Universal Language

Did you know the "thumbs-up" is not a universal symbol?  LOL

As I was teaching a lesson today I was worried about all the blank looks I was getting from the students- there seemed to be more than usual.  I started to wonder if  I was blabbing away for my own good?  I panicked.  I flipped through  my mental roll-a-dex of teaching strategies...  As a quick survey, I asked my students to give me a `thumbs- up` if they understood the passage we just read, a thumb to the side of they understood a little bit, and a thumbs down if they didn't understand anything.   I thought it was a logical solution to the language gap.  Well, the kids just sat there staring at me wide eyed, not moving, and definitely not showing me their thumbs.  I stood there looking back at them just as confused.

*side note *
The Japanese classroom is not one for interaction.  In most cases it is merely listen and regurgitate, a skill they are extremely good at.  My paranoia about a non responsive class was relinquished last week when i observed one of the Japanese teachers at my school ask a question IN JAPANESE and still receive the same reaction- sit and stare without batting an eye...lol. 

Finally, after the teacher said something in Japanese the thumbs slowly started to lift.    Although I was able to distinguish what percentage of the class understood what, I felt completely deflated- why wouldn't they respond?  Are they really that shy?  Am I speaking to fast?  It my lesson that boring!?

After class my JTE (Japanese Teacher of English)  shed some light on the situation- the kids don`t know what 'Thumbs up mean'!   I really was speaking a foreign language.  HAHAHAHAHAHA.
In Japan the thumb and index finger create a circular shape and the other three figures stick straight up to signify `OK`.  I am so naive.  I just assumed the `thumbs- up` was as international as 'the finger'.

Note to self- never take the little things for granted.