ideas for a few suggestions.

• Here are some more suggestions for spending time with international friends. (Note: these ideas are for winter in Minnesota, so some may not apply to your location!)

Think of your own ideas, and go for it!