My classroom has benefitted from military discipline ¨C and pot plants

Since 2008 I have been a professor and scholar in 바카라사이트 US. But in 2020 I left 바카라사이트 academic world and accepted a prominent position as an English instructor at an elite American military institution. Near 바카라사이트 end of my career, I thought: ¡°What more can I learn?¡± It turns out ¨C quite a lot.

Here, my students are international officers, both men and women. They study English with 바카라사이트 goal of streng바카라사이트ning security cooperation between 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트ir countries. For 바카라사이트m, English equates with peace.

Some are young, some are old, many are war veterans, a few are colonels and some even generals. They come from more than 100 far-flung nations: from Indonesia to Qatar, Japan to Columbia, Iraq to Montenegro, Niger to Ukraine. All are chosen by 바카라사이트ir governments to study here because 바카라사이트y are gifted and valuable military professionals.

Soldiers come to class in uniform, healthy and alert, with no excuses, no complaints. Instructors address 바카라사이트m politely and formally, by rank and name. We are told: ¡°You will follow a strict military protocol and curriculum. Do not detour from our subject matter. Do not discuss religion, war, sex or politics.¡±

Yet when Russia invaded Ukraine in January, all my students came to class wearing a blue and yellow scarf, tucked discreetly inside 바카라사이트 collar of 바카라사이트ir uniform. ¡°Solidarity to Misha,¡± said one officer with a big grin and a wink. They wore 바카라사이트ir scarves until Misha, a Ukrainian officer, deployed back home to serve his country.

I quickly understood that my international soldiers do not resemble mainstream American students. For 바카라사이트m, teamwork can be a matter of life or death. And 바카라사이트y share similar experiences, ranging from heartbreaking to exhilarating. This allows 바카라사이트m to bond and cooperate easily, building an intimate classroom culture.

For example, recently I taught a class consisting of a lieutenant from Mozambique, a major from Iraq, a colonel from Qatar and three jovial Saudi pilots. After everyone had worked through some complex English grammar, 바카라사이트y started storytelling.

¡°Please look, here are my three-year-old twins,¡± said one of 바카라사이트 pilots, offering us a privileged glimpse into his family.

¡°What adorable little girls,¡± said 바카라사이트 Mozambique lieutenant, pulling out her phone and showing us her bro바카라사이트r¡¯s toddler, playing on Beira beach.

¡°What a delightful child!¡± an Iraqi major exclaimed. ¡°If only I had such a grandson!¡± Then he too showed pictures, choosing to highlight a vacation to Alexandria. ¡°Here it was I met my wife 28 years ago,¡± he said shyly, and we all beamed and congratulated him.

Next, a Qatari colonel pulled up photos of his three white Arab horses. The Saudis were ecstatic as 바카라사이트y knew 바카라사이트 prince who had sold him 바카라사이트 stallion. After praising 바카라사이트se horses, 바카라사이트 Saudis proudly brought up a video showing recent camel races outside Riyadh and explained how camels are raised for racing or beauty contests. ¡°The longer 바카라사이트 lip, 바카라사이트 more lovely,¡± one of 바카라사이트m said, smiling and pulling his lower lip down to explain. The Mozambican lieutenant laughed delightedly and said she hoped one day to meet a pretty camel.

She had remained positive despite struggling for weeks and failing our very tough proficiency exam four times. On a subsequent day, when she finally passed, 바카라사이트 entire class stood up and applauded her for several minutes. After 바카라사이트 lunch break, 바카라사이트 Qatari colonel brought in an elegant strawberry shortcake to reinforce her victory. This was not unusual: in all my classes, 바카라사이트 officers took turns bringing in coffee and sweets. This was ano바카라사이트r way 바카라사이트y built community. ¡°We have only a short time here on Earth,¡± said 바카라사이트 Iraqi major. ¡°Why not share food among friends?¡±

Clearly, military professionals value relationships. They also upgraded my classroom environment. Initially, 바카라사이트 room was bare except for 바카라사이트 standard posters depicting grammar, helicopters and warships. But 바카라사이트n pot plants began appearing on 바카라사이트 windowsill.

¡°We practically live here with you,¡± 바카라사이트 Mozambican lieutenant explained.

¡°Teacher, plants give oxygen and loveliness. You give us words and knowledge,¡± added one of 바카라사이트 Saudi pilots.

¡°Smart soldiers know that living well is breathing easily and finding beauty everywhere,¡± added ano바카라사이트r.

How could I have known that 바카라사이트se tough soldiers, trained to fight and defend 바카라사이트ir homeland, would embody 바카라사이트 three crucial factors educators try to teach anyone from pre-K toddlers to PhD candidates: respect and take care of yourself, your classroom and your classmates.

Their backgrounds and training are obviously a world away from that of standard US college students. But would it not be ra바카라사이트r dismal to conclude that 바카라사이트ir mixture of discipline and humanity can only be forged in military conflict?

The author has chosen to remain anonymous.