Sortland Ungdomsskole

I returned to Sortland Ungdomsskole on February 18th and 19th to work with the 8th and 10th graders. I originally was scheduled to work with the 9th and 10th graders a month ago, but due to traveling problems was only able to get the 9th graders. Since I was returning, I suggested that I meet with the 8th graders as well. The school took me up on it and requested an easier lesson as the 8th graders struggled a bit. Little did I know what I signed myself up for!

On the first day I was scheduled to do five 55 minutes lessons for the 8th graders with an hour break for lunch. I chose to do the US middle/high school lesson as the students seem the most interested in that particular subject and required the least amount of English. The first group of students was pretty typical and had a lot of energy. However, the second class the teacher left 15 minutes into it and as soon as the teacher left the students shut down. They would not quiet down to hear directions, they talked back when I asked them to do something, they jumped on each other, said rude things to one another, etc. It was unbelievably the worst class I have had. I actually even told the host teacher about it because I felt that the students should have some accountability even if it is just their teacher lecturing to them the next day. The first class after lunch was just as bad, but with a teacher present (which always amazes me that the teachers allow the students to act in this way). I can’t tell if this more permissive classroom culture is because teachers feel that their hands are tied in terms of what they are allowed to do to students (i.e. after school detentions are not allowed) or because they just don’t see the behavior as disruptive. However the last 10 minutes of the class, the teacher finally pulled out the group of four who were the worst culprits. These kids had talked loudly through the whole class, called each out to each other “hey bitch,” and refused to do anything. One girl actually tore up the paper I gave her and threw it under the table. Yet after those four had gone, I realized how great the rest of the group was. One boy told me the whole class was saving money to give brain surgeries to the four that were taken out because he said they had mental problems. He was joking, but the rest of the students were seriously nodding. I am not usually so frustrated with kids in a classroom and I don’t know if it is me or them.

Paper thrown under the table

Here is one of the two airplanes I had to confiscate during the day.

Picture on the back of one of the handouts that had only a few words scribbled on the front (though the words were in English!).

This one wasn’t too bad, however I think this student would have preferred it to me worse. When she found out I was collecting the sheets, she started to mutilate the paper more!

I always say that when kids misbehave look at the teacher, so I know part of it was me in that I don’t know the students so it is hard to modify a lesson to meet their needs. But I also think I need to really rethink my stand on discipline. There has to be a happy medium between US and Norway’s philosophy. I do think US teachers go too far to the other extreme.

The last two classes were better but both had teachers who had a much stronger hand in terms of discipline, but even with that there were students in each class who chose not to participate, but they were much less disruptive.

With all the disruptive behavior it was hard to focus on the students who were participating. But when I did I found those students (who really were the majority) to be so sweet. Several were interested in going to high school in the US, asked tons of questions about schools and high school students, and about the US in general. Here are some examples of their work:

(These are really here to boost my ego for fear you will all think I am actually not teaching anything!!)


Interestingly enough, in the past most of the students always said that Norwegian schools should get warm food in the cantina and more sports and the US schools should have more breaks and more healthy food options. These comments were prevalent here as well; however this time I had quite a few students say that Norwegian schools “can increase the discipline” which I found quite appropriate considering my problems that day!

The second day I presented five 55 minutes lessons to the 10th grade on short stories. It is hard to get through the whole short story lesson in 55 minutes, but the students did a great job. They were not able to read the whole story but were still able to get some of the big ideas from the stories. I have them read the stories and come up with a thesis statement about the US from what they read. Here are some of the better examples:

• There is a lot of violence in America.
• In America some teens have to fend for themselves.
• In America, it is difficult to be Native America if you don’t look like it.
• You have to be someone to be accepted.
• It’s too easy to get guns in the US.
• Teens in the US are similar to teens in Norway.
• Its not easy being different [in the US].
• In the US you only get one chance.
• There is a lot of bulling in the US and it is not okay to be different.
  [The US is] the land of opportunity. (This one is actually funny in that it was in relation to the short story Seventh Grade in which the main character is trying to impress a girl.)
• You can’t always see what is going on in someone’s head.

And yes, since I did start with the best of the choices from today. I will also include some that were not as good:

• Only in the US are there Native Americans.
• Football is important to people in the US.
• There are a lot of fucked up people in the US.

In general the 10th graders were really pleasant. So it was a great way to end my visit at Sortland Ungdomsskole. They all participated in the lessons, were charming, attentive, and just generally enjoyable. One kid did ask a funny question: Is there a lot of moonshine where you live?

Some observations about teaching: I did talk with a teacher who was Iraqi and who has been in Norway for 8 years. This was nice to see, but I have still not seen any African or Asian teachers (other than the ESL teacher). The other observation I found interesting and I might have noted previously but teachers do not dress up for work. They often wear jeans and boots or sometimes corduroys and boots. One of the teachers explained that on Friday everyone often dresses up because they go out for drinks after work. I found this interesting only because it seems to be the opposite of our Casual Friday policy in the US.

And the last side note on this blog: The article below is an article that appeared in the local newspaper about my visit. Since it is in Norwegian I figured most of you would not be able to read it, but the quick version is that it just describes my visit and what the students thought (which they were very positive about it). If you actually want to know what it says you can email me and I will give you the more literal translation.