On the one hand, it may be somewhat imprudent of me to discuss marijuana here on my blog because there is always the possibility, a small one at any rate, that some of my students could read it. I am not worried about my adult students, the business students. They can think of it what they will. I doubt anybody would cancel lessons over it, but if they did, so be it.
But my school students are another matter. I love teaching (actually, I’m just the guest native speaker who shows up once a week – I don’t assign homework, I don’t give grades, I don’t test) in Czech public schools. Perhaps it’s because I always loved school and am happy to be back in it. Perhaps it’s the power trip. Perhaps it is, corny as it sounds, the satisfaction of helping to mold young minds.
Probably it’s a combination of things, but I really like the job. Also, I would love it if any of my students were to find and read my blog. It would indicate that their English is at a much higher level than I give them credit for, and also their interest in actually reading anything.
But not on days when I’m talking about reefer.
It’s a dilemma.
Anyway, in my 9th grade class today, my dreaded, full of attitude, 9th grade class, the exercise I had them doing was “I like ______ because _______.” They all managed the basic sentence O.K., albeit with a very consistent lack of imagination. “I like football because it is fun.” “I like music because it is fun.” “I like spring because it is fun.”
So, I ratcheted it up a notch, had them up on stage in couples, asking each other what they liked. They were O.K. with that for a while, but they were getting bored and I was also looking at the clock and wondering when the class would end, so I decided to have a lightning round.
Ask me anything, I said. “Do you like veet?” one boy, who apparently thought he was being comical, asked. Veet? What the hell is veet? So, I asked him “What is veet?” 
“Veet. Grass. Marijuana.”
“Ooooooh, Weed.” I wrote it on the board, emphasized the W, which they all have problems with, and stretching out the ees. “Weeeeeeeed.” That drew a bit of a laugh. “Next question,” I said.
The next question was from one of the girls. “Why don’t you want to answer the question?”
“Because it’s still technically illegal and you are 9th graders, you are kids and I don’t want to recommend it to you,” I said.
Of course, I should have said “Yes, I smoke weed. I smoke it often and I totally enjoy it. Weed is wonderful stuff.”
But, I didn’t. And I hope none of them read this particular blog.
www.gurukalehuru.com 