TEFLees in Spain

There’s nothing like a good surprise to revitalize you during the teaching day. Big or small, it makes no difference – it’s just one of those little things that stays in the back of your mind throughout the rest of the day that spurs you on and keeps you positive. Today this surprise came in the form of a class conversation.

One of my students, Sylvia, started the year off very shy and quiet, and I’ve been pulling teeth trying to get her to come out of her shell and speak with confidence, as I know she knows a lot but speaks very little. In the beginning of class today though, when we were all saying hello and talking about our weekends, she finally piped up. One of the students mentioned video games, and it was like a switch had been flipped.

“I like to play video games,” she said.

“What games do you like to play?” I asked, expecting her to say something generic like Super Mario Brothers.

She paused for a few seconds, thinking about what to say, before continuing. “I like to play video games where you kill people.”

Okay, I thought. So this sweet, little, quiet, married woman in her mid thirties, who never says much, also happens to have a thirst for blood. Interesting. “Go on,” I encouraged, intrigued and wanting to know what next would come out of her mouth.

“Yes, I like very much to fight the other people and when I kill them with my…how do you say? Um…” she then made a slashing movement with her hands like she was wielding a sword. “Like in the movie Kill Bill?” She asked.

“Ah, yes,” I answered, “a sword.”

“Yes, a sword. When I kill everyone with my sword, I get to move on to the next…to the next…ugh. How do you say? Um…oh – level!

“Okay, very good Silvia!” I encouraged, thinking she was finished.

“I also like to play another game, I don’t know how to say the name, but you have a gun and you have to run around and kill zoombies.”

“Zoombies?” I asked, in challenge to her slight mistake.

“No, not zoombies,” she corrected. “Zombies. And when you shoot them, there is a lot of blood, and sometimes their head goes bwah!” she exclaimed, making an explosive gesture with her hands.

“Wow, that’s really interesting, Silvia. Thank you for sharing,” I replied, trying not to laugh as I imagined her glued to the tv, eyes squinting in concentration as she rampaged through the zombie-riddled streets, popping off rounds and squealing with delight over the showers of raining zombie blood and exploding heads. “Does anyone else have any other violent hobbies they’d like to share?”