Social isolation can happen when you live in a country where they don't speak your native tongue. I could easily come home every day after teaching and watch a movie (in English) or just interact with the other American teachers in Kinmen. This would be much less difficult than racking my brain to use my limited Chinese to communicate with others. However, I would miss Kinmen's many cultural activities as well as the opportunity to meet the patient people (when interpreting my creative communications) who call Kinmen "home."
To avoid retreating into an "ex-pat bubble," I decided to get more involved in the community. I registered for several classes at the community college in Jincheng, knowing that they would be in Chinese. I had high hopes of picking up the language quickly through these classes, but my "go-to phrases" such as "where is the bathroom? - 廁所在那裡," "I am an English teacher - 我是英文老師," and "I would like a bowl of beef noodle soup - 我想要一碗牛肉麵" are rarely uttered in class.
I also enrolled in a ukulele (烏克麗麗) class. It has been a humbling and enlightening experience. I can read the sheet music and follow the teacher's demonstration, but when he starts talking, I am completely lost. My Chinese textbooks do not cover musical terms. He is probably giving insightful tips and opening the secret world of a master ukulele player. I have a musical background, I remember the basics of reading music, and can fumble my way through class. However, playing the piano and the harp is very different from strumming a ukulele.
As a student in a class taught in Mandarin, I can empathize with students in my English lessons. I cannot translate for my students, and they probably feel as lost as I do. Luckily, there are two Taiwanese elementary school students in the class, Mandy and Sarah. They help me find the right sheet music, and show me how to strum properly, while endlessly giggling with my struggles.
Each week after ukulele class, I reflect on my own teaching methods and how I can be a more effective teacher for my students. The most important things I can do are to slow down my speech, explain things in as few words as possible, and use hand gestures to help convey the meaning. While I do not have a future career as a musician, I am reminded of what it is like to be a student, which has helped me to improve my teaching.