For the past two years here in Suzhou, I have been teaching a variety of English courses that include TOEFL, SAT, mainstream English, and AP. My duties this year have been extended on Friday and Saturday to Shanghai , where I teach AP English at Gezhi and Datong high schools. I focus on literature and composition, and my aim is to perfect my students’ persuasive essay skills. To this end, I have been very pleased to observe how my Datong HS seniors 1 have utilized the Toulmin model of argument to improve their writing. The six elements of this model can be charted on the blackboard much like a math problem, and this works like a charm for my deductively minded Chinese students.

I have re-signed for a third year with Ameson largely because of the great folks I work with in Suzhou: George Wu (my principal); the many helpful teachers; and most of all my friend and office manager Lisa Daiyan. Ms. Daiyan is a marvelous facilitator who dispels bureaucratic fogs and keeps my sometimes erratic self on course.

My wife and I are comfortably ensconced in Suzhou, which is a charming and laid back city. Ameson provides me with a fine hotel on Fridays, and sometimes Janet will come along and we will kick up our heels. We have been together since 1974, and living in China has been like a second honeymoon for us. Shanghai is just the ticket for honeymooners, and we plan to paint the town red as often as possible.