A Day In the Esl Lab

Made it into the community college where I have worked for many years Stopped off for a large green tea before dealing with my Bengali students who are trying hard to speak and write in English I ask them how to say "hello" in Bengali Later, I give them grammar exercises Query them about the leadership of Bangla Desh The young Bengali woman says I'm just an ordinary person which I take to mean she doesn't seek power A new student arrives later on I ask her where she is form She says "The Sudan" I ask - "Wasn't there a war there?" She replies that Southern Sudan is a separate country now Trouble in distant lands affects us all nowadays The young woman says she has to leave for a class I but another green tea and take a deep breath The day rolls on