Discussions on news during the epidemic:
I first introduced to him how to judge the neutrality, factual accuracy, multiple perspectives, and tone of a news article to determine its objectivity. I asked him which news platform he generally uses and what kind of news he usually comes across. He mentioned he uses Tencent News and doesn’t have any specific preferences, he just reads whatever he comes across.
When he came across a news article about the COVID-19 situation in the U.S., he sent me a screenshot with the title “Nearly 1/3 of Americans Infected with COVID, Large Number of Non-Elderly Deaths, Leading to Significant Drop in Life Expectancy.” While the statement about 1/3 of Americans being infected with COVID might be a fact, the following two sentences make the headline misleading. Generally, older people have more fragile immune systems, and unless they have a strong physique or genetics, they are likely to develop severe symptoms after contracting COVID-19. Younger people tend to recover more quickly. (Here I used information from the official website of the United Nations). So, it’s unreasonable to say non-elderly people are affected in this way. Additionally, the subjective conclusion of a significant drop in life expectancy is an author’s interpretation; while life expectancy might decrease, it doesn’t mean that all Americans are on a path to certain death.
Aforementioned was my initial response to the news. However, when the child saw the news, he said, “Great, Americans are all being killed by the virus.” This statement, with strong nationalist and provocative undertones, caught my attention. I had never imagined a child could say something with such strong nationalist and provocative sentiments. I believe this might be influenced by his environment; rural areas may lack exposure to a diverse international perspective, they may have limited exposure to different viewpoints, and his family might have instilled in him the belief that America is our enemy.
I used relatively simple logic to counter his viewpoint. I emphasized that Americans and Chinese can be friends because their people are just as friendly as ours. It’s only their governments that may have trade conflicts with China, and their citizens are innocent in this matter. Additionally, I mentioned that the Korean War might be a source of hostility. So, I advised him not to harbor excessive nationalistic sentiments. While the heroes of the Korean War were undoubtedly great, times have changed, and the conflicts between the two nations aren’t as deep as they used to be. We should be more flexible and show some tolerance towards the United States. There are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. In the end, he understood my perspective, and he told me that he now feels like the United States might not be so bad after all. He expressed that he’ll approach these matters with a more objective stance in the future. I believe this was a successful shift in his thinking.
Discussion on Daily Issues
In the early stages of the second semester, I asked him about his recent daily routines. I inquired about how he usually tackles the problems he encounters. He mentioned that he takes care of most problems by himself, with only a small portion being resolved with the help of his family. Typically, he plays WeChat games from 8 to 9 in the evening. He also shares my fondness for LEGO. He has a younger brother, and they often have disagreements. Many times, his meticulously constructed LEGO creations are dismantled and reassembled by his brother, which understandably makes him angry. He had been holding onto these feelings for a while before finally opening up to me. I shared with him that I had experienced a similar situation in the past. My cousins would often disrupt my carefully built LEGO constructions, but I persevered and continued building, even if they were occasionally damaged. I emphasized the importance of accepting that others may have different perspectives and innovative ideas that may not necessarily align with what is on the instruction manual. Demonstrating tolerance can make it easier for them to accept us. Additionally, being an older brother comes with added responsibilities. He must be strong in facing the many injustices that life may throw his way. This is how he can showcase his character and sense of responsibility, while also honing his abilities.
Reading Discussion
Before discussing the book “Hole” (《洞》), I first asked him about his recent activities. He mentioned that he’s been engaging in drum and Taekwondo training. He finds drumming quite intriguing, even though the training sessions can be lengthy, he doesn’t feel tired. However, he expressed a certain apprehension towards Taekwondo, fearing that he might not be able to best his opponents. I reassured him that these are extracurricular activities meant to cultivate his skills. Even if he doesn’t excel immediately, it’s perfectly fine, as he can always explore other activities that may suit him better. I advised him to adjust his mindset before each training session, reminding him that giving his best effort is enough, as it’s something he can control. He read the book “Hole” (《洞》) quite quickly, finishing it in just two hours. However, when I asked him about his impressions, he found it difficult to articulate. He was not feeling well at the time, and he was also tasked with reading George Orwell’s designated book for school, “Animal Farm” (《动物农场》).
Fortunately, he raised some questions about the book “Holes”:
1: Why isn’t “Deadly Kiss” equal to treasure?
He didn’t fully grasp the distinction between the two. The “Deadly Kiss” refers to an outlaw from 100 years ago in the American West named Kate Barlow, whereas he interpreted it as a treasure. It’s true that the name does have a mystical quality to it.
2: He was struck by Stanley’s willingness to eat even expired food in the story. I explained that this was adapted from real historical conditions, where having anything to eat in the barren lands of the West was considered fortunate.
Finally, he believes that the protagonist, Stanley, is an optimistic person. He admires Stanley’s resilience in the harsh conditions of the labor camp, enduring the exploitation of the camp warden and the discrimination he faced. Additionally, he recognizes that the book highlights the lack of rights for the black characters, and he feels sympathy for the unfair treatment they receive.
